Badgers lose Ax, bowl game series to Minnesota as offense freezes at Camp Randall | News

MADISON, Wis. – There will be no bowl game for the Badgers this season. For the first time since 2001, the Badgers finished the season with a losing record after a round-the-clock loss to Minnesota on Friday.

Braedyn Locke completed 15 of his 32 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. Tawee Walker and Darrion Dupree combined for 51 rushing yards on 21 carries.

Wisconsin’s first half offense was, to say the least, offensive.

The Badgers went three-pointers on three of their six possessions, hit a punt at the end of each of those possessions and never crossed midfield once. Locke completed only 5 of his 13 passes, with his longest pass being 13 yards (and 6 of those yards were gained after the catch). He had three of his passes tipped.

The running game went just as well. Darrion Dupree and Tawee Walker combined for 21 yards on 11 carries. When you factor in the 14 yards lost to Locke’s two sacks, you get a frankly unacceptable 6 rushing yards for the team in the first half.

Minnesota punted five times in the first half but managed two productive drives. Late in the first quarter, they reached the end zone on a drive that included a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch by Daniel Jackson and a push across the goal line by Brosmer.

The Gophers found great success on their first drive of the second quarter after a 40-yard carry from Marcus Major put them within striking distance. Brosmer connected with Elijah Spencer on a 14-yard pass to get into the redzone, then Jackson made an impressive grab in front of the end zone for the touchdown.

Wisconsin’s only lifeline in the first half was a defense that produced several big plays, including a pass breakup on third-and-short by Tackett Curtis and an 11-yard sack by Elijah Hills.

That defense was dismantled on the Gophers’ first drive of the second half. Minnesota ran 11 plays over 6:02 of the game clock for 83 yards, capped by a touchdown catch by tight end Jameson Geers, who hauled in the ball despite contact.

Wisconsin finally crossed midfield with 5:40 left in the 3rd quarter after Locke hit back-to-back completions. The next three plays went nowhere, but they were saved by a late hit penalty. Locke took advantage of the extra opportunity and found Vinny Anthony II in the end zone for the Badgers’ first points.

After the Gophers missed a field goal, Wisconsin had a chance to take the lead early in the fourth quarter. Locke found his accuracy, Walker found some running space and Wisconsin drove into the redzone.

However, an incompletion and a penalty stalled things and they settled for a field goal attempt of their own, which Vakos missed at the right edge. It was his 7th missed field goal of the season.

The miss seemed to snatch momentum from the Badger offense, as they went three-out on their next drive and Locke nearly threw two interceptions.

Minnesota added a field goal and then stopped the Badgers on 4th and short to put the game on ice.

The Badgers lost five straight games and finished the season for the first time since 1991. They finished the season with a record of 5-7.

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