Braelon Allen rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns to lead Wisconsin to a 28-14 win over host Minnesota in a Big Ten matchup Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Tanner Mordecai completed 14 of 22 passes for 145 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for Wisconsin (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten). Mordecai also rushed nine times for 69 yards.
Athan Kaliakmanis completed 16 of 28 passes for 167 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Minnesota (5-7, 3-6). Jordan Nubin finished with 93 yards and a rushing touchdown, and Daniel Jackson had nine catches for 121 yards and a score.
The Badgers handed Minnesota its fourth straight loss. The Golden Gophers failed to secure bowl eligibility in what turned out to be their final game of the season.
Wisconsin took charge with two touchdowns in the third quarter to go ahead 28-14.
Allen gave the Badgers their first lead on a 4-yard touchdown run that made it 21-14 with 9:24 left in the third quarter. It was Allen’s second rushing touchdown of the game, his 12th of the season and the 35th of his career.
In the final minute of the third quarter, Wisconsin scored again to seize a 14-point advantage. Mordecai hit Riley Nowakowski for a 5-yard touchdown.
Minnesota opened the scoring on its first possession of the game. A 30-yard pass from Kaliakmanis to Jackson set up first-and-goal at the 4-yard line, and Nubin finished the drive two plays later with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Wisconsin pulled even at 7-7 with 13:04 left in the second quarter. Allen scored on a 5-yard run to cap off an 11-play, 86-yard drive.
The Golden Gophers regained a 14-7 lead when Kaliakmanis connected with Jackson for a 7-yard touchdown with 4:30 remaining in the first half.
On the following possession, the Badgers answered once again to even the score at 14. Will Pauling hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass from Mordecai.
–Field Level Media
