The Badgers left TCF Bank Stadium with Paul Bunyan's Axe on Saturday, keeping the rivalry trophy for the eighth consecutive year. But Wisconsin left with something potentially even more treasured, too: A clear path to the Rose Bowl.
The Gophers? They got one more close-up look at how big the gap is between themselves and their long-term goals.
Wisconsin effortlessly piled up nearly 500 yards of offense, misfired on exactly one incomplete pass, and put themselves in position for a Leaders Division showdown with Penn State later this month by walloping Minnesota, 42-13.
The Gophers fell to 2-8 on the season, and 1-5 in the Big Ten, clinching their sixth consecutive losing season in the conference. The 16th-ranked Badgers are now 8-2 on the season, and 4-2 in the Big Ten. More importantly, thanks to losses earlier in the day by Ohio State and Penn State, the Badgers now can reach the inaugural Big Ten championship game -- and a potential rematch with Michigan State, with a second consecutive Rose Bowl berth on the line -- by
winning their final two games of the regular season, against Illinois and the Nittany Lions.
MarQueis Gray, one day after he announced the birth of twin sons, completed only six of 14 passes for 51 yards, though he added 68 yards by running with the ball 19 times. But the Gopher offense mostly fizzled all day -- Minnesota managed only 156 yards of offense, fewer than the Badgers had through the air alone -- and both touchdowns were scored by their special teams. One came on a fake field goal, a play that kicker Jordan Wettstein turned into a 5-yard touchdown run, and the other a 96-yard kickoff return by senior Duane Bennett.
Wisconsin's offense was as dominant as ever, rolling up 461 yards, and quarterback Russell Wilson was nearly perfect. The senior QB completed his first 16 passes, throwing for 178 yards and four touchdowns. And the Badgers, behind tailback Montee Ball's 166 yards on 23 carries, ran for 283 yards.