There is more at stake than just a win when Minnesota hosts border rival Wisconsin on Saturday in Minneapolis.
The Badgers (4-7, 2-6 Big Ten) are coming off a 27-10 upset at home over No. 21 Illinois, their second victory over a ranked team in three games.
The Golden Gophers (6-5, 4-4) lost to Northwestern 38-35 at Wrigley Field on a 33-yard field goal in the final minute. Minnesota had a chance to tie but Brady Denaburg’s 40-yard field-goal attempt on the final play was wide left.
Although bowl eligible, the Golden Gophers have lost two in a row and three of their last four games.
“It’s one of the great rivalries in college football,” Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said Monday. “But having it back here is going to be great, good to be back home. But we’ve got to find a way, no matter where we play, to play our best football.”
The series, which dates to 1890, is tied 63-63-8 heading into Saturday’s matchup. Minnesota has won three of the last four, including a 24-7 decision last season at Madison.
“It’s all about getting that Axe,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said Monday, referring to Paul Bunyan’s Axe which is awarded to the winner.
“It’s still the thing that makes this game, in college in particular, so special is when you have these rivalry games. And the great thing about it is, you throw out everything.”
Redshirt freshman Drake Lindsay passed for four touchdowns in the loss to Northwestern, including three to Javon Tracy.
Lindsay has completed 62.3% of his passes for 2,145 yards with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. Le’Meke Brockington is the top target with 44 catches for 460 yards and four scores.
The Badgers held Illinois to just 50 yards on the ground in 29 attempts. Wisconsin also is the first Big Ten team to have five sacks in three straight conference games since Penn State in 2007.
Wisconsin’s injury-riddled offense has shown signs of life under freshman quarterback Carter Smith. The 27 points against Illinois were the team’s most since a 38-14 loss to Alabama on Sept. 13.
Smith, the fourth different starting quarterback this season, has completed 21 of 38 passes with one touchdown and one interception in three games.
Sophomore Darrion Dupree carried 17 times for 131 yards against Illinois with two touchdowns, including an 84-yard scoring run.
Outside linebacker Darryl Peterson III was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, after recording six tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble versus the Fighting Illini.
