James White, Wisconsin football fans react to Braelon Allen and the Badgers sinking PJ Fleck’s ‘boat’ in 28-14 win over Minnesota

Paul Bunyan’s Axe is back in Madison.

Braelon Allen pounded his way to 165 yards and two touchdowns while the defense delivered a shutout in the second half to propel the Wisconsin Badgers a 28-14 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers to recapture the trophy that means so much to the program.

The victory gives Wisconsin a one-game lead in college football’s oldest rivalry, 63-62-8. The Badgers also snapped a two-game skid in the series and enter their bowl game on a high note.

While fans have often been left frustrated in Luke Fickell’s first season, a win over their biggest rival is removing some of the bad taste people have had about the 2023 campaign.

Here’s how Wisconsin players, coaches, former Badgers and fans are reacting to the win on social media.

A glorious moment for the Wisconsin football team

Wisconsin wide receiver Will Pauling: the axe sinks Minnesota coach PJ Fleck’s boat

Pauling had two catches for 19 yards and a touchdown. His 11-yard TD tied the game at 14 late with 2:38 left in the second quarter.

Wisconsin Badgers all-time great running back James White is pumped to see the Axe return to Madison

Wisconsin defensive line coach Greg Scruggs and outside linebackers, special teams coach Matt Mitchell have reason to celebrate

Speaking of PJ Fleck, Twitter had plenty of references to the coach’s motto of ‘row the boat’ with how the Badgers kept Minnesota from being bowl eligible

Minnesota ended the season with four straight losses to fall to 5-7. While the Gophers didn’t reach the six wins needed to be bowl eligible they still might get an invitation if there aren’t enough teams to fill the large number of bowl games.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers predicted a victory

Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen was on a mission to win Paul Bunyan’s Axe

The junior averaged 6.3 yards per carry on his way to a season-high 165 yards in what could be his final game in the rivalry. He scored the Badgers’ first touchdown to tie the game at 7 early in the second quarter and then he did it all himself on UW’s second drive of the third quarter. He started with a 50-yard run and then broke a 14-all tie with his 4-yard TD run. Call it the Braelon Allen drive.

Fans were loving his performance.

REPLAY: Highlights from Wisconsin’s 28-14 win over Minnesota; how the game unfolded