MADISON, Wis. — A second-half comeback sparked by four interceptions earned No. 5 Wisconsin a 31-17 victory against Minnesota Saturday and its 13th straight win in the most-played rivalry in major college football. The Badgers retained the rivalry's showpiece, Paul Bunyan's Axe, for the Wisconsin trophy case yet again.
The comeback served as an exclamation point for an already momentous weekend. Wisconsin had wrapped up the Big Ten West and a trip to next week's league title game after Nebraska lost to Iowa on Friday night. Additionally, the game celebrated Wisconsin's Senior Day and it was the Badgers' senior class that helped lead them to victory.
After falling behind 17-7 at halftime, Wisconsin (10-3, 7-2 Big Ten, No. 6 CFP) rallied as Minnesota's Mitch Leidner threw four interceptions in the second half for the Gophers (8-4, 5-4). The protection around him crumbled as the Badgers mixed up their defensive pressures.
Handed the ball by the Badgers' defense, Wisconsin's running game ignited in the fourth quarter and Corey Clement lead the Badgers back to claiming the Axe with two touchdowns. Jazz Peavy went 71 yards on a jet sweep down the right sideline to the Minnesota 11. Two plays later, Clement bowled into the end zone from 2 yards to give Wisconsin the lead for good, 24-17, with 6:42 left. Clement finished with 100 yards rushing on 26 carries and has now rushed for at least 100 yards in 6 of the last 7 games.
Four-year starter Sojourn Shelton, playing in his last home game, had two interceptions. Shelton had an entertaining 40-yard, across-the-field return to the Minnesota 19 after his first interception with about 13 minutes left. Clement scored his first touchdown of the game three plays later to tie it at 17. Fellow senior Leo Musso grabbed his fifth interception of the season — and his fourth in the last three games — by picking off a third-quarter Leidner pass, while junior Leon Jacobs notched his first career interception.
Senior runningback Dare Ogunbowale aided the fourth-quarter effort with a 6-yard TD.
Backup quarterback Bart Houston played the entire second half for Wisconsin because of an injury to starter Alex Hornibrook. Houston finished 9 of 14 for 123 yards.
For Minnesota, Drew Wolitarsky had four catches for 76 yards, including a 35-yard reception after tipping the ball to himself and advancing to the Wisconsin 22 late in the second quarter. It set up Leidner's 3-yard touchdown run with 53 seconds left for the Gophers' 17-7 halftime lead. He finished 9 of 26 for 158 yards and a score, with 46 yards rushing on 16 carries.
Senior Vince Biegel finished with 8 tackles, including 1.0 sack, while junior T.J. Watt tallied 1.5 sacks and sophomore T.J. Edwards led UW with 11 tackles, include 2.0 for loss.
It was the 126th meeting in a series that dates back to 1890. The all-time series between Wisconsin and Minnesota is now tied at 59-59-8, the first deadlock since it was even at 6-6 in 1901. The Badgers have never led the series.
Wisconsin now travels to Indianapolis Dec. 3 for the Big Ten Championship and will face No. 7 Penn State. It will be the Badgers' fourth appearance in the Championship game, the most of any team in the game's six-year history.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
