30. Wisconsin 31, Minnesota 28 (2009)

Much like the Minnesota Vikings opened U.S. Bank Stadium in the regular season against the Green Bay Packers a year ago, the Minnesota Golden Gophers opened the Big Ten schedule at TCF Bank Stadium against the Wisconsin Badgers. Minnesota had lost five in a row against Wisconsin, but were looking to stop the streak in its brand new on-campus stadium. Minnesota had already played twice at the new stadium, including a game against California, a top 10 team. However, this is Big Ten season, and the Gophers needed a rival to open up the stadium against, and Wisconsin was that team. John Clay would have a big day rushing the football and the Badgers would hold off a late Minnesota push to spoil the first Big Ten home game at the new stadium.

Many people thought the Badgers were a program on the decline after going just 7-6 the previous season. Enter Scott Tolzien, who stabilized the quarterback position, and helped the Badgers get back on track. On just Minnesota’s third play from scrimmage, Duane Bennett received the handoff and blasted through for a nice gain, but he fumbled and the Badgers defense fell on the ball near midfield. The Badgers were able to drive down the field and punch it in the end zone for the score. The first score was by eventual Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year John Clay, who carried it in from two yards and Bucky was first on the board.

Minnesota was able to respond quickly, though, scoring the next 10 points. The Gophers kicked a field goal on the next drive, and picked off Tolzien on the next Badgers drive. That led to an 11-yard Gophers touchdown pass from Adam Weber to Eric Decker and the Gophers had the lead. After the touchdown, Decker celebrated by “chopping” with an imaginary axe. Fortunately for Wisconsin, the only axe he would be chopping with would be imaginary.

The teams traded field goals after that and the Gophers would take a 13-10 lead into halftime.

Wisconsin fans were probably getting a bit restless on the first drive of the second half, as Tolzien fumbled in his own territory and the Gophers recovered. Minnesota would march into the red zone, but after a Gophers penalty, Weber was intercepted on a 3rd-and-12 by defensive lineman Patrick Butrym and the Badgers took over at their own 30.

The Badgers took full advantage of the opportunity, giving the ball to the big running back and letting him and the big boys up front put the Badgers back on top. Clay rushed six times on the drive for 53 yards and the touchdown, which would Bucky ahead for good. Tolzien also picked up a huge first down on 3rd-and-11 by completing an 18-yard pass to tight end Garrett Graham. Clay would cap off the drive by scoring from a yard out to give Wisconsin a 17-13 lead.

Then Bucky used a long drive to take a two score lead. Wisconsin started on its own 15 and used a 13-play drive to travel the 85 yards. Clay had a 26-yard rumble on that drive, but every other play was short. The touchdown came on a pass from Tolzien to Lance Kendricks, who made a great grab in the back of the end zone to give the Badgers the 24-13 lead.

Minnesota punted on its next possession and Wisconsin was on the drive once again and it looked like the Badgers would deliver the knockout punch. But on a 3rd-and-10, Zach Brown received the handoff. The thought was that he would get a few yards before being tackled and Philip Welch could come on to make it a 14-point game. But instead, Brown fumbled and Minnesota’s Marcus Sherels picked it up and returned it 88 yards for the touchdown and all of a sudden, the Gophers had life. The two-point conversion was successful and Minnesota was now only trailing 24-21.

The Badgers were not rattled by the sudden change. On a 2nd-and-9 near midfield, offensive coordinator Paul Chryst ran a bootleg with Tolzien and he raced down the sidelines for 47 yards, giving the Badgers a first down at the Gophers 5. Two plays later, Clay was in and Bucky had a 31-21 lead.

However, the Gophers would not go away quietly. Two huge plays gained Minnesota 78 yards and then Bennett scored from a yard out to cut it to 31-28. Then, Minnesota forced Wisconsin to punt after three plays after Wisconsin recovered an onside kick. Goldy would get the ball at the 5 to start the drive.

Weber would find Decker up to the Gophers 39 for a first down. Minnesota used all of its timeouts on defense, so the Gophers hurried to the line of scrimmage and the Gophers quarterback would drop back and get sacked by Blake Sorensen, who forced Weber to fumble. Eventual Big Ten Freshman of the Year Chris Borland would fall on the loose football to close out another win over their rivals and the Badgers would retain Paul Bunyan’s Axe for another season.

Wisconsin would lose its next two games, at Ohio State and at home against Iowa, before rebounding to win 10 games and end the season with an upset of Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl.