We’re a little less than 15 minutes away from kickoff in the Metrodome for the 117th playing of Wisconsin versus Minnesota. The Minnesota marching band is on the field doing their pregame routine.

Quarterback Tyler Donovan warmed up for the Badgers and will likely start. P.J. Hill is still a game-time decision.

2:36 Wisconsin won the toss and chose to return the opening kick. The kick return team is on the field, so we should be underway shortly.

2:39 David Gilreath almost breaks the opening kickoff, betting out to the UW 36 before being tackled by kicker Joel Monroe.

2:40 Donovan starts the game at quarterback for Wisconsin.

2:41 Donovan rolls left on third down and gains 15 yards on a keeper.

2:43 Donovan picks up seven the hard way, taking a big hit after scrambling around right end.

2:46 On third down, tight end Garrett Graham dropped what would have been a touchdown pass from Donovan. UW is forced to kick a 29-yard field goal, which Taylor Mehlhaff converted.

3-0 Wisconsin, 10:32 remaining in the first quarter.

2:50 Minnesota returns the kick out to the 23-yard line, but a personal foul penalty moves the ball back to the 12. Paul Standring was injured on the play.

2:55 Quarterback Adam Weber keeps the ball on an option and gains 15 yards out to the 34-yard line.

2:59 Using almost only the spread option, Minnesota has driven the ball to the Wisconsin 35-yard line. The Gophers face a third-and-nine, however.

3:01 Weber’s third down pass was incomplete, forcing Minnesota’s Joel Monroe to attempt a 47-yard field goal, which he made with plenty to spare.

Tied 3-3, 5:27 remaining in the first quarter.

3:07 Wisconsin comes up short on third-and-two from the 20-yard line and will punt the ball away.

3:10 Ken DeBauche’s punt is returned to the 46 by Harold Howell.

3:12 Wisconsin stuffs Justin Valentine on third-and-one, but the senior was able to pick up the first down on fourth.

3:14 End of the first quarter, tied 3-3.

3:18 Alex Weber completes a 22-yard touchdown pass to Eric Decker who got inside cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu.

PAT good. 10-3 Minnesota, 14:56 remaining in the second quarter.

3:21 On Wisconsin’s first play, Donovan is intercepted by Kyle Theret at the UW 30-yard line, where Minnesota will take over.

3:23 Weber completes a 16-yard completion down to the 16-yard line.

3:25 The Badgers hold the Gophers on third down, forcing Monroe to attempt a 27-yard field goal, which is good.

13-3 Minnesota, 12:10 remaining in the first quarter.

3:31 On Wisconsin’s first play from scrimmage, Zach Brown breaks loose for a 65-yard gain down to the Minnesota 24-yard line.

3:32 The Badgers fail to convert on third down, forcing a 39-yard field goal attempt by Mehlhaff. The kicker shanked it, missing the kick wide left. The Gophers take over from the 22-yard line.

3:37 Weber is stuffed on a quarterback draw and loses four yards, bringing up a third-and-10 from the 35-yard line.

3:41 Weber avoids the blitz of Ben Strickland and Jaevery McFadden to complete a first down pass into Wisconsin territory at the 44-yard line.

3:44 Weber overshoots his intended receiver down the middle and the pass goes right to Shane Carter, who picks it off and returns the ball to the 30-yard line. Carter now leads the Big Ten in interceptions with seven.

3:46 Brown breaks a nine-yard run into Gopher territory, but it is called back because of a downfield holding penalty on Kyle Jefferson.

3:49 Donovan keeps the ball and picks up nine yards to the Minnesota 47-yard line.

3:50 Beckum goes up and pulls down a 25-yard completion to the 22-yard line.

3:51 On third-and-three Gilreath takes an end-around inside the 10-yard line and down to the eight, setting up a first-and-goal for the Badgers.

3:52 On a designed keeper, Donovan spins at the five-yard line and dives into the endzone for a touchdown.

Mehlhaff’s PAT good. 13-10 Minnesota, 1:59 left in the first half.

3:57 The clock runs inside 1:15 and it appears Minnesota will be content to run as much as the clock out as possible before the half.

3:58 On third down, Weber completes a short pass to Ernie Wheelwright for a loss of one yard. Wisconsin calls a time out, and Minnesota will send punter Justin Kucek in to punt.

4:00 Kucek catches the snap and booms a long punt. Gilreath returns the punt 51-yards to the 26-yard line. Allan Evridge is in at quarterback for Wisconsin.

43 seconds remain in the first half.

4:02 Evridge hits an open Garrett Graham near the sidelines, but Graham drops the pass, bringing up third down-and-15.

Evridge hits Beckum for a short gain, and that brings up fourth down and a 45-yard field goal attempt.

4:04 Mehlhaff’s field goal attempt hits the right upright squarely and bangs off as the half expires.

Halftime. 13-10 Minnesota.

4:25 Minnesota receives the opening kickoff and takes a touchback.

4:29 The Gophers go three-and-out and punt it away to Gilreath, who breaks off another big return of 56 yards to the Minnesota 19-yard line.

4:30 Zach Brown takes the handoff and runs around the left side for a 16-yard touchdown.

Mehlhaff’s PAT good. 17-13 Wisconsin, 12:31 remaining in the third quarter.

3:34 Duane Bennett gains nine yards up the middle on first down.

3:36 Weber completes a 29-yard pass to Decker in front of Ikegwuonu and into Wisconsin territory.

3:38 Kirk DeCremer gets upfield and tackles Weber for a loss of four yards, bringing up third-and-13.

3:39 Kucek lofts a punt that is fair-caught by Gilreath at the 10-yard line.

4:42 Wisconsin starts the drive at its own 10 yard line. Zach Brown picked up runs of 9 and 6 yards before freshman Quincy Landingham took his first snap since the Northern Illinois game, rushing for 3 yards.

4:44 Garrett Graham catches his first ball of the season to move Wisconsin near midfield.

4:45 Tyler Donovan rolls out to his left and finds tight end Travis Beckum, who breaks the initial tackle and gains 30 yards on the play. Tack on a personal foul, roughing the passer penalty and Wisconsin moves inside the Gophers 20 yard line to the 10. Zach Brown runs straight up the gut picking up seven yards. He is stopped for no-gain on the next play setting up third-and-Goal from the 3 yard line.
The pass is incomplete. Donovan was looking for Brown, but the timing was off. The ball falls incomplete and the Badgers are forced to attempt a 20 yard field goal.

4:49 The kick is good. Wisconsin 20, Minnesota 13.

4:52 Minnesota will start on its own 21 yard line trailing by seven with under six minutes remaining in the third quarter. Adam Weber is flushed out of the pocket by a strong Wisconsin rush and is force to throw it away.

4:53 On second-and-10, the Gophers are penalized for an illegal substitution setting up second-and-15. Weber takes the ball up the gut for a 3 yard gain.

4:54 Third-and-13 now … Weber finds an open Eric Decker across the middle for a 17 yard gain and a Gophers first down.

4:55 Weber hits Decker to the outside. He picks up 27 yards on the play. Weber finds Decker again over the middle for a big gain down to Wisconsin’s 11 yard line. Duane Bennett picks up one yard down on a run up the middle. On a hitch to the outside, Decker picks up 3 more yards. He now has five catches for 121 yards.
On third-and-6 from the 7 yard line, Weber rolls out to his left and overthrows his intended target. But there’s a flag on the play: Holding Wisconsin.

4:59 It’ll now be first-and-Goal from the 3 yard line. A false start moves Minnesota back 5 yards to the 8. Under center Weber looks the way of tight end Jack Simmons who is covered nicely by safety Shane Carter. The ball falls incomplete. Ernie Wheelwright and Aaron Henry get tangled up and Henry is called for defensive pass interference.

5:02 Now first-and-Goal from the 2 yard line, Weber misfires on a pass intended for Wheelwright. Bennett doesn’t let the drive go for naught, however, taking it to the house on a sweep play to knot things up at 20 apiece with 1:51 left in the third quarter.

5:05 Gilreath takes the Gophers kickoff out to the 22 yard line. A personal foul facemask on the play gives Wisconsin good field position.

5:06 First-and-10 from the 37 yard line: Brown takes a pitch to the outside and breaks it for a 59 yard gain to the Gophers’ 3 yard line. The run gives Brown more than 200 yards rushing today (205). Offensive guard John Moffitt is injured on the play and is helped off of the field.

5:08 Brown takes the ball between the tackles for a 1 yard gain on first-and-Goal from the Minnesota 3.

5:09 Wisconsin runs Brown to the right side and he’s stopped just shy of paydirt setting up third-and-Goal from essentially the goal line. That’s the end of the third quarter. Your score: Wisconsin 20, Minnesota 20.

5:10 Bill Rentmeester takes the hand-off and … the Badgers are signaling for a touchdown. Finally, after a bit of discussion the head official signals just that. It will be Rentmeester’s first career score. Following Mehlhaff’s extra point try, Wisconsin regains the lead at 27-20.

Scoring summary: 4 plays, 62 yards in 2:21

5:18 Harold Howell’s 26 yard return sets Minnesota and Adam Weber up at their own 28 yard line.

5:19 Weber is stuffed by Mike Newkirk for a 1-yard loss to set up second-and-11. Weber finds senior receiver Ernie Wheelwright over the middle for a 14 yard completion.

5:20 In the shotgun formation Weber overthows Wheelwright down the far sideline. Remaining in shotgun, Weber looks left and finds Ralph Spry on a bubble screen, but Wisconsin sniffs it out and tackles him for no gain. Third-and-10 now … Weber misfires again down the far sideline. It seemed like he and his intended target, Wheelwright, got mixed up on where the pass was supposed to be thrown.
Minnesota brings out the punting unit. Justin Kucek fakes the punt and runs with it, gathering 8 yards on the play but a holding … short of the first down marker. Wisconsin takes over on downs.

5:24 From the 49 yard line Zach Brown takes the ball between the right tackle and center and runs for a 16 yard gain to Minnesota’s 33 yard line. Brown takes the ball to the same side and picks up another Wisconsin first down, this time on a 17 yard run. It has been all Brown today; he has accumulated 258 yards on 25 carries (10.3 yards per carry).

5:25 Quincy Landingham comes in for Brown and is stuffed at the line setting up second-and-10 from the 16 yard line. Donovan looks down the middle and hits tight end Travis Beckum for a touchdown. Beckum is shaken up on the play.

5:28 Beckum finally gets up under his own power and walks off the field. Before this touchdown occurred, people were already heading for the exits.

5:29 The extra point try is good. Wisconsin has extended its lead to 14, 34-20.

Today’s attendance at the Metrodome is 59,116.

5:31 The Gophers will start on their own 21 yard line. Weber takes the snap and hands the ball off to running back Duane Bennett who is stopped in the backfield by DE Matt Shaughnessy for a 1-yard loss. On second down, Weber hits Wheelwright over the top of corner Aaron Henry for a 29 yard gain. It’s just Wheelwright’s third catch of the day. After an incompletion Weber finds Wheelwright again (he’s looked No. 1’s way almost every time on these last two drives) for a 19 yard gain.

5:34 In a five wide receiver set Weber hits Wheelwright to the outside. The senior picks up 12 more yards as the Gophers are quickly moving down field, now at Wisconsin’s 19 yard line. Following an incompletion and a 5 yard pick up by Wheelwright on an out-route, Weber runs for the first down down to Wisconsin’s 3.

5:37 Bennett is stopped for a 1-yard loss by safety Jay Valai. On the next snap Weber hits Minnesota’s single-season receptions leader (with 64) Eric Decker for a 4 yard touchdown — it is his ninth score of the season. Weber also set UM’s single-season passing touchdown record (23), passing Bryan Cupito’s mark (22) set in 2006. The scoring drive of 79 yards took just 2:50.
Wisconsin’s lead has been cut in half; it now leads 34-27 with 7:50 remaining in the game.

5:41 Wisconsin will start from the 20. So far today the Badgers have accrued 312 yards on the ground (8.5 yard per carry average).
Brown’s two rushes take the Badgers out to their own 23 yard line to set up a third-and-7. The crowd is on its feet.
Donovan is pressured out of the pocket, he looks downfield and can’t hit tight end Garrett Graham.

5:45 How bout that? On Wisconsin’s punt, return man Howard Howell tries a over-the-shoulder catch and fumbles it. Long snapper Steve Johnson recovers. Maybe lightning can strike twice; just when Minnesota regained the momentum, it all came crashing down.

5:47 Tyler Donovan and the UW offense take over at UM’s 15 yard line. Donovan sets a new career high for rushing yards in a game with a 11 yard scramble, breaking his previous best of 64 yards set in 2004 against UCF by 2 yards.
Brown punches the ball home for his second touchdown of the game. Wisconsin now leads 41-27 with 5:11 to go.

5:52 On first-and-10, Weber’s pass falls incomplete. It slipped out of his hand and fell several yards shy of his intended target, Ernie Wheelwright.
Wheelwright hauls in a 13 yard pass from Weber as Minnesota now moves to its 29 yard line.
In a bizarre sequence of events, Aaron Henry broke up a pass intended for Marcus Sherels, but the tipped ball fell right into the hands of Ralph Spry who sprints untouched into the end zone for a 71 yard touchdown.
Both teams just seem to want to give their counterpart new life.
Wisconsin 41, Minnesota 34

5:56 Minnesota is called offside on its squib kickoff so Wisconsin will start with good field position at its own 33.
Zach Brown is wrapped up on first down in the backfield for a 2-yard loss.
Second-and-12 now with 3:55 remaining … Brown takes a Donovan hand-off to the left side, but nothing was doing; he picks up a measly three yards.
On third-and-8 Donovan hits tight end Sean Lewis (his first career catch) short of the marker setting up fourth-and-inches.
Wisconsin has decided to go for it … this could come back to haunt Wisconsin.
On a gutsy call, Donovan takes it himself and spins his way for a first down.

6:02 Now the Badger offense will just eat up clock. Bill Rentmeester runs for no gain setting up second-and-10 from UW’s 44. Rentmeester again on the carry fights his way out to the 46. There, it will be third down and a long 8 for Wisconsin.

6:04 Donovan sheds one would-be tackler, but can’t escape Steve Davis, who picks up a sack. DeBauche is set to punt and it’s a beauty — it sails all the way down to Minnesota’s 8 yard line, a 52 yard punt.

6:06 Now with no timeouts and 1:25 on the clock it’ll be up to redshirt freshman Adam Weber to take the Gophers offense 92 yards to send this into overtime. … It wasn’t meant to be, as senior Ben Strickland picks off a tipped pass intended for tight end Jack Simmons and Wisconsin need only down the ball to wrap up its ninth win of the season.

The final score: Wisconsin 41, Minnesota 34. Thanks for tuning in.