MADISON, Wis. — — Athan Kaliakmanis linked with Le’Meke Brockington on a tiebreaking 45-yard landing with 3:40 remaining and Minnesota barely held on within the remaining minute to beat Wisconsin 23-16 on Saturday.
After an harm knocked Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz out of the sport on the Badgers’ remaining collection, backup Chase Wolf drove the Badgers into place for a tying landing. A move interference penalty in the long run zone gave Wisconsin first-and-goal from the 5 with 26 seconds left.
However a holding penalty and a false begin pushed Wisconsin again to the 20. After Wolf threw an incompletion, two extra false begins created second-and-goal from the 30. The sport ended with Wolf throwing an incompletion right into a crowd of gamers in the long run zone on fourth-and-goal from the 25.
Minnesota (8-4, 5-4 Huge Ten) retained possession of Paul Bunyan’s Axe, which works to the winner of this annual matchup. The Gophers additionally tied the most-played Soccer Bowl Subdivision rivalry — these two Huge Ten foes have been going through one another since 1890 — at 62-62-8.
Wisconsin (6-6, 4-5) fell to 4-3 beneath interim head coach Jim Leonhard, who was promoted from defensive coordinator after the firing of Paul Chryst. Minnesota, which defeated Wisconsin 23-13 final 12 months, has crushed the Badgers in consecutive seasons for the primary time since 1993-94.
Minnesota was going through second-and-11 when Brockington ran a slant route, caught Kaliakmanis’ move in stride contained in the 35 and outran Wisconsin’s protection to the top zone for his first profession landing.
Kalikamanis ended up 19 of 29 for 319 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in his third recreation filling in for Tanner Morgan, who’s out with an upper-body harm. Brevyn Spann-Ford, Dylan Wright and Daniel Jackson mixed to catch 17 passes for 267 yards.
Wisconsin, which had come again from a 13-6 deficit to take a 16-13 lead late within the third quarter, couldn’t rally a second time.
Minnesota’s Justin Walley picked off a Mertz move and had a 28-yard interception return to place the Gophers in place for a game-clinching rating, however Matthew Trickett’s 48-yard field-goal try bounced off the correct upright with 1:48 left.
That set the stage for Wolf’s comeback try.
This recreation formed up as a duel between two of the nation’s prime operating backs in Minnesota’ Mohamed Ibrahim and Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen, nevertheless it didn’t fairly work out that means.
Allen missed Saturday’s recreation after injuring his ankle per week earlier in a 15-14 victory at Nebraska. Ibrahim took an enormous hit in move safety on Minnesota’s opening collection and completed with 27 carries for 70 yards, the primary time this season he’s been held beneath 100 yards.
Minnesota discovered a solution to win anyhow.
THE TAKEAWAY
Minnesota: The Gophers withstood the absence of Morgan and security Tyler Nubin to indicate they’ve gained the higher hand on this rivalry. After dropping to Wisconsin 14 straight occasions from 2004-17, the Gophers have gained three of the final 5 matchups.
Wisconsin: This program prides itself on offensive line, however the repeated penalties by Wisconsin’s offensive linemen saved the Badgers from tying the rating on the sport’s remaining collection. Wisconsin’s 2023 coach — whether or not it is Leonhard or another person — should determine the way to to enhance this offense. After Chimere Dike’s 9-yard reverse put Wisconsin forward 16-13 within the third quarter, the Badgers went three-and-out thrice and threw an interception of their subsequent 4 collection.
UP NEXT
Each groups ought to be taught their bowl locations and opponents on Dec. 3.
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