The Badgers waited until the end of the game to take a victory lap with Paul Bunyan's Axe, but they could have circled the field much earlier.
Dominating the game from beginning to end, Wisconsin (3-1 Big Ten, 6-1 overall) whacked the Golden Gophers (0-4, 2-5) 48-12 at Camp Randall Stadium Saturday.
""It just feels great to keep that axe here,"" Badger quarterback John Stocco said. ""We know how special it is and how important it is.""
Stocco tied a career high with four touchdown passes, and P.J. Hill eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season with 164 yards on 25 carries.
Only former Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne reached the 1,000-yard mark in fewer rushing attempts.
Defensively, UW shut down Minnesota's receivers and held quarterback Bryan Cupito to only 94 yards passing.
The Badger defense kicked off the onslaught when sophomore cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu scooped up an Amir Pinnix fumble and raced 50 yards for a touchdown.
After the Gophers' next drive stalled at midfield, Wisconsin handed the ball to Hill. The freshman sensation rushed seven times for 78 yards and capped UW's opening drive with a five-yard touchdown run.
Minnesota wasted an opportunity to get back in the game late in the first quarter. With the ball on the Gopher 47-yard line, Pinnix took the handoff from Cupito and broke free into the Badger secondary. But instead of running in for six points, Pinnix collided with wide receiver Logan Payne and fell at UW's 31.
Minnesota settled for a field goal, but the stingy Badger defense would not allow the Gophers past the 50 again until late in the third quarter.
""It was one of our better days,"" defensive tackle Nick Hayden said. ""Everyone was ready to play today. We came out and just focused and did all our responsibilities right.""
Stocco tossed two touchdown passes in the second quarter, hitting junior wideout Luke Swan on a corner route and lofting a pass to tight end Andy Crooks after a defense-freezing play-action fake to Hill.
On the first play of the second half, Stocco threw to tight end Travis Beckum for a 41-yard gain. The duo connected again for a 40-yard touchdown pass on the next play. The score gave UW a 35-3 lead and squelched any hopes of a Gopher comeback.
Hill ran for a two-yard TD and Stocco threw another touchdown pass to Beckum to finish the scoring for UW.
One of the only bright spots for Minnesota came on a botched extra point by the Badgers. After mishandling the snap, holder Ken DeBauche floated a pass into the hands of Gopher linebacker Mario Reese, who sprinted down the field for two points.
Pinnix also rushed for a fourth quarter touchdown for the Gophers.
The Badgers' 141 points in the last three games are the most a Wisconsin team has posted in any three-game Big Ten stretch.
The victory also made the Badgers bowl eligible.
