Wisconsin Badgers celebrate with the Axe after a Big Ten Conference NCAA college football game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Minneapolis, Min. (Photo by David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications)
David Stluka
28
Winner Wisconsin WIS 7-5 , 5-4
14
Minnesota UMN 5-7 , 3-6
Winner
Wisconsin WIS
7-5 , 5-4
28
Final
14
Minnesota UMN
5-7 , 3-6
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WIS Wisconsin 0 14 14 0 28
UMN Minnesota 7 7 0 0 14

Game Recap: Football |

Wisconsin axes Minnesota, 28-14

Badgers take Paul Bunyan's Axe back to Madison

MINNEAPOLIS — Braelon Allen rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns to carry Wisconsin past rival Minnesota 28-14 on Saturday, giving the Badgers possession of Paul Bunyan's Axe after a two-year absence.

Tanner Mordecai threw for scores to Will Pauling and Riley Nowakowski and had a career-high 69 yards rushing on nine scrambles to help Wisconsin (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten) finish on an upswing in head coach Luke Fickell's first season at the helm and first victory in the historic Border Battle rivalry.

Hunter Wohler had 12 tackles for the blitz-heavy Badgers, who raced to the west end zone to get their hands on the hardware for the oldest rivalry in major college football. The Gophers haven't had the axe in their trophy case for three straight years since they won four in a row from 1984-87.

Jordan Nubin rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown for Minnesota (5-7, 3-6), which failed to secure bowl eligibility but remained alive for a postseason game with a nationwide shortage of six-win teams.

Allen, who returned from a leg injury earlier than expected last week with 22 carries and two touchdowns including the overtime winner to beat Nebraska, didn't look banged up at all. He broke three tackles on a 50-yard rumble in the third quarter and followed with a 5-yard touchdown run on the next play to give the Badgers their first lead.

Wisconsin's game with 412 total yards on a balance of between-the-tackles power running plays and field-stretching passes was a blueprint for future success in the Big Ten once the high-octane West Coast teams arrive and the divisions disappear.

Minnesota started their third drive at midfield late in the first quarter but went three-and-out with a punt from the Wisconsin 43. The Badgers then went 86 yards in 11 plays to tie the game. Late in the second quarter, the Gophers called an up-the-middle run on third-and-5 from their 45 that was stuffed for no gain with 1:17 left before halftime.

Wisconsin now awaits Bowl Selection Sunday on Dec. 3 to see where the Badgers are heading in the post season.

The AP contributed to this article.

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