Spotlight Top Story Offense's turnovers spoil Wisconsin football defense's efforts in snowy loss to Minnesota Colten Bartholomew Nov 29, 2025 Nov 29, 2025 Updated Dec 4, 2025 × Colten Bartholomew Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save MINNEAPOLIS — A familiar weight was on the shoulders of the University of Wisconsin football team’s defense Saturday.kAm%92E D:56 @7 E96 32== H2E4965 :ED @776?D6 DECF88=6 2D :E 925 7@C >@DE 6G6CJ 82>6 E9:D D62D@?[ H9:49 >28?:7:65 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 6249 D?2A H96? E96 q2586CD 5676?D6 H2D @? E96 7:6=5]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^e2cd`4b7\g6a3\che6\h46g\ddde53gh52hdQmVyFDE 4C62E65 E9:D 96D:E2E:@? @776?D:G6=JVi "F2CE6C324< H@6D 3:E6 (:D4@?D:? 282:? :? |:??6D@E2 =@DDk^2mk^Am kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^DA@CED^7@@E32==^b\E9:?8D\E92E\DE@@5\@FE\:?\H:D4@?D:?\7@@E32==D\=@DD\@7\E96\2I6\2E\>:??6D@E2^2CE:4=60ddh6ae`d\geed\cdga\2_ab\ach_f4a2`fb7]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm%96 `f\f =@DD E@ E96 v@A96CDk^2m E@ HC2A 2 c\g 42>A2:8? D9@H65 J6E 282:? E92E 2 8@@5 677@CE H2D?’E 6?@F89 7@C (:D4@?D:?’D 5676?D6 E@ 4@G6C E96 @776?D6’D H2CED]k^Am People are also reading… Two retired Walworth County sheriff's officers hired to Lake Geneva Police Department Wisconsin Department of Transportation to host meeting about upcoming road improvement project Big things expected at new small course Look Ahead: Gary Con, fundraiser to help animals & a Balloon Adventure begins in Lake Geneva New Visit Lake Geneva partner has the right look and feel for special events Look Ahead: Maple Fest plus plenty of live music, comedy & more this weekend in Lake Geneva Lake Geneva school district set to implement updated facilities and grade configuration plan Experienced captains to lead team, freshmen fight for varsity innings in upcoming season. How to watch, stream, listen to Wisconsin men's basketball's NCAA Tournament opener Wisconsin men's basketball 7-footer 'doing more every day' following apparent ankle injury MLB Free Agency: Tarik Skubal could set more contract records next offseason Lake Geneva BID considers adding Oktoberfest coordinator Wisconsin's Nick Boyd doesn't need All-Big Ten snub to motivate him. He's always this way Head-on crash in Burlington on Wednesday afternoon leaves one dead Mendota Marsh: War! What is it good for? kAm“(6 DECF88=65 @776?D:G6=J[ 2?5 2D 2 5676?D6[ J@F DE2CE E@ A=2J 2 =:EE=6 E:89E[” q2586CD D6?:@C @FED:56 =:?6324<6C |2D@? #6:86C D2:5] “p E@F495@H? :D E96 6?5\2==[ 36\2==[ 2?5 J@F <?@H J@F’C6 A=2J:?8 @? E96 C@A6D]k^Am kAm“xE’D E@F89 H96? J@F’C6 AFE :? D@>6 E@F89 D:EF2E:@?D[ 3FE 8C62E 5676?D6D 7:?5 2 H2J] x’> AC@F5 @7 E96 H2J @FC 5676?D6 7@F89E 2?5 A=2J65 2== J62C]”k^AmkAm|:??6D@E2 82:?65 a`g J2C5D[ `b 7:CDE 5@H?D[ 2?5 h_ J2C5D A2DD:?8[ 2== 6:E96C E96 =@H6DE @C E:65 7@C E96 =@H6DE @7 2?J A@H6C\4@?76C6?46 @AA@?6?E 282:?DE E96 q2586CD E9:D D62D@?] k^Am kAm%9C66 (:D4@?D:? EFC?@G6CD — EH@ :?E6C46AE:@?D 2?5 2 7F>3=6 — AC@G65 @?6 E@@ >2?J 282:?DE |:??6D@E2] %96 q2586CD’ 5676?D6 EFC?65 2H2J |:??6D@E2 Wf\d[ d\c q:8 %6?X 27E6C 2 7F>3=65 D?2A 82G6 :E E96 32== 2E (:D4@?D:?’D aa\J2C5 =:?6] $6?:@C 5676?D:G6 =:?6>2? q6? q2CE6? 3=@4<65 2 7:6=5 8@2= 7@FC A=2JD =2E6C E@ <66A |:??6D@E2 D4@C6=6DD :? E96 7:CDE BF2CE6C] (:D4@?D:? BF2CE6C324< wF?E6C $:>>@?D E9C6H E96 7:CDE @7 EH@ E9:C5\BF2CE6C :?E6C46AE:@?D E@ 8:G6 E96 v@A96CD E96 32== 2E (:D4@?D:?’D cc] %96 5676?D6 8@E 2 E9C66\2?5\@FE]k^Am kAm$:>>@?D’ D64@?5 A:4< H2D C6EFC?65 eg J2C5D E@ (:D4@?D:?’D `e[ 2?5 E96 v@A96CD E9C6H 2 E@F495@H? A2DD E9C66 A=2JD =2E6C E@ AFE E96 82>6 2E :ED 7:?2= >2C8:?]k^AmkAm“(6 ;FDE 8@E E@ C2==J[” =:?6324<6C |2D@? !@D2 D2:5] “xE’D[ V$@ H92En }@H H92EnV %96 @776?D6 … H6 <?6H H6 925 E@ H:? E9:D 82>6 5676?D:G6=J] (6 925 E@ 86E EFC?@G6CD] (6 82G6 FA 3:8 A=2JD 2D H6==]”k^AmkA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^6caf2_`g\_25`\c7cg\g_dh\2adca5a_bafdQmb <6J A=2JD 7C@> (:D4@?D:? 7@@E32==VD D62D@?\6?5:?8 C:G2=CJ =@DD 2E |:??6D@E2k^2mk^Am kAm$2EFC52J H2D E96 4@?E:?F2E:@? @7 2 7CFDEC2E:?8 EC6?5 7@C E96 q2586CD 5676?D6] (:D4@?D:? 5:5?’E H:? 2 82>6 E9:D D62D@? :? H9:49 :ED @AA@?6?E D4@C65 >@C6 E92? `_ A@:?ED] ~?=J @?6 E62> :? E96 uq$[ }@] ` ~9:@ $E2E6[ 6?E6C65 E9:D H66< 2==@H:?8 =6DD E92? `_ A@:?ED A6C 82>6]k^Am kAm%96 v@A96CD’ 2G6C286 DE2CE:?8 7:6=5 A@D:E:@? H2D E96:C @H? cc\J2C5 =:?6[ 2 DE2CE:?8 A@:?E E92E H2D 24C@DD >:57:6=5 F?E:= EH@ AF?ED :?D:56 E96:C `_ :? E96 D64@?5 92=7] (:D4@?D:?VD 2G6C286 DE2CE H2D :ED aa]k^AmkAm“u:6=5 A@D:E:@? 2?5 EFC?@G6CD[ J@F 42?’E H:? 82>6D H96? J@F =@D6 3@E9 @7 E9@D6 32EE=6D[ 2?5 H6 5:5 E@52J[” D6?:@C =:?6324<6C s2CCJ= !6E6CD@? D2:5] “*@F =@D6 E96 EFC?@G6C 32EE=6[ =6E 2=@?6 3J E9C66 @C >@C6[ J@F’C6 D6EE:?8 J@FCD6=7 FA E@ =@D6 E96 82>6]”k^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^ddh6ae`d\geed\cdga\2_ab\ach_f4a2`fb7Qmb E9:?8D E92E DE@@5 @FE :? (:D4@?D:? 7@@E32==VD =@DD E@ |:??6D@E2 :? 32EE=6 7@C pI6k^2mk^Am kAm(:D4@?D:? 4@249 {F<6 u:4<6== 36=:6G6D E96 E62>’D 5676?D6 :D 4=@D6 E@ H92E E96 AC@8C2> ?665D 27E6C 2=E6C:?8 E96 D496>6 2?5 A6CD@??6= :? E96 7C@?E[ 3FE E96 8C@FA H:== 6IA6C:6?46 962GJ EFC?@G6C H:E9 :ED 6?E:C6 7C@?E[ E@A E9C66 4@C?6C324<D 2?5 E@A EH@ D276E:6D 2== 6I92FDE:?8 6=:8:3:=:EJ]k^AmkAm“x E9:?< E96J’G6 8@E 2 8@@5 3625 @? H92E :E :D E92E E96J ?665 E@ 36 23=6 E@ 5@[ 9@H H6 ?665 E@ 36 23=6 E@ 5@ :E[” u:4<6== D2:5] “%96J A=2J65 H6==] x E9:?< E96 8FJD FA 7C@?E :? A2CE:4F=2C H2D E96 DEC6?8E9 @7 E96 5676?D6[ E96 4@?D:DE6?4J @7 E96 5676?D6]k^Am kAm“x E9:?< E96JVC6 :? 2 8@@5 A=246[ >@G:?8 :? 2 C62==J[ C62==J 8@@5 5:C64E:@?] qFE E92EVD 92C5 E@ <:?5 @7 D66 C:89E ?@H :? E9:D H2=<:?8 @77 E96 7:6=5 H96? :EVD 2== 23@FE H:??:?8]”k^Am Photos: Wisconsin, Minnesota tussle for Paul Bunyan's Axe Wisconsin and Minnesota face off Saturday for Paul Bunyan's Axe in Minneapolis. TOM BAKER, Associated Press Minnesota running back Darius Taylor scores a touchdown against Wisconsin during the first half Saturday in Minneapolis. TOM BAKER, Associated Press Minnesota kicker Brady Denaburg kicks a field goal against Wisconsin during the first half Saturday in Minneapolis. TOM BAKER, Associated Press Wisconsin players celebrates after a touchdown against Minnesota during the first half Saturday in Minneapolis. TOM BAKER, Associated Press Minnesota players enters the field to play Wisconsin on Saturday in Minneapolis. TOM BAKER, Associated Press Minnesota players enters the field to play Wisconsin on Saturday in Minneapolis. TOM BAKER, Associated Press Minnesota players gets ready to enter the field to Wisconsin on Saturday in Minneapolis. TOM BAKER, Associated Press Wisconsin quarterback Carter Smith fakes a handoff to Darrion Dupree during the first half of Saturday's game against Minnesota in Minneapolis. TOM BAKER, Associated Press Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey throws a pass against Wisconsin during the first half Saturday in Minneapolis. TOM BAKER, Associated Press Wisconsin receiver Trech Kekahuna is tackled during Saturday's first half against Minnesota in Minneapolis. TOM BAKER, Associated Press Wisconsin quarterback Carter Smith carries the ball against Minnesota during the first half Saturday in Minneapolis. TOM BAKER, Associated Press Minnesota players hold up Paul Bunyan Axe on Saturday after defeating Wisconsin in Minneapolis. TOM BAKER, Associated Press Minnesota players hold up Paul Bunyan Axe on Saturday after defeating Wisconsin in Minneapolis. TOM BAKER, Associated Press A Minnesota fan watches as players hold up the Paul Bunyan Axe on Saturday after the Gophers defeated Wisconsin in Minneapolis. TOM BAKER, Associated Press Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell speaks at a news conference Saturday after losing to Minnesota in Minneapolis. TOM BAKER, Associated Press Minnesota fans celebrate after defeating Wisconsin in Saturday's game in Minneapolis. TOM BAKER, Associated Press Locations Madison Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Wisconsin football coach Luke Fickell recaps the loss to Minnesota 'Just created this hesitation offensively': Quarterback woes bite Wisconsin again in Minnesota loss The Badgers' most pressing need this offseason, which began Saturday night, was exposed in a 17-7 defeat at the hands of the Gophers. 3 key plays from Wisconsin football's season-ending rivalry loss at Minnesota The Badgers completed their 2025 campaign with a winless record on the road after falling to the Gophers. Here are three key plays from the lo… 3 things that stood out in Wisconsin football's loss to Minnesota in battle for Axe The Badgers sputtered in their rivalry showdown with the Gophers, struggling to overcome the blustery conditions and their three turnovers. Poll: How would you grade Wisconsin football's performance at Minnesota The Badgers wrapped up their season with a loss in the Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe. What did you make of Wisconsin's efforts against Minnesota? Rewind: Minnesota knocks off Wisconsin 17-7 The Badgers enter the Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe having won two of their last three games. Here's how to follow the action. Wisconsin football picks up 1st transfer portal addition of cycle in standout defensive lineman The Badgers started their transfer portal work by landing a player at a position of need with a tie to the coaching staff. Polzin: What does a No. 1 receiver do when Wisconsin football's pass game struggles? Not pout Vinny Anthony II was expecting a big final season with the Badgers. It's been anything but that for the senior, whose upbeat attitude has draw… 4 observations after rewatching Wisconsin football's season-finale loss at Minnesota What Wisconsin did and didn't do for its quarterbacks, a senior defender having an impact despite not recording a tackle, the ILB logjam and more. Wisconsin football adds 2nd defender via transfer portal The Badgers landed a Wisconsin native out of the transfer portal on Sunday. 3 takeaways from Wisconsin football adding 3-star receiver just before signing day The Badgers flipped a player from his home-state school to pick up a second receiver in the 2026 class. Wisconsin football loses transfer D-lineman 2 days after commitment The Badgers looked to have gotten an early start on replenishing their defensive front, but they're back to square one after a late-night deco… Luke Fickell and a deer walk into a bar in Phil Hands’ cartoon Wisconsin Badgers football coach Luke Fickell had another rough season, finishing the year 4-8. Sure, the team won a few games, but it was sti… Wisconsin 3-star tight end commit flips to Big Ten rival The Badgers' 2026 continued to change in the hours before early signing period. Why Wisconsin football's only in-state recruit never wavered in his commitment Appleton North linebacker Ben Wenzel discussed what it means to officially join the Badgers on signing day, the constant state of flux in the … Kevin Porter Jr.'s return sparks Bucks, adds extra dimension to backcourt Milwaukee's guard played in just his second game of the season on Saturday, paying dividends after injuries kept him out of the lineup amid th… Watch Now: Related Video Wisconsin women's hockey coach previews Frozen Four game vs. Penn State WIsconsin women's hockey practices at Frozen Four WIsconsin women's hockey practices at Frozen Four Luke Fickell on managing spring break splitting spring practice portions Luke Fickell on managing spring break splitting spring practice portions Luke Fickell says depth makes safety competition interesting Luke Fickell says depth makes safety competition interesting
'Just created this hesitation offensively': Quarterback woes bite Wisconsin again in Minnesota loss The Badgers' most pressing need this offseason, which began Saturday night, was exposed in a 17-7 defeat at the hands of the Gophers.
3 key plays from Wisconsin football's season-ending rivalry loss at Minnesota The Badgers completed their 2025 campaign with a winless record on the road after falling to the Gophers. Here are three key plays from the lo…
3 things that stood out in Wisconsin football's loss to Minnesota in battle for Axe The Badgers sputtered in their rivalry showdown with the Gophers, struggling to overcome the blustery conditions and their three turnovers.
Poll: How would you grade Wisconsin football's performance at Minnesota The Badgers wrapped up their season with a loss in the Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe. What did you make of Wisconsin's efforts against Minnesota?
Rewind: Minnesota knocks off Wisconsin 17-7 The Badgers enter the Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe having won two of their last three games. Here's how to follow the action.
Wisconsin football picks up 1st transfer portal addition of cycle in standout defensive lineman The Badgers started their transfer portal work by landing a player at a position of need with a tie to the coaching staff.
Polzin: What does a No. 1 receiver do when Wisconsin football's pass game struggles? Not pout Vinny Anthony II was expecting a big final season with the Badgers. It's been anything but that for the senior, whose upbeat attitude has draw…
4 observations after rewatching Wisconsin football's season-finale loss at Minnesota What Wisconsin did and didn't do for its quarterbacks, a senior defender having an impact despite not recording a tackle, the ILB logjam and more.
Wisconsin football adds 2nd defender via transfer portal The Badgers landed a Wisconsin native out of the transfer portal on Sunday.
3 takeaways from Wisconsin football adding 3-star receiver just before signing day The Badgers flipped a player from his home-state school to pick up a second receiver in the 2026 class.
Wisconsin football loses transfer D-lineman 2 days after commitment The Badgers looked to have gotten an early start on replenishing their defensive front, but they're back to square one after a late-night deco…
Luke Fickell and a deer walk into a bar in Phil Hands’ cartoon Wisconsin Badgers football coach Luke Fickell had another rough season, finishing the year 4-8. Sure, the team won a few games, but it was sti…
Wisconsin 3-star tight end commit flips to Big Ten rival The Badgers' 2026 continued to change in the hours before early signing period.
Why Wisconsin football's only in-state recruit never wavered in his commitment Appleton North linebacker Ben Wenzel discussed what it means to officially join the Badgers on signing day, the constant state of flux in the …
Kevin Porter Jr.'s return sparks Bucks, adds extra dimension to backcourt Milwaukee's guard played in just his second game of the season on Saturday, paying dividends after injuries kept him out of the lineup amid th…
