Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Grades: It was supposed to be the best effort of the season

In what should have been the Wisconsin Badgers best effort of the season in their most important game, the squad (and coaches) laid an egg, and the 2025 season ended with a sick whimper against the Minnesota Gophers.

Here are the grades. You may want to down a meaty shot of something strong first.

Offense

The weather conditions certainly didn’t do Wisconsin any favors, but the time-tested axiom “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” applies perfectly here.

There was some good work in stretches from Hunter Simmons, but everyone knew the turnovers were coming, and that they did. And not giving Carter Smith ONE snap in the second half? Mind-boggling.

Vinny Anthony was a lone bright spot in another dismal day for Jeff Grimes’ unit, the second-worst offense in FBS.

Grade: D

Defense

When you hold an opponent to 17 on the road, that’s typically a robust performance, but I can’t help but think the defense wasn’t as dialed in and turned up as we’ve seen them the last month. Darius Taylor scampering for over 100 yards was, as the kids say, not great.

They were solid when they needed to be outstanding. Maybe that’s unfair given how this gang has carried the team, but it’s a fact.

Grade: C+

Special Teams

There wasn’t much work for this unit, and the only notable thing was bad punting from a guy who has been great this season in Sean West.

Grade: C-

Coaching

One positive is the fact that Wisconsin out-gained Minnesota and looked fully capable of pulling off a victory, but a game plan that hitched itself to Simmons needing to pass to win was deeply flawed.

Also, the guys didn’t look as hyped as in recent weeks, and that’s on the staff.

Speaking of not hyped, whether it’s just an extreme form of stoicism or simply not caring, Fickell’s body language was, again, poor. And not freaking out when the refs missed an egregious late hit sends a big message to your locker room, and it isn’t a good one.

Playing the cool CEO only works if your coordinators and assistants are killing it, and that hasn’t been the case most of the season, especially on offense.

Grade: D

Overall

There were some terrible vibes here that undid most of the positives from the last month. I’m not going to grade on a weather curve because the Gophers had to face the same conditions.

This was a fitting end to a brutal season.

Grade: D+