Road to Week 1: Simulating Week 14 of the Badgers 2024 Season in CFB 25

Week 14: Wisconsin (7-4) vs Minnesota (4-7)

The Badgers defense dominated up front during the first quarter as the Golden Gophers failed to pick up a single first down in the period, totaling 22 yards of offense across three drives.

Still, Minnesota managed to get a field goal with 10 minutes left in the first after a horrendous punt by Atticus Bertrams from his own end zone didn't reach midfield.

While Wisconsin couldn't string together positive plays offensively, they managed to produce enough explosive plays to put points on the board.

On the drive after Minnesota's 51-yard field goal, Wisconsin's offense converted back-to-back third and longs with a 22-yard rush from Nate White and a 25-yard pass from Tyler Van Dyke to Vinny Anthony, respectively. The Badgers were able to reach the redzone but couldn't find paydirt, resulting in a 29-yarder from Nathanial Vakos.

Wisconsin regained possession with four minutes left in the first period, and after entering Minnesota territory, the drive stalled, leaving 3rd and 11 from the 46 yard line. Once again, the Badgers came through with a splash play, as Van Dyke found Anthony for a 29-yard catch and run in the final seconds of the first.

Still, the Badgers couldn't punch it in as Vakos drilled a 30-yarder from the left hash just three plays later.

After back-to-back 3-and-outs, the Golden Gophers punted the ball to CJ Williams, who found a seam and ran the kick back 23 yards to Minnesota's 42 yard line. Williams gashed the Gophers again two plays later, hauling in a 35-yard pass and setting up a six-yard touchdown throw from Van Dyke to Anthony.

Now leading 13-3, Wisconsin's defense yielded their first big play, as Max Brosmer found Nick Kallerup for an 11-yard completion for the first Golden Gopher first down of the contest. Still, the drive went nowhere, as Minnesota settled for a punt.

With the chance to turn the game into a blowout, the Badger offense couldn't find any traction and suffered a 3-and-out.

Having gotten the monkey off their back and logging a first down in their last drive, Minnesota's offense hit its stride. Passes of 13 yards and 18 yards with a 24-yard run by Darius Taylor in between gave the Golden Gophers 1st and Goal from the 2 yard line. Sieh Bangura punched it in on first down, cutting the Badger advantage to 3.

Wisconsin's last drive of the first half stalled near midfield, and the score remained 13-10 entering halftime.

The Badgers marched down the field in the opening drive of the second half -- highlighted by a 20-yard scamper by White -- before settling for a 46-yard field goal by Vakos.

Minnesota had an answer to the three-point kick, launching an 11-play, 56-yard drive that ended in a 36-yard field goal.

Back to a three-point game, disaster struck for the Cardinal and White, with Van Dyke taking a first down sack before getting stripped while throwing on second down. The loose ball rolled inside the five, where Jah Joyner of the Golden Gophers fell on it. Two plays later, and Wisconsin faced their first deficit since the opening quarter, going down 20-16 after a two-yard touchdown run by Jaren Mangham.

As the scoreboard flipped from the third quarter to the fourth, Wisconsin was putting together a quality drive. They opened up the final frame with four straight runs, reaching the Minnesota 35. It was at the 35 where they attempted to convert a 4th and 3. The run to Chez Mellusi on the right side went nowhere, giving the ball back to Minnesota.

The defense did its job and the Badgers got the ball back with 10 minutes remaining. The drive started at the Wisconsin 6 yard line, and while the team managed to pick up a pair of first downs, the drive ended in a punt.

After getting another stop, Van Dyke and Co. went 3-and-out. Following the brief drive, Minnesota was quick to strike as a 21-yard pass from Brosmer to Daniel Jackson pushed the Golden Gophers into plus territory. Wisconsin held strong following the big play and Minnesota lined up to attempt a 57-yard field goal to push the difference to seven points. The attempt was blocked by James Thompson Jr., giving Wisconsin a jolt of energy and the ball at the Badger 47 yard line.

An incomplete pass , a 2-yard run by Mellusi and a pass from Van Dyke to White left the Badgers with 4th and 1. They turned to the uber-reliable Anthony on an end around, picking up five yards and advancing the Badgers to Minnesota's 39 yard line. On the very next play, Van Dyke went for it all, launching a deep ball to Bryson Green in the end zone, and Green came down with it for a score and the lead.

The pass came with 1:30 left in the contest and put Wisconsin ahead 23-20. After a couple of hiccups in the second half, the Badger defense stepped up in the final minute, as Hunter Wohler knocked away a pass on first down before a pair of incompletions and a false start made it 4th and 15.

Needing a stop to secure the win, Wisconsin gave the Golden Gophers some room to work underneath, where Brosmer found Kallerup on a checkdown. Kallerup broke a tackle and bounced to the outside, but Ricardo Hallman shoved Kallerup out of bounds one yard shy of the sticks.

Already starting in field goal range, Wisconsin ran the ball three times to force Minnesota to burn their timeouts and settled for a 48-yard Vakos field goal with 16 seconds left. Both of Brosmer's hail mary heaves hit the turf and the Badgers took home the win.

FINAL: Wisconsin 26, Minnesota 20

Stat Leaders after 13 Weeks

Passing - Van Dyke: 164/259 (63%) for 2,121 yards and 18/4 TD:INT

Rushing - Mellusi: 220 rushes for 970 yards (4.4 ypc) and 5 TD

Receiving - Anthony: 49 receptions for 712 yards and 8 TD

Tackles - Thomas: 101

Sacks - Pius: 9.0

Interceptions - Delancy: 5