MINNEAPOLIS — When P.J. Fleck was hired as Minnesota's head coach nearly nine years ago, there was no message from Gophers fans he received more frequently or poignantly than this: Just beat Wisconsin.

The battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe was so lopsided then that making the Gophers competitive against the rival Badgers in the longest-running series in major college football was an obvious priority. Minnesota under Fleck has managed to win four of the last seven matchups in stopping a 14-game skid that was the longest losing streak for either side in the rivalry's 135-year history.

Mission accomplished? Eh, maybe not.

“They're never satisfied,” Fleck said. “That's why our fan base is so passionate.”

The Gophers are 6-0 in bowl games with Fleck and will play in one again next month, having

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