Minnesota Gophers decimate Wisconsin Badgers, reclaim Paul Bunyan's axe in 24-7 victory
MADISON, Wis. — Max Brosmer passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another to help Minnesota beat Wisconsin 24-7 on Friday.
Wide receiver Daniel Jackson had six receptions for 68 yards and a TD catch for the Gophers (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten), who took back possession of Paul Bunyan's Axe.
Darius Taylor had 32 rushes for 134 yards for Minnesota.
Friday's game was the 134th meeting between the teams. The rivalry is the oldest rivalry in the nation among Football Bowl Division schools.
Brosmer completed 17 of 26 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He also rushed for a score.
Wisconsin (5-7, 3-6) lost five straight games to end the 2024 regular season. Wisconsin's five-game losing streak is the team's first five-game losing streak since 1991. The Badgers will wait to learn whether there are any potential bowl spots remaining for 5-7 teams.
The Badgers' 22-season bowl appearance streak is the third-longest active streak for bowl berths among FBS teams.
Wisconsin finished the regular season with a losing record for the first time in 22 seasons. The mark is the longest active winning streak among Power 4 teams. Oklahoma's streak stands at 18 seasons and Alabama at 17.
The Badgers concluded the 2022 season with a 5-7 record and a 3-4 mark in the Big Ten.
Jackson's performance on Friday put the receiver in fourth place on Minnesota's all-time receiving yards list with 2,685 yards. Jackson surpassed the 2,640-yard mark by Tutu Atwell, who played for the Gophers from 1994-97.
Wisconsin got its first score of the game late in the third quarter when Braedyn Locke threw a 15-yard TD pass to Vinny Anthony with 3:13 remaining.
Locke completed 15 of 32 passes for 130 yards, one TD and no interceptions for Wisconsin.
Wisconsin kicker Nathanial Vakos missed a 37-yard field-goal attempt early in the fourth quarter.
The takeaway
Minnesota: The Gophers offense looked confident with Brosmer at the helm. Besides rushing for a score, the quarterback executed big plays that put Minnesota in control. Bosmer threw a 37-yard pass to Jackson that led to a TD that pushed the Gophers to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. Brosmer's 15-yard TD pass to Jameson Geers pushed Minnesota's lead to 21-0 with 8:03 left in the third.
Wisconsin: The Badgers offense was anemic and a bunch of boos rained down at Camp Randall Stadium towards the end of the second quarter. They had 43 total yards of offense (37 passing, 7 rushing) and ran 27 offensive plays in the first half.
Up next
WISCONSIN: Wisconsin waits to learn whether there are any potential bowl spots remaining for 5-7 teams.
MINNESOTA: Minnesota awaits its bowl destination.
