Wisconsin Football: 3 takeaways from West-clinching win over Minnesota

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 09: Head coach P.J. Fleck of the Minnesota Golden Gophers looks on against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the third quarter at TCFBank Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

2. Minnesota played its worst game of the year

In their most important game, the Minnesota Golden Gophers played their poorest game of the season. The Gophers were out-gained by the Badgers 453-372, and although quarterback Tanner Morgan threw for 296 yards, he completely barely 50 percent of his throws. That, however, wasn’t all on Morgan or his wide receivers.

The biggest surprise of this game was Minnesota’s inability to block Wisconsin’s defensive line. Morgan was scrambling all game long. Minnesota couldn’t get the run game going in this game at all. The Gophers might not boast the power run game like the Badgers, but the run game is the foundation of what Minnesota wants to do offensively. If they can’t run, that affects everything they want to do offensively.

On defense, the Golden Gophers limited star running back Jonathan Taylor, but that was the only positive from the Gophers defense this afternoon. The Gophers could not stop the big play in the second half of this game.

The Badgers’ longest scoring drive in the second half was three minutes and 10 seconds. Wisconsin adjusted to what Minnesota did defensively, but Minnesota could not adjust.

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