Badgers come up short against Minnesota in regular season finale

MADISON, Wis. — Paul Bunyan’s Axe will stay on the west side of the Mississippi River for another year.

Wisconsin came up just short at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, losing to Minnesota 23-16.

The Badgers came into the game short-handed on both sides of the ball. Linebacker Nick Herbig was suspended due to a targeting penalty last week, and running back Braelon Allen was ruled out with an injury.

Wisconsin got on the board first on the game-opening drive, with Nate Van Zelst nailing a 40-yard field goal. Minnesota was able to respond 10 plays later, with quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis finding Daniel Jackson for a 6-yard touchdown pass to take the lead.

Slant for the score. @25DanielJackson x @GopherFootball pic.twitter.com/gM7awkGAMF

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 26, 2022

Both teams traded possessions before the Badgers were able to cut into the Gophers’ lead with a 43-yard field goal from Van Zelst. The kick was set up by a slick 25-yard pass from Graham Mertz to Keontez Lewis.

The scoreboard operator got a rest for most of the second quarter, though the Gophers heightened their advantage on the final play of the frame, a 25-yard field goal from Matthew Trickett that gave Minnesota a 10-6 lead at halftime.

A roughing penalty came back to haunt the Badgers on the opening drive of the third quarter, turning a Minnesota fourth down into a fresh set of downs. The Gophers took advantage and added a 50-yard field goal to grow the lead to 13-6.

Wisconsin answered on the very next drive. Mertz completed two straight passes to bring the Badgers into Gopher territory, then Issac Guerrendo added 13 yards on the ground before the drive stalled out. Van Zelst converted his third field goal of the game, this time from 36 yards out.

The Badgers followed that up by forcing a quick three-and-out. Then, Mertz found Jackson Acker for a 28-yard pass to get Wisconsin into the red zone. Chez Mellusi got the Badgers closer, then Chimere Dike did the rest, rushing 9 yards for Wisconsin’s first touchdown of the game. Van Zelst nailed the PAT to give the Badgers the 16-13 lead.

give it to cHIM pic.twitter.com/eNjOCiF6fe

— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) November 26, 2022

The two teams traded possessions throughout the fourth quarter, with Wisconsin shutting down the Gopher offense and Minnesota responding in kind. The Badgers looked to have momentum after James Thompson Jr. and Darryl Peterson each recorded a sack, but they were unable to convert that positive energy into points.

Those missed Badger opportunities turned into a Gopher opportunity that would not be passed up. Minnesota drove from their own 22-yard line all the way to the Badger 9-yard line, but the Wisconsin defense stood firm. Trickett converted a 27-yard field goal to tie the game at 16 apiece with just under 8 minutes to go.

Wisconsin was unable to answer, and the Gophers took the lead on the next drive. Kaliakmanis completed three passes, including one that Le’Meke Brockington took 45 yards for a touchdown.

The Badgers had time to drive the field and tie the game, but Mertz threw an interception, which put his team’s chances on thin ice. Minnesota was unable to ice things, however, as a 47-yard field goal hit the upright.

Wisconsin got the ball back with just under two minutes on the clock. Disaster struck on the second play of the drive when Mertz limped off injured. Chase Wolf stepped in with a chance to become a hero.

The Badgers were able to move past midfield, but Guerndo had to be helped off the field with an injury, leaving the Badgers with 38 seconds and one leading rusher. A pass interference gave Wisconsin a fresh set of downs at the Minnesota 5-yard line, but a holding penalty and a plethora of false starts backed them up to the 30-yard line.

Wisconsin had one final play to tie the game, but Wolf’s pass fell incomplete.

The loss brings Wisconsin’s record to 6-6. The Badgers will now play the waiting game. They will learn their bowl game date and opponent after all conference championship games have finished on Sunday, Dec. 4.

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