The Gophers’ 17-7 win over rival Wisconsin at Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday puts them at 7-5 overall this season and in play for a handful of bowl games in late December.
Minnesota appears to be in play for the Rate Bowl in Phoenix on Dec. 26, the Pinstripe Bowl in New York on Dec. 27, and potentially the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 31 or the Music City Bowl in Nashville on Dec. 30.
The victory in the Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe will also keep Minnesota from a fourth appearance in the Detroit bowl game, which the U has been to three previous times since 2015, when it was called the Quick Lane Bowl.
Their final destination will be known after the conference championship games next Saturday and the College Football Playoff field is confirmed next Sunday.
Senior sendoff
After a raucous celebration on the field with students and teammates, Gophers star defensive end Anthony Smith carried Paul Bunyan’s Axe into the tunnel.
That might have been a fitting farewell.
Smith participated in Senior Day festivities before the rivalry game, but the redshirt junior has not yet made a decision on if he will come back to Minnesota for the 2026 season or move on to the NFL.
Besides Smith, Minnesota honored 25 other players on Senior Day:
On defense, it was linemen Deven Eastern, Jalen Logan-Redding, Rushawn Lawrence, Nate Becker, Lucas Finnessy; linebacker Devon Williams, Jeff Roberson, Derik LeCaptain; defensive backs Darius Green, Jai’Onte’ McMillan.
On offense, it was linemen Marcellus Marshall, Dylan Ray, Aluma Nkele, Spencer Alvarez; receivers Le’Meke Brockington, Logan Loya, Quentin Redding; tight ends Jameson Geers, Drew Biber, Frank Bierman, Jack DiSano; and quarterback Emmett Morehead. Plus, kickers Brady Denaburg, Sam Henson, David Kemp.
Backup running back Cam Davis did not participate in Senior Day, but he is out of eligibility after this season. He walked for Senior Day at Washington last year. … Running back A.J. Turner, who suffered a knee injury at California in September, could have two years of eligibly remaining if he can get a medical redshirt for this fall. … Defensive lineman Mo Omonode didn’t play this year and has one year of eligibility remaining.
Punting wins
In a low-scoring game with bad weather, punting can have an outsized impact on the outcome, and Gophers’ punter Tom Weston was instrumental in the victory.
Weston put three punts inside the Wisconsin 12-yard line, including pinning the Badgers at their own 11 while down 17-7 with seven minutes left. The Badgers turned the ball over on downs to end that last-ditch drive.
On his first two punts, which landed at the 2- and 9-yard lines, the Badgers fumbled the ball away and punted.
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