When Fleck was hired here in 2017, many fans only cared about one thing: can you beat Wisconsin? At the time, the Gophers hadn’t beaten the Badgers since 2003, 14 years prior to Fleck’s arrival.

PJ Fleck going for history vs Wisconsin

Now, Fleck has the Gophers set up to win three straight against the Badgers, which hasn’t been done since the Gophers won four in a row back in 1984-87, heck the Gophers won back to back games against the Badgers the last two seasons which hadn’t been done since the 93-94 seasons.

Related: Gophers Fly ‘Row The Boat’ Banner Over Koi Perich State Tournament Game

Saturday is a big opportunity for Fleck and company. The Gophers also have the chance to be bowl eligible for the third straight season and 5 of 7 years during PJ’s tenure.

PJ Fleck would join only Glen Mason as the only head coach to attend 5+ bowl games as the Gopher coach, this is a stat no matter how you look at Fleck these past few seasons, PJ Fleck’s ability to be consistent and win 6+ games almost every year is something the Gophers have not been blessed with in the recent history.

Disappointing season doesn’t mean disappointing tenure

Keep in mind, Fleck is only 42. He’s still considered a young mastermind of college football. Was this season a huge disappointment? Sure, the Gophers at many points during the season were pretty much handed the Big Ten West.

They just didn’t beat the teams that, well, you need to beat if you’re expecting to play for a conference championship. The loss to Northwestern was really bad. The loss to Illinois, in my opinion, was even worse, and well, getting blown out by a three-win Purdue team, is just unacceptable.

Things like that can’t continue to happen. But unfortunately, over the years of the PJ Fleck era, they have. The close games to non-power 5 teams, losses to the Bowling Greens of the world… gross.

Related: PJ Fleck Must Find Quarterback He Can Trust in Offseason

PJ Fleck does find ways to bounce back, he always has. And I’m fairly confident in his ability to continue to build this football program, he has set the standard high for himself. It’s all about the next step, beating teams you’re supposed to beat, beating rivals, and fighting for Big Ten Championships.

And all this starts tomorrow afternoon in Minneapolis. Can PJ Fleck bounce back once again, salvage the season, and get his Gopher squad The Axe for the third straight year?

The rumors were flying and this game seemed unofficially in place for the last few days, but this afternoon it became official. The Minnesota Gophers vs Wisconsin Badgers football rivalry is again scheduled to play for the 130th straight season this Saturday at 3PM. Paul Bunyan’s Axe will be on the line.

???? #B1GFootball Champions Week ????

Check out the #B1G Football Champions Week schedule! Which matchup are you most excited for? pic.twitter.com/kFahxWgQZh

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) December 13, 2020

Throw out records. This game immediately becomes the 2nd most intriguing of the weekend in the Big Ten. The Gopher roster is ever-fluctuating this season but the jumbled offensive line ripped gigantic holes in the Nebraska front-7 yesterday.

Wisconsin Badgers 2020 recap

After starting the season on fire vs Illinois and Michigan, Wisconsin has now lost 3-straight games and haven’t posted double digit points in any of the three..

The Badgers put up 45+ points in their first two games this season and haven't mustered double-digits since… #Gophers

45 vs ILL: W
X @ NEB —
X vs PUR —
49 @ MICH: W
7 @ NW: L
X vs MIN —
6 vs IND: L
7 @ IOWA: L

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) December 13, 2020

That doesn’t mean anything, though. The Minnesota Gophers are going into Madison, Wisconsin looking to become (unofficially) bowl eligible but this will be Championship season for the Badgers. All they have left to hold onto in 2020 is the Axe. Losing that would make this season a complete failure on the football field.

The Gophers will have to bring everything they have to win this one.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan