3 quick takeaways from Wisconsin’s Axe Bowl loss: Disappointing end to a disappointing season

The Wisconsin Badgers suffered a 17-7 loss to the Minnesota Gophers on Saturday, falling to 4-8 and capping a disappointing season with a tough end as they failed to reclaim the Axe Trophy for the second consecutive season.

There was a lot of momentum surrounding the Badgers ahead of the game, as they had flipped from 2.5-point underdogs to 2.5-point favorites, despite being on the road.

But, they struggled offensively once again. The defense held up enough, but was put in many difficult spots, which led to Minnesota points.

With the loss, Wisconsin eliminated any chance of a potential bowl game, going to 4-8 and having their worst finish to a season since 1995.

Here are three quick takeaways from the Badgers 17-7 loss to Minnesota on Saturday.

QB choice

The Badgers had been rolling with true freshman Carter Smith at quarterback for the past month, giving him some valuable experience while still trying to win football games. It wasn’t pretty, but the formula worked well enough that Wisconsin’s defense willed it to two ranked wins.

They also had a two-minute package installed with Hunter Simmons at quarterback for passing situations, which hadn’t been very effective, set aside for a field goal drive against Illinois last week after the Badgers got great field position.

On Saturday, Smith earned another start, and his passing line was similar to previous weeks: 5/8 for 20 yards and a touchdown pass in the first half. Wisconsin wasn’t getting much in the air, which had been like the last few games, and they were getting dominated with the time of possession through the first 25 minutes.

They had two back-to-back three-and-outs after a fumble on the opening drive before getting one first down on their next drive prior to punting. Then came Hunter Simmons for a two-minute drill, with Smith replacing him in the red zone, eventually getting a one-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Acker, who had an amazing fourth-down catch for the score.

But, in the second half, Wisconsin stuck with Simmons and went in that direction the rest of the way. And I’m not sure I agree with that decision. Simmons had one good play in the first half: a 67-yard run-and-catch to Vinny Anthony that set the Badgers up in the red zone. Yes, it was Wisconsin’s lone source of offense in the half, but they’ve been looking to develop a freshman quarterback and see what he has in moments exactly like this for the past month.

The Simmons experiment did not work at all. While the Badgers moved the ball a bit, Simmons had back-to-back interceptions to open the second half, at which point Wisconsin still didn’t go back to Smith.

Wisconsin proceeded to punt twice and turn it over on downs to end the game. Yes, you’re trying to win a football game, but nothing in that second half showed Simmons was the guy to do it. The Badgers put him in an unfair situation and took the confidence out of their freshman quarterback in the process by benching him after putting stock in his development.

Field position

Wisconsin’s defense was fantastic for the most part once again. They only allowed 218 yards (Wisconsin actually outgained Minnesota), and gave up only 90 passing yards. On the ground, Minnesota had 128 yards on four yards a carry. Taking away Darius Taylor’s 49-yard touchdown, the Gophers averaged only 2.54 yards an attempt.

The big difference in this one was field position, which the Gophers were able to capitalize on in a big way on Saturday.

In the first half alone, Minnesota started drives at the Wisconsin 22, Wisconsin 35, and Minnesota 45. In the second half, the Gophers got drives at the Wisconsin 44, Wisconsin 16, and Minnesota 49. That could’ve easily been six scoring drives right there.

The Badgers defense still held up well. They forced the Gophers into a field goal attempt on the first drive, which Minnesota missed. They forced another field goal attempt with Minnesota starting at the Wisconsin 35. On a separate drive not included here, they got the Gophers to punt at the Wisconsin 37-yard line.

The Gophers did get their first touchdown starting at their own 45-yard line, with Taylor springing for a 49-yard score.

But, in the second half, getting the ball at the Wisconsin 44-yard line after Hunter Simmons’s first pick, the Badgers forced a three-and-out and a punt. The second pick was even more brutal, with Minnesota starting at the Wisconsin 16, which the Gophers parlayed into a three-play touchdown drive.

All three of Minnesota’s scores came with phenomenal field position. The Badgers contained the Gophers offense in every other situation, but it unfortunately wasn’t reflected in the end score.

Wisconsin, on the other hand, had an average starting field position of the Wisconsin 22-yard line. And their offense couldn’t make magic happen, set aside for one throw.

Third downs

A big part of the time of possession battle was converting on third downs. Wisconsin struggled to do so, going 4 of 13 on the game, while Minnesota went a respectable 7 of 14 on third downs.

While Minnesota had an average third-down distance of 6.1 yards, five of its seven conversions were with five yards or less to go. They were only 2/7 on third downs longer than five yards. The overall impact of that was mitigated by Wisconsin still managing stops, but it was the early time of possession and the Badgers’ struggles to convert that really hurt.

Wisconsin had an average conversion distance of 5.7 yards on its third downs, but couldn’t have the same efficiency as Minnesota. They were only 2 for 6 on third downs of five or fewer yards to go. That included failing to convert a 3rd & 2, a 3rd & 2, and a 3rd & 1 on separate occasions.

In the second half, after two early conversions, the Badgers failed to convert their final five third downs. Those were costly playing from behind, as Wisconsin could just never get its offense going.

With a 4-8 record, it’s now offseason time for head coach Luke Fickell and his staff in what will almost assuredly be a make-or-break next few months with the transfer portal. But, the end of the 2025 season was a disappointing one with another loss to Minnesota.