The Gophers are licking their wounds after a very difficult 38-35 loss at Northwestern last Saturday. They return home to Dinkytown this Saturday to host Wisconsin, their arch rivals, in a Big Ten finale for both teams.
While PJ Fleck and Minnesota know they're going to a bowl game this year, reaching the magic number of six wins, Wisconsin is on the outside looking in even if they beat Minnesota. That has their head coach, Luke Fickell, on the hot seat even if the Wisconsin Athletic Director said earlier this year he'll be back for 2026 no matter what.
Since that vote of confidence in Fickell, Wisconsin has kind of found themselves beating a ranked Washington team and a ranked Illinois team in Madison. Fleck knows that no matter what the struggles have been for the Badgers in 2025, his Gophers face a battle this week.
"They've continued to change weekly. It's almost a new offense every single week, as they got to the last three to four weeks here with new people, new system," says Fleck. "They've done some things defensively too that they've changed up a ton. And looking for things that are going to make their identity as they move forward like every good coach would do."
It's not just a border battle or a trophy game - the Paul Bunyan Ax - when Minnesota and Wisconsin take the field. This football rivalry is the longest-running rivalry in college football, first played in 1890.
The two teams have played 134 times in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), making it the most-played rivalry in the nation.
Fleck and the Gophers have also owned the Badgers lately, an unthinkable turn of events after Wisconsin won every game between 2003 and 2017. The Gophers have won four of the last seven games, and three of the last four. That's their best stretch in the rivalry since winning four consecutive games in the mid-80s.
Amazingly, after 134 years of football, the all-time series is tied 63–63–8.
Wisconsin (4-7) at Minnesota (6-5), Nov. 29 at 2:30 p.m. at Huntington Bank Stadium
How to watch: Fox Sports 1
Key stats
Minnesota Offense
Overall: 303.7 yards per game (125th in FBS)
Passing: 202.9 yards per game (97th)
Rushing: 100.8 yards per game (128th)
Scoring: 23.8 points per game (95th)
Minnesota Defense
Overall: 349 yards per game (49th in FBS)
Passing: 224.3 yards per game (76th)
Rushing: 124.7 yards per game (35th)
Scoring: 24.9 points per game (69th)
Wisconsin Offense
Overall: 251.7 yards per game (135th in FBS)
Passing: 132.3 yards per game (133rd)
Rushing: 119.5 yards per game (113th)
Scoring: 13.4 points per game (135th)
Wisconsin Defense
Overall: 333.2 yards per game (37th in FBS)
Passing: 229.9 yards per game (84th)
Rushing: 103.3 yards per game (16th)
Scoring: 22 points per game (45th)
Wisconsin ranks 127th in third down percentage, converting 32.4% of the time.
Wisconsin ranks 120th in the FBS with a -8 turnover margin, compared to Minnesota's 34th-ranked +4 margin.
Both teams avoid getting penalized. Minnesota is 4th in the FBS averaging 28.3 penalty yards per game, and Wisconsin ranks 6th with a 32-yard average.
Minnesota ranks 119th in FBS in red zone defense, allowing opponents to score on 89.7% of trips.
Team leaders
Minnesota
Passing: Drake Lindsey, 2,145 yards, 15 TDs, 6 INTs, 62.3 completion percentage
Rushing: Darius Taylor, 454 yards on 100 carries, 2 TDs
Receiving: Lemeke Brockington, 460 yards on 44 catches, 4 TDs
Wisconsin
Passing: Danny O'Neil, 635 yards, 5 TDs, 5 INTs, 67.8 completion percentage
Rushing: Darrion Dupree, 312 yards on 71 carries, 2 TDs
Receiving: Lance Mason, 349 yards on 26 catches, 4 TDs
Last game
Minnesota lost 38-35 to Northwestern on Saturday, Nov. 22. Lindsey led Minnesota with 264 yards on 20-of-30 passing (66.7%) for four touchdowns and no interceptions. Taylor carried the ball 10 times for 43 yards and scored one touchdown, adding six receptions for 37 yards. Javon Tracy had four receptions for 87 yards and three touchdowns.
Wisconsin beat Illinois 27-10 on Saturday, Nov. 22. Carter Smith led Wisconsin with 75 yards on 9-of-11 passing (81.8%) for no touchdowns and no interceptions. Dupree carried the ball 17 times for 131 yards and scored two touchdowns, adding one reception for eight yards. Trech Kekahuna had five receptions for 39 yards.