MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck celebrated his 44th birthday with a win on Friday against a long-time rival and the Gophers singing birthday wishes to their coach in the locker room.
Max Brosmer passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another to help Minnesota beat Wisconsin 24-7.
Wisconsin (5-7, 3-6) lost five straight games to end the 2024 regular season. Wisconsin’s five-game losing streak is the team’s first five-game losing streak since 1991. The Badgers will wait to learn whether there are any potential bowl spots remaining for 5-7 teams.
The Badgers’ 22-season bowl appearance streak is the third-longest active streak for bowl berths among FBS teams.
Wisconsin finished the regular season with a losing record for the first time in 22 seasons. The mark is the longest active winning streak among Power 4 teams. Oklahoma’s streak stands at 18 seasons and Alabama at 17.
The Badgers concluded the 2022 season with a 5-7 record and a 3-4 mark in the Big Ten.
Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell offered a blunt assessment of the Badgers.
“We’re not in a good place,” he said. “We’re 5-7, and really, we’re not playing well. And that’s the thing. There’s no excuse. Whether it’s injuries, whether it’s this, that or the other thing. I could sit here and tell you things that have cost us (wins), and put us in position to find our way to climb out of it. ”
Fickell, in his second season at Wisconsin, was asked what his message is to fans who are concerned about the direction of the football program.
“Our job to get them to believe is to put the product on the field,” Fickell said. ”Right now, we don’t have that opportunity and we haven’t done it. I would understand if they’re worried. It’s their prerogative. And it’s our job to prove it.
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