Jack Coan went 15-of-22 passing for 280 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 12 Wisconsin to a 38-17 rout at No. 8 Minnesota on Saturday in Big Ten play at Minneapolis.

The Badgers reclaimed possession of the Paul Bunyan Axe after Minnesota won it last year. More importantly, Wisconsin (10-2, 7-2) won the Big Ten West and will play Ohio State in the conference title game in Indianapolis next Saturday.

Wisconsin lost 38-7 at Ohio State earlier in the season.

Minnesota (10-2, 7-2) opened the scoring with 12:30 left in the first quarter on a 51-yard touchdown pass from Tanner Morgan to Rashod Bateman.

But Wisconsin took charge after that.

Following a 26-yard field goal by Zach Hintze with 8:56 left in the second quarter, the Badgers took a 10-7 lead with 2:49 left until halftime on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Coan to running back Jonathan Taylor.

Wisconsin then went ahead 17-7 with 9:52 left in the third quarter on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Coan to Quintez Cephus.

Minnesota cut its deficit to 17-10 with 6:51 left in the third on a 38-yard field goal by Michael Lantz, but Wisconsin responded right away.

The Badgers answered to take a 24-10 lead with 5:52 left in the third on a 26-yard touchdown run by Kendric Pryor on an end-around play.

Minnesota drove down to the Wisconsin 4-yard line on its ensuing possession, but was stopped on downs following an incompletion on fourth down.

Wisconsin then put together the backbreaking drive, going 96 yards in six plays and taking a 31-10 lead with 11:05 left on an 11-yard touchdown run by Taylor.

The score was setup by a 70-yard screen pass from Coan to Garrett Groshek.

After recovering a Morgan fumble deep in Minnesota territory, Taylor scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 8:41 left to give Wisconsin a 38-10 lead.

--Field Level Media