Beating Wisconsin would be new peak for Gophers football

MADISON, WIS. – Back in July, before anybody outside the Gophers program could fathom a day like this, with so much on the line at Wisconsin, Matt Limegrover was describing the mind-set it takes to become a conference champion.

"It's like climbing Everest," the offensive coordinator said. "You've got to get to Base Camp No. 1 before you can summit the peak. And not many people summit the peak, but there's a certain group that can get to Base Camp No. 1."

Limegrover said he thought the Gophers reached the first base camp in 2012, with their bowl appearance, and then climbed to the second base camp last year, when they beat then-No. 25 Nebraska.

"They need to understand, you've got to start over [each year]," Limegrover said. "But at least they've kind of tasted the food at base camp and know what it's like."

The No. 22 Gophers have ascended higher again, with wins at Michigan and Nebraska, and a win at No. 14 Wisconsin on Saturday would hoist them to a previously unthinkable level, as Big Ten West champions.

But this next step will be perilous and steep. They'll face a scorching-hot Badgers team — with superstar tailback Melvin Gordon and the nation's third-ranked scoring defense — before a raucous, sellout, jump-around crowd at Camp Randall Stadium. The thirsty, red-clad mob of 80,000 will be desperate to send Wisconsin into that same Big Ten title game against Ohio State.

Strength in numbers

The Badgers (9-2, 6-1) have a six-game winning streak, and Gordon is putting up the biggest rushing numbers the Big Ten has seen in 25 years. Meanwhile, the defense has helped Wisconsin outscore opponents 248-97 during a six-game winning streak.

Even at full strength, the Gophers (8-3, 5-2) would have a difficult time. And as the week unfolded, there were increasing signs that they'll be without 1,400-yard rusher David Cobb, who strained a hamstring last week at Nebraska. With Cobb unable to practice, at least through Thursday, Jerry Kill called him "big-time questionable."

Throw in Minnesota's other injuries (including wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky's ankle and safety Antonio Johnson's knee), and it's understandable why the Gophers are 15-point underdogs.

Then there's the history. Minnesota leads the all-time series with Wisconsin 59-56-8, but all the highlights of the Gophers swinging Paul Bunyan's Axe are in standard definition. They are 0-10 against the Badgers since 2003 and haven't won in Madison since 1994.

"It's hard to go into Madison and win, but it's hard to go into Lincoln and win," said Kill, who just coached the Gophers to their first win at Nebraska since 1960.

The players have this glint in their eyes. Go ahead and underestimate them again. They were 13-point underdogs when they reclaimed the Little Brown Jug from Michigan. They were 10.5-point underdogs at Nebraska, trailed 21-7 at halftime, lost Cobb early in the third quarter — and still won.

Sophomore quarterback Mitch Leidner led the comeback, finishing with a season-high 22 carries for 111 rushing yards. He also passed for 135 yards, improving to 10-4 in games he's started at quarterback. He watched the entire Wisconsin game from the sideline last year, while Philip Nelson completed only seven of 23 passes in a 20-7 loss at TCF Bank Stadium.

"I'm always hungry, and I know I have a lot of haters out there," Leidner said. "I know a lot of people think I shouldn't be in this position. But that just keeps me motivated. I know how hard I've worked. I've always got a chip on my shoulder."

Opening a mixed bag

Leidner had his best passing day of the year when the Gophers clobbered Iowa 51-14. That same Hawkeyes team almost turned Wisconsin's season on its ear last week. The Badgers, who had just crushed Nebraska by 25 points, needed more heroics from Gordon to secure a 26-24 win.

"The biggest thing with Iowa was they started getting them off balance," Limegrover said. "They threw it a little bit when you figured they'd run. And then they'd turn around and maybe run on a long-yardage situation."

The Gophers need to keep the Badgers guessing, too. If they don't have Cobb, they'll rely on three tailbacks — senior Donnell Kirkwood, junior Rodrick Williams and freshman Berkley Edwards — who have combined for 317 yards, less than a quarter of Cobb's total.

"I anticipate a ton of quarterback run," Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Aranda told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Early in the year [the Gophers] were conventional, or as conventional as Minnesota was last year. They've transformed themselves to where they are now a quarterback spread-run game. And they have had success since that transformation."

Dual threat

The Badgers have transformed, too. They started with Tanner McEvoy at quarterback, then benched him in favor of Joel Stave. Now they use both. Stave gets most of the snaps and remains a pocket passer. McEvoy comes in, often mid-drive, and is basically in there to run the read option. In his past three games, McEvoy has attempted just one pass.

"They do have good quarterbacks, but they're not the ones that are going to beat you," Gophers defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys said, referring to Gordon. "We've got to get them into a position to force the quarterbacks to make plays, or it's going to be a long day."

But if Minnesota's game plan works, the Gophers will be higher up the mountain than anyone could have predicted, celebrating a division title, while swinging the Axe, breathing that rarefied air.