'This is the main reason I came back': Wisconsin's C.J. Goetz and teammates want to reclaim the Axe

MADISON – Wisconsin’s C.J. Goetz was weary but satisfied.

The sixth-year senior outside linebacker from Catholic Memorial High School was still savoring the feeling of rallying to defeat Nebraska in overtime when he was asked if he was familiar with UW’s final regular-season opponent.

Of course he knows.

Minnesota.

C.J. Goetz returned for his sixth season at UW in large part to get one more shot at Minnesota

“This is the main reason I came back,” Goetz said with a smile. “We lost two in a row. Some of my best friends – like Jack Sanborn and Leo Chenal – just to see their disappointment…I can’t even describe how they felt.

“Just being able to know that I have another opportunity and another chance…”

Exhilarating.

UW (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) closes the regular season against the Gophers (5-6, 3-5) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

The Badgers won 14 consecutive games in the series – from 2004 through 2017 – before P.J. Fleck’s second Minnesota team manhandled UW, 37-15, in Madison in 2018.

UW won the 2019 and 2020 meetings, but the Gophers ended UW’s division title hopes in 2021 with a 23-13 victory in Minnesota and rallied for a 23-16 victory last season in Madison.

The last time Minnesota won at least three consecutive games in this rivalry? That came in the 1980s, when the Gophers won four in a row. Lou Holtz led the Gophers past UW in 1984 and 1985 and John Gutenkust extended the streak in 1986 and 1987.

Minnesota native Riley Mahlman has yet to help UW secure Paul Bunyan's Axe

“That’s just a stat,” said redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Riley Mahlman, from Lakeville, Minnesota. “I think this game is independent of all those other ones. You know? It is one game this year. Different team for us. Different team for them.”

Mahlman redshirted in 2021 and did not play in the regular-season finale at Minnesota. He was UW’s No. 1 right tackle last season and remembers the loss vividly.

“This one is huge for everyone in the locker room,” he said. “I haven’t won the Axe since I’ve been here. It has been two years in a row. It is huge.

“Obviously you need to celebrate this win and recognize the great game we played as a team. But once it comes to film (review) and practice, we’ve really got to shift gears and really get ready for them.”

The Badgers had a chance to force overtime against the Gophers last season but the offense faltered in the final seconds.

Chase Wolf took over at quarterback after Graham Mertz was injured on the second play of UW’s final possession.

Wolf helped UW drive from its 48 to a first down at the Minnesota 5.

UW's offense imploded on the final series in 2022

Chaos ensued.

Mahlman was called for holding. Tanor Bortolini was called for a false start. After an incompletion on first and goal from the 20, Tyler Beach and then Mahlman were called for false starts.

That left UW facing second and goal from the 30. Three plays later, on fourth and goal from the 25, Wolf’s final pass was incomplete.

Game over.

“It was definitely a heartbreaking loss,” Mahlman said.

Defensive end James Thompson Jr. hasn’t forgotten.

“Every single yard, every single inch, every single play,” he said. “It all matters, man.

“We can’t give nothing up. We’ve got to go out there and execute and play sound. I feel like in the past couple years it has been the small stuff that bit us in the butt.”

Minnesota enters the regular-season finale needing a victory to become bowl-eligible.

The Gophers suffered a 37-3 loss to Ohio State on Saturday in Columbus, their third consecutive loss.

Fleck's Big Ten record is 29-30. His record against UW is 3-3. After the loss to the Buckeyes, Fleck was asked to describe the message he will share with his team heading into the regular-season finale.

"Putting everything we can into 1-0 against Wisconsin," he said. "Most important game of the season. Period."

The UW players share that sentiment.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Badgers turn their attention to beating rival Minnesota