What Minnesota players said following Minnesota's 17-7 win over Wisconsin on Saturday
The Minnesota Golden Gophers capped off their 2025 regular season on Saturday afternoon with a 17-7 win over archrival Wisconsin at Huntington Bank Stadium, keeping the Axe at home for a second straight year and the fourth time in the last five. Here’s what Gophers players had to say about the win.
Join Gophers Nation for ELITE Minnesota coverage at 50% off!
QB Drake Lindsey:
On handling the weather: “I had a game in high school that was like 22, but not, not snow like that. I mean, it’s all, I feel like it’s all mental. You get out there, you just, just can’t let it affect you.”
On the helpfulness of running two back sets: “It was really good. It gave me a good tell with coverage and pressure. That was the initial thing, and then moving them out there, and seeing the look post, right before I snapped the ball, I thought it was really good.
On Tom Weston’s performance: “Huge. I mean, when he’s in basically the back of the end zone, and you see a punt find like 60 yards. I mean, it went to like the other 40. So, I mean, that’s like a 65, 70-yard punt with the conditions like this.”
RB Darius Taylor
On his long touchdown run: The O-line, it tied into the great job block, and it was wide open. We had a safety rotate to the field, and he kind of got out of the fit, and that literally just left it wide open. So, I mean, it was a great opportunity. I took advantage of the opportunity, and it was great.”
On his injuries and being able to play Saturday and win the Axe game: “It feels great. Whenever I can be out there, I mean, I’m out there doing whatever I can for the team to win. So, I mean, it’s great. I love playing football. I mean, it’s football. You get banged up here and there. But, I mean, whenever I’m out there, I’m going to give it my all and help the team win however I can.
TE Jameson Geers
On his touchdown reception: “We kind of dialed that up to expose some of the coverages. They ran down in the green zone, and was kind of just attacking the, the Mike, the will defender to the boundary, and then kind of made a move vertical into the open space, and Drake just kind of threw me in, into where, into the end zone, and smoking grass, and you know, I got up, and all the guys around me were able to celebrate with, with each other, and yeah, just had to, had to get some help walking off the field, but yeah, it was fun.”
On senior day and his mentality/emotions: “Yeah, it was a little emotional, like coming out here in our stadium for the last time and playing in this rivalry that’s so historic and the tradition around it, and the amount it connects the two states and especially the people in Minnesota and just how much it means for the players and fans and the guys before us. It just meant a lot, and I soaked it all in and was able to go out there and enjoy it with my fellow seniors and send us off in the regular season on the right foot, so it was amazing.”
On his injury suffered during the touchdown: “I got up – luckily I didn’t have to move. They were all over me. But, yeah, I was able to celebrate, and then I started walking. I was like, all right, maybe I need some help to get off the field real quick. But, yeah, it was worth it. I wouldn’t miss it.”
CB John Nestor
On his performance: “Yeah, I just want to start off by thanking my Lord and Savior, man. Everything I do is through Him. I glorify Him through everything I do, so I give Him all the glory.
He put me in this opportunity to be here. And, you know, He gave me this chance to be with this great team, be with these great guys on this defense. And, you know, I give Him all the glory and thanks.
You know, I think – I don’t think it’s a product of me at all, to be honest with you. I think it was a whole defense that’s clicked. I mean, if you think about it, like if you watch the play, Mav tipped that ball.
Mav doesn’t tip that ball, the guy catches it. So, that’s Mav’s pick. You know what I’m saying? I owe him a steak dinner this week.
You know, so – but, you know, it’s a group collective. Our defense was flying around. You know, everybody does their own job. And, you know, at everyone doing their job at such a high level, it’s just, you know, wherever the plays may fall, that’s where they fall.
And, you know, tonight as a defense, I thought we played, you know, very exceptional.”
On his fit with the program: “Yeah. I think that when you find a special place, special people create that special place, you know. And with the guys in this locker room and our coaching staff, it’s all led by, you know, Coach Fleck. It’s from the top, bottom down.
It’s phenomenal. This program is amazing. And guys like Mav and Cap and, you know, all these guys around us who lead us every day. It’s truly special. Like, they put the fun into football, you know. And it’s so special to be around. This group. And it makes it, you know, so enjoyable and so memorable. Like, this is… That was amazing.”
LB Maverick Baranowski
On bouncing back from Northwestern: “That’s who we are as a program.
You know, last week didn’t pan out the way we wanted it to be. But, you know, on Sunday we all made that decision to be all in all week. And at the end of the day, that’s what everyone did.
Everyone was in the building nonstop talking, like communicating, getting checks right. Everyone was, like, watching so much film. Even on Thanksgiving, we got guys in watching film instead of leaving early to go eat some food.
So at the end of the day, that’s the kind of guys that are in our room and that’s the kind of guys in our program. And these two lead that, by the way. These are the centerpieces right here. They lead that. Huge credit to them.”
What helped the defense be connected at all three levels in the game: “Yeah, they had a great scheme. And all week we went into the game knowing they got their creative offense. And I think it goes down to our coaches. Our coaches did a great job putting us in like really elite calls, getting us trained with our eyes like all week. That was a big thing for us. Making sure all our eyes were right with all the misdirection going on. So, that’s a credit to all our coaches.
And then everyone involved within the program getting us prepared for this game.”
LB Derek LeCaptain
On his fixture as a leader on the team and reflecting on his career: “I’d say, you know, the guys who took me in when I first got here and led me. I hope that, like, I made them proud and represented the M and held the standard to the foundation that they laid it.
You know, every time I get asked questions like that, the first two guys I think of are Kamal Martin and Thomas Barber. Um, two guys who bleed for Minnesota football, put everything on the line to help build the foundation of this program.
Um, you know, Coach Sori Marin, coming in and being able to play with him. Guys like Thomas Rush, like Tanner Morgan, the list goes on and on. So, um, just honored to have been able to share the field with those guys. Everybody I’ve been able to play with over the last seven years.
And these two right here, like, you get to compete with guys like this every single day. Guys like this get to be your best friend. Like, there’s nothing better than that. So I’m just extremely grateful and thankful for every single person that I’ve been able to step on the field with.”
On his mentality coming into the game: “I think one of the big things I’ve learned since I’ve been here seven years, right, is that at the end of the day, like, the game’s the game. You know, you can’t make it bigger than it is.
You can’t make it less than it is. But every week there’s a sense of urgency to no matter what happened the week before, if we won, if we lost, whatever happened, we’re going to respond to that. And then we’re going to do everything we can to be 1-0 in the week that we’re preparing to play.
So really the urgency, the communication, the consistency, it was where it needed to be. Yeah, that was just part of our process of being 1-0.”
On his future after the bowl game: “I’m just going to enjoy being part of this program. I get to be a gopher for another month and play in another game. And then after that, that’s when I’ll make those decisions.
Obviously, I want to play as long as I can, but right now just be in the moment with these guys and get the next few weeks to continue to help elevate the floor of the program. Bowl prep, that’s a great opportunity for young guys to get a jump start and start learning the defense, offense, special teams, all that stuff.
So I’m really looking forward to bowl prep being able to pass on the knowledge I’ve been able to gain and also sharpen my own tools and get better at what I need to get better at. The best part is going to be spending it with these guys and the guys in that locker room.”
On playing his last game at home: “I’ve been so fortunate to be here for so long and play with so many great guys that kind of taught me, you know, you never take any moment for granted, right?
So just because it was my last one wasn’t really anything different in terms of preparation or anything like that. Just, you know, kind of what I said before, not making it bigger than it is or less than it is. But yeah, you know, it was cool to just share a moment with my family on the field before the game.
That was cool. And then right back in the locker room with the guys, you know, you just feel at home. Yeah, but again, just blessed to be a Gopher, blessed to be here, blessed to play for this program and just absolutely grateful.”
Join Gophers Nation for ELITE Minnesota coverage for 50% off!
GophersNation.com provides everything that passionate Minnesota fans expect and want: Wall-to-wall coverage of Gophers athletics and recruiting.
Join the Gophers Nation community and receive all the benefits that come with it:
- Elite team and recruiting coverage of the program you love.
- Interact with other passionate Gophers fans on our Inside Gophers Nation board
- Exclusive access to the Gophers Nation staff, who are always ready to answer your questions.
- Access to the premier network in college athletics (On3 + Rivals)
- Plus much more!
SIGN UP: Join GophersNation’s Minnesota community today for 50% off
