Live updates: Wisconsin Badgers vs. Minnesota game thread

Live in-game drive and scoring updates from Wisconsin football's battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Camp Randall Stadium.

Author:
Matt Belz
Publish date:
Nov 26, 2022 7:12 PM EST

In this story:

Wisconsin Badgers

The Wisconsin Badgers (6-5 overall, 4-4 B1G) enter Saturday's matchup against Minnesota hoping to reclaim Paul Bunyan's Axe after falling to the Golden Gophers a year ago.

The game marks a key opportunity for the Badgers to not only secure a pivotal rivalry win but also improve their standing in the Big Ten for bowl positioning.

All Badgers has you covered with our weekly rolling thread of game updates as they happen from Camp Randall Stadium.

Pregame Status Updates

Rolling thread of recruiting visitors for Wisconsin
Wisconsin's preliminary depth chart for the Minnesota game
The following players are unavailable for the Badgers due to injury: running back Braelon Allen, outside linebacker Aaron Witt, and kicker Vito Calvaruso.

The Badgers currently have seven players who are labeled as out for the season per UW: cornerback Al Ashford, defensive end Isaac Townsend, tight end Clay Cundiff, safety Travian Blaylock, defensive end Mike Jarvis, inside linebacker Luna Larson, tight end Cam Large, and cornerback Justin Clark.
Minnesota is starting freshman quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis in the game with Tanner Morgan dealing with an injury.
Wisconsin will be without star edge-rusher Nick Herbig in the first half of the contest after being ejected with a targeting penalty in the second half against Nebraska last week. Freshman Darryl Peterson is earning the start in his place.

In terms of jerseys, Wisconsin is wearing their standard red jerseys with white pants, but are donning white facemasks. Minnesota is wearing maroon pants and white jerseys.
The honorary captain for Wisconsin is former running back Anthony Davis.
Wisconsin has 15 players walking on Senior Day: Tyler Beach (OL), Keeanu Benton (NT), Justin Clark (CB), Jordan DiBenedetto (WR), Cedrick Dort (CB), Jack Eschenbach (TE), Jaylan Franklin (TE), Michael Furtney (OL), Mike Gregoire (WR), Isaac Guerendo (RB), Brady Schipper (RB), Jay Shaw (CB), John Torchio (S), Andy Vujnovich (P), and Chase Wolf (QB). Seniors Chez Mellusi and Alexander Smith announced that they will return next season.

First quarter

Winning the opening coin toss, Wisconsin opts to receive to begin the game.

13:00 - After a pair of short runs to begin their opening drive, Graham Mertz delivers a pair of first down throws to Dean Engram and Skyler Bell.
12:31 - Chez Mellusi picks up another Wisconsin first down on a 13-yard run up the middle of the Minnesota defense.
11:06 - On third down, Minnesota defender Beanie Bishop interferes with Chimere Dike to give the Badgers a first down and move the ball to the 22-yard line.
9:39 - After the drive stalled from there, kicker Nate Van Zelst got Wisconsin on the scoreboard with a 40-yard field goal.

3-0 Wisconsin

9:00 - Minnesota quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis finds tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford for a 14-yard yard gain and a quick first down.
7:20 - Kaliakmanis scrambles for a 23-yard gain to move the Golden Gophers into Wisconsin territory and pick up another first down.
5:37 - Kaliakmanis finds Spann-Ford for a 17-yard gain, and then Minnesota running back Bryce Williams adds 11 more on the ground to move the ball into the red zone.
3:45 - Kaliakmanis completes a 6-yard touchdown throw to Daniel Jackson on a run-pass option to give Minnesota the lead.

7-3 Minnesota

2:26 - After a 6-yard reception by Jackson Acker, the Badgers are unable to move the football, going three-and-out. Andy Vujnovich punts the ball back to Minnesota, with the Gophers taking over at the 26-yard line.

2:12 - Athan Kaliakmanis goes deep to Dylan Wright for a 42-yard completion, beating Wisconsin cornerback Jay Shaw in coverage.
1:50 - Mo Ibrahim gives Minnesota another first down on a 12-yard run to move it to the Wisconsin 20-yard line.
0:10 - Kaliakmanis hits Le'meke Brockington for a 7-yard gain to bring up another fourth down and one at the 11-yard line.

7-3 Minnesota

Second quarter

14:55 - On fourth down the Wisconsin defense comes up with a crucial stop on a quarterback sneak to give the offense the ball back. After review, the call stands on the field, with inside linebacker Jordan Turner credited with the tackle.
12:20 - After a 12-yard slant for a first down from Graham Mertz to Chimere Dike, Chez Mellusi gets another first down on a five-yard gain.
11:18 - Mertz hits Keontez Lewis on an out-breaking route to pick up 25 yards on third down.
8:51 - Following three straight runs, Wisconsin opts to kick a 43-yard field goal. Nate Van Zelst finishes the drive off with three points to make it a 1-point game.

7-6 Minnesota

8:05 - After kicking the ball out of bounds, the Wisconsin defense only allows one yard, and comes up with a crucial three-and-out to get the ball back to the Badgers' offense.
6:27 - Following a pair of runs by Chez Mellusi, Graham Mertz plunges forward on third and one to give the Badgers an initial first down.
5:41 - A brief review overturns an Isaac Guerendo fumble at the 38-yard line, to bring up third down and four for Wisconsin.
4:51 - Graham Mertz picks up three yards on a run up the middle, bringing up fourth and one, and a Wisconsin punt.

4:18 - Wisconsin nose tackle Keeanu Benton backs Minnesota up to their own 10-yard line with a first-down sack.
3:06 - On third and 12, Minnesota running back Mo Ibrahim gains 14 yards around the edge to give the Golden Gophers a first down.
2:10 - Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis keeps in on a zone read to get 11 yards on third down.
1:23 - Kaliakmanis hits a wide-open Daniel Jackson for a 26-yard completion to move Minnesota into scoring position.
1:02 - Mo Ibrahim gains 17 yards on the next two carries to move the Gophers down to the Wisconsin nine-yard line.
0:16 - Darryl Peterson knifes into the backfield for a big third-down stop on a Mo Ibrahim run to bring up fourth and two with just seconds remaining.

0:00 - Minnesota kicker Matthew Trickett hits a 25-yard field goal to end the half and cap off a 13-play drive.

10-6 Minnesota

Third quarter

14:45 - Minnesota quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis completes an 11-yard throw to Brevyn Spann-Ford for a first down.
13:36 - After forcing a third-down incompletion, C.J. Goetz is called for roughing the passer to give Minnesota 15 yards and another first down.
11:41 - Following a 20-yard completion to Spann-Ford, the Badgers come up with another third down stop to bring up fourth and two from the 27-yard line.
10:59 - Despite a 5-yard false start penalty backing the Gophers up, kicker Matthew Trickett would connect on a 50-yard field goal to push Minnesota's lead to seven points.

13-6 Minnesota

10:13 - Graham Mertz throws a 14-yard toss to Chimere Dike for a first down.
9:43 - Mertz then hit Dean Engram for a 24-yard gain to move the ball into Minnesota territory.
9:09 - Isaac Guerendo picks up another first down on an 11-yard run through a wide-open hole.
8:02 - Back-to-back missed touchdown throws from Graham Mertz end the Wisconsin drive at the 18-yard line.
7:58 - Nate Van Zelst makes a 36-yard field goal to cut the Minnesota lead to four.

13-9 Minnesota

7:53 - Wisconsin linebacker Tate Grass comes up with a huge special teams hit on the kickoff return, to pin Minnesota at their own 12-yard line to begin the next drive.
6:51 - The Badgers force a three-and-out by the Minnesota offense to get the ball back with great field position near midfield.

5:55 - After a 15-yard chop-blocking penalty on the Wisconsin offensive line, Chez Mellusi would get the Badgers back on schedule with a 14-yard run.
4:46 - Graham Mertz completes consecutive throws to Chimere Dike and Isaac Guerendo to pick up the first down and overcome the initial penalty.
4:22 - On first down, Mertz finds fullback Jackson Acker a pretty play-action design to pick up 28 yards.
3:14 - Chimere Dike then finds the end zone on a 9-yard reverse to give Wisconsin their first lead of the second half. Quarterback Graham Mertz came up with a big lead block to help spring Dike on the touchdown run.

16-13 Wisconsin

1:59 - Minnesota's offense once again goes three-and-out, as the Wisconsin defense swarms to the football.
0:44 - The Badgers go three-and-out on offense, but pin Minnesota at the 13-yard line with a big tackle from Jake Chaney in punt coverage.
0:30 - Minnesota gets a big play in the passing game with Athan Kaliakmanis gaining 23 yards on a throw to Dylan Wright.

16-13 Wisconsin

Fourth Quarter

13:42 - James Thompson Jr. and Darryl Peterson each come up with sacks to back Minnesota up further and bring up fourth and 22 for Minnesota. As a result, Wisconsin gets the ball back at their own 31-yard line after the Gopher punt.
11:01 - Wisconsin can't go anywhere on their next drive, punting the ball back to Minnesota and giving the Gophers the ball back at their own 22-yard line.

10:24 - A 19-yard completion from Athan Kaliakmanis to Brevyn Spann-Ford moves the chains for Minnesota.
9:30 - Daniel Jackson hauls in an amazing catch on the sidelines to move Minnesota into the red zone. Jackson made a double move and gained 34 yards on the reception.
8:01 - Alexander Smith breaks up a third down throw into the end zone to bring up a Minnesota field goal from the nine-yard line. Matthew Trickett makes the 27-yard attempt to tie the game up.

16-16 tie

6:21 - The Badgers have another three-and-out on offense, bringing up a 42-yard punt by Andy Vujnovich.
5:37 - A Dylan Wright 7-yard catch and a short run by Mohamed Ibrahim give the Gophers an initial first down on their next drive.
4:46 - Athan Kaliakmanis throws up the middle to Daniel Jackson for a 16-yard gain and another first down passing midfield.
3:40 - Kaliakmanis hits Le'meke Brockington for a big 45-yard touchdown on a slant route to grab a touchdown lead.

23-16 Minnesota

2:48 - After missing Chimere Dike for a first down throw, Graham Mertz tosses it deep towards Dike but is intercepted by Justin Walley who brings it back 20 yards on a return for Minnesota.
1:53 - Wisconsin stuffs Mo Ibrahim on third and seven from the 31-yard line to bring up a Minnesota field goal attempt.
1:48 - The attempt from Matthew Trickett goes off the upright, giving Wisconsin the ball back.

1:43 - Graham Mertz picks up 11 with a throw to Keontez Lewis on a hitch route.
1:12 - With Mertz banged up on a scramble, Chase Wolf comes in and scrambles for seven yards to bring up fourth and one.
0:38 - Isaac Guerendo breaks away with a 14-yard run to give the Badgers a first down at the 36-yard line.
0:32 - Chase Wolf then delivers a 16-yard completion to Chimere Dike for another first down at the 20-yard line.
0:26 - Minnesota is called for pass interference in the end zone, moving the ball down to the 5-yard line.
0:21 - After four-straight penalties on the offensive line, the Badgers are backed up to third and 30 at the 30-yard line.
0:00 - Chase Wolf's last-second throw to the end zone is incomplete, giving the Gophers the win.