Four takeaways from Wisconsin’s 24-7 loss to Minnesota at Camp Randall

On November 30, 2024By Littum

MADISON – Minnesota didn’t just reclaim Paul Bunyan’s ax Friday afternoon. It grabbed it from Wisconsin.

The Badgers faced a must-win situation to secure their 23rd consecutive bowl berth, but the team’s need for a win did not result in an inspired result.

UW lost, 24-7, to the Gophers at Camp Randall Stadium. In addition to likely ending the Badgers’ bowl run, the defeat means the Badgers will suffer their first losing season since 2001. Their 22-year streak was the longest among Power Four programs.

MORE: Box score | UW schedule | Big Ten position

The Badgers (5-7, 3-6 Big Ten) also finished the season on a five-game losing streak, the longest since dropping six straight in 1991, Barry Alvarez’s sophomore season.

The recipe for defeat was similar to what UW fans have seen for the past month. The offense struggled, the defense couldn’t get off the field enough or create turnovers.

The Badgers finished with 166 total yards, its lowest total of the season.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Braedyn Locke completed 15 of 32 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt freshman Trech Kekahuna had a team-high six catches for UW for 64 yards. Junior Vinny Anthony caught the team’s only touchdown and had four catches for 39 yards.

Wisconsin finished the season with less than 300 yards of offense in four of their final five games.

Minnesota (7-5, 5-4) finished with 374 yards of offense. Senior quarterback Max Brosmer completed 17 of 26 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore running back Darius Taylor ran for 143 yards on 32 carries.

Here are four takeaways from the game.

The run game is a no-show for Wisconsin in the battle for the ax

If you can’t run the ball, it’s hard to win in the Big Ten. The chances are even slimmer in a rivalry game characterized by the physical nature that has been Wisconsin vs. Minnesota.

In a must-have game, the Badgers put up 36 yards on 24 carries, a 1.5-yard average. It easily beat their previous worst day of the season, a 27-carry, 81-yard effort in a loss to Penn State on Oct. 26.

Senior Tawee Walker had 14 carries for a team-high 36 yards.

With their passing game up and down this season, the Badgers needed a running game to lean on and didn’t get it.

Wisconsin catches break, makes the most of it

The game was an uphill battle for the Badgers with few breaks going their way. That changed midway through the third quarter when Locke hit Walker for no gain on third-and-15 from the Minnesota 45.

However, linebacker Joey Gerlach was called for a late hit on Walker that extended the drive.

Three plays later, Wisconsin reached the end zone for the first time on a 15-yard pass from Locke to Anthony with 3:13 left in the third quarter.

The extra point pushed the Gophers lead to 21-7. That drive and a missed field goal by Minnesota on its next possession gave UW a chance heading into the fourth quarter.

But the Badgers could do no more damage. Nathanial Vakos missed a 37-yard field goal with about 12 minutes left, and on UW’s next possession it went three-and-out with about eight minutes left.

First down failures make the game tough for the Badgers

The numbers in the first half were dismal for the Wisconsin offense. It had seven possessions and gained just 43 yards. It had three first downs, including one that came on penalties, and 3 three and outs.

Wisconsin’s problems started on first down, gaining just 15 yards in 10 plays. That’s an average of 1.5 yards. In other words, the Badgers were routinely in second-and-long situations throughout the first half to set the tone for a rough day overall for the offense.

Unsurprisingly, the team also struggled on third downs, converting two out of eight chances. The average yards needed for a first down was 8.2 yards.

The defense settled down, gave UW a chance

The Badgers struggled midway through the first half. The Gophers converted drives of 89 and 75 yards in the first and second quarters into touchdowns and had the ball with a chance for another score with 8:50 left in the half.

Wisconsin closed the half by holding the Gophers to one first down before forcing a punt and then 2 three-and-outs to close the half. Senior Elijah Hills had the big play down that stretch with a sack of Max Brosmer on third-and-8 from the Minnesota 45 to end the first drive.

The Badgers then took advantage of two Gophers penalties to force a three-and-out on their next drive before holding Minnesota to 5 yards on their next drive. It was the Gophers’ shortest drive of the decisive first half, and they weren’t able to add to their lead until the third quarter.