Forget Rose, Loss Leaves Badgers in Peril of Being Home All Winter

Freshman Tutu Atwell’s first career touchdown reception, a 32-yarder from Tim Schade with 4:10 remaining, lifted Minnesota to a 17-14 upset of Wisconsin on Saturday, jeopardizing the Badgers’ bowl hopes.

Minnesota, 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the Big Ten, snapped a four-game losing skid in spoiling Wisconsin’s season for the second year in a row. Minnesota handed the Wisconsin its lone lost last year, 28-21, in a 10-1-1 season. This time, the Gophers left the Badgers (3-3-1, 2-2-1) in danger of missing out on a bowl.

Wisconsin, which badly missed tailback Brent Moss, sidelined for the second week in a row because of an injury, must win three of its last four games to reach the victory level required for a bowl invitation.

After Atwell’s touchdown, Wisconsin drove to the Minnesota 17 but cornerback Juan Hunter intercepted Darrell Bevell’s pass with 2:41 left, preserving the upset.