Tag: Minnesota Golden Gophers

Pride on line as Wisconsin takes aim at Minnesota

Posted on | by Field Level Media

There is more at stake than just a win when Minnesota hosts border rival Wisconsin on Saturday in Minneapolis.

The Badgers (4-7, 2-6 Big Ten) are coming off a 27-10 upset at home over No. 21 Illinois, their second victory over a ranked team in three games.

The Golden Gophers (6-5, 4-4) lost to Northwestern 38-35 at Wrigley Field on a 33-yard field goal in the final minute. Minnesota had a chance to tie but Brady Denaburg’s 40-yard field-goal attempt on the final play was wide left.

Although bowl eligible, the Golden Gophers have lost two in a row and three of their last four games.

“It’s one of the great rivalries in college football,” Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said Monday. “But having it back here is going to be great, good to be back home. But we’ve got to find a way, no matter where we play, to play our best football.”

The series, which dates to 1890, is tied 63-63-8 heading into Saturday’s matchup. Minnesota has won three of the last four, including a 24-7 decision last season at Madison.

“It’s all about getting that Axe,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said Monday, referring to Paul Bunyan’s Axe which is awarded to the winner.

“It’s still the thing that makes this game, in college in particular, so special is when you have these rivalry games. And the great thing about it is, you throw out everything.”

Redshirt freshman Drake Lindsay passed for four touchdowns in the loss to Northwestern, including three to Javon Tracy.

Lindsay has completed 62.3% of his passes for 2,145 yards with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. Le’Meke Brockington is the top target with 44 catches for 460 yards and four scores.

The Badgers held Illinois to just 50 yards on the ground in 29 attempts. Wisconsin also is the first Big Ten team to have five sacks in three straight conference games since Penn State in 2007.

Wisconsin’s injury-riddled offense has shown signs of life under freshman quarterback Carter Smith. The 27 points against Illinois were the team’s most since a 38-14 loss to Alabama on Sept. 13.

Smith, the fourth different starting quarterback this season, has completed 21 of 38 passes with one touchdown and one interception in three games.

Sophomore Darrion Dupree carried 17 times for 131 yards against Illinois with two touchdowns, including an 84-yard scoring run.

Outside linebacker Darryl Peterson III was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, after recording six tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble versus the Fighting Illini.

–Field Level Media

Northwestern edges Minnesota at Wrigley Field

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Preston Stone completed 25 of 30 passes for 305 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Northwestern rallied for a 38-35 win over Minnesota in a Big Ten Conference showdown on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Jack Olsen kicked three field goals, including the 33-yard, go-ahead kick for Northwestern (6-5, 4-4) with 53 seconds to play. Minnesota (6-5, 4-4) had a chance to send the game into overtime in the final seconds, but Brady Denaburg hooked a 40-yard field-goal attempt wide left as time expired.

For Northwestern, Caleb Komolafe had 129 rushing yards and a touchdown, and Griffin Wilde caught 11 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.

The Wildcats secured bowl eligibility for the second time in three seasons under David Braun. Players celebrated on the field before heading toward the sidelines to applaud their fans.

For Minnesota, Drake Lindsey completed 20 of 30 passes for 264 yards and four touchdowns. Javon Tracy caught three TD passes, Le’Meke Brockington hauled in one scoring pass, and Darius Taylor rushed for a touchdown.

Northwestern stormed back from a 15-point deficit in the second half.

Minnesota grabbed a 28-13 lead with 12:43 remaining in the third quarter when Lindsey connected with Tracy for a 28-yard touchdown, marking Tracy’s third score of the afternoon.

Stone started Northwestern’s comeback on the next possession. He led a nine-play, 86-yard drive that culminated with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Wilde with 7:01 left in the third quarter.

The Wildcats evened the score at 28 with 28 seconds remaining in the third quarter when Joseph Himon broke free for a 20-yard touchdown run.

Northwestern pulled ahead 35-28 with 10:20 remaining on its third straight touchdown. Stone found Komolafe for a 2-yard touchdown completion.

The Gophers bounced back with a touchdown drive to even the score at 35 with 8:20 to go. Brockington capped it with an 8-yard touchdown catch from Lindsey before Olsen’s game-winner in the final minute.

–Field Level Media

Oct 17, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey (5) celebrates his touchdown against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Minnesota (school-record 9 sacks) swarms No. 25 Nebraska

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Drake Lindsey had a rushing and passing touchdown and Minnesota set a school record for sacks in a 24-6 win over No. 25 Nebraska on Friday night in Minneapolis.

Lindsey, a redshirt freshman, threw for 153 yards and a TD on 16-of-20 passing as the Golden Gophers (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) improved to 5-0 at home while winning their sixth in a row against Nebraska.

The Gophers sacked Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola nine times, breaking the program’s previous record set in 1990 and matched in 2000, after only recording 14 in the first six games. It was the second time this season Raiola, who completed 17 of 25 passes for 177 yards, had been sacked at least seven times and the most allowed by the Cornhuskers (5-2, 2-2) since 2005.

Up 7-6 at the half, Minnesota went on a 14-play, 98-yard drive capped by a 20-yard TD pass from Lindsey to Le’Meke Brockington for a 14-6 lead late in the third quarter. The drive, which lasted 8:43, was aided by a holding call on Nebraska on fourth down.

Nebraska, which hasn’t won a Big Ten game as a ranked team since 2016, was called for six penalties for the fourth time this season.

The Golden Gophers extended the lead to 21-6 on a 1-yard TD run by Darius Taylor early in the fourth. Taylor finished with 148 yards on 24 carries including a 71-yarder that set up Minnesota’s first score.

Nebraska twice made it into the red zone in the first half but had to settle for Kyle Cunanan field goals after stalling, the second drive seeing left tackle Elijah Pritchett get ejected for targeting. In between, Lindsey scored on a 1-yard run set up by Taylor’s long scamper.

On Oct. 25, Nebraska hosts Northwestern while Minnesota visits Iowa.

–Field Level Media

Oct 11, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Purdue Boilermakers tight end Rico Walker (17) hurdles over Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Jai'Onte' McMillan (24) during the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Minnesota caps rally with pick-six to upend Purdue

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Drake Lindsey passed for 232 yards and two touchdowns and Koi Perich returned an interception 27 yards for a score as Minnesota defeated Purdue 27-20 on Saturday in Minneapolis.

Minnesota (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) stopped a two-game skid in the series against Purdue (2-4, 0-3).

The Golden Gophers outscored the Boilermakers 14-0 in the fourth quarter, with Perich giving the hosts the advantage for good with 7:40 left.

On the first play after Minnesota tied the game at 20 on a 4-yard scoring connection from Lindsey to Jameson Geers, Perich snagged a Ryan Browne pass and raced to the end zone. Browne didn’t appear to see Perich behind the line of scrimmage.

Purdue drove 15 plays to the Minnesota 7-yard line on the ensuing possession. But Jai’Onte’ McMillan broke up a pass intended for Michael Jackson III in the end zone with 1:56 to go.

The visitors got the ball back at their own 39 with 15 seconds left but didn’t threaten.

The Boilermakers outgained the Golden Gophers 456-262, including 253-30 on the ground.

Lindsey finished 21-for-45 passing for 232 yards and an interception. Darius Taylor had six catches for 67 yards and Lemeke Brockington caught four passes for 61 yards and a score.

Browne was 21-for-40 passing for 203 yards and two interceptions. Devin Mockobee gained 98 yards on 21 carries and Corey Smith had six catches for 57 yards.

The Boilermakers took a 20-13 lead on Spencer Porath’s 20-yard field goal with 8:20 remaining in the second quarter.

Purdue stayed afloat behind a versatile ground attack that humbled one of Minnesota’s early-season strengths.

The Golden Gophers entered the game with the nation’s ninth-best run defense, limiting foes to 79 yards and 2.8 yards per carry.

The Boilermakers eclipsed that in the first half, rushing for 178 yards on 23 carries.

Malachi Singleton (five carries, 73 yards) provided a big chunk of that total with a 40-yard touchdown run to cap the first possession of the game, punctuating a seven-play, 75-yard drive.

Browne added a 12-yard scoring run with 1:52 left in the second quarter that gave the Boilermakers a 17-10 lead.

Minnesota drove for a 29-yard Brady Denaburg field goal as time expired in the second quarter to draw within 17-13.

–Field Level Media

Sep 13, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) carries the ball during the first half against the Norfolk State Spartans at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Rutgers’ Athan Kaliakmanis returns ‘home’ to face Minnesota

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Athan Kaliakmanis faced his former team for the first time last year, and it was a successful day for Rutgers.

With two weeks since its last game, Minnesota hopes the game plan of the top-ranked defense in FBS works against its former quarterback on Saturday afternoon when it hosts Rutgers in Minneapolis.

Kaliakmanis transferred to Rutgers after throwing for 2,784 yards and 17 touchdowns in 23 games for Minnesota. Last season, he led the Scarlet Knights (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) to a 26-19 home win over his former team by throwing for three touchdowns and 240 yards.

“I think Athan’s really matured quite a bit since he arrived here,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said Monday. “I think he’s gonna be totally focused on playing the football game, being the quarterback that he’s capable of being and running our offense. And certainly, he played there, so he still knows guys on the team.

“It’s going back to the stadium that he started his career in. But I think that all fades away very quickly. And what it becomes is a really, really challenging defense that we have to be able to move the football on.”

Kaliakmanis has completed 68.8 percent of his passes for 1,150 yards. He threw all seven of his touchdowns in Rutgers’ nonconference games and went 24-for-40 for 330 yards and a pick in Friday’s 38-28 loss to Iowa.

“He’s playing really well,” Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said about Kaliakmanis. “I think his fifth year in that type of same system, so you’d expect to see that type of growth that he has shown and has played in and playing at a high level, that’s for sure.”

Kaliakmanis’ favorite target thus far is Ian Strong, who caught eight passes for a career-high 151 yards against Iowa. The junior is tied for the Big Ten lead in receptions (24) and third in receiving yards (367).

Minnesota (2-1) enters conference play as the top defense in FBS, allowing 177.7 yards per game.

The Golden Gophers allowed 193 yards combined in comfortable wins over Buffalo and Northwestern State before yielding 340 yards, 279 in the air, in a 27-14 loss at Cal on Sept. 13.

Against the Golden Bears, Drake Lindsey threw for two touchdowns and Le’Meke Brockington had eight catches for 106 yards. The Golden Gophers, however, encountered problems on special teams in the fourth quarter as Brady Denaburg missed a potential tying 51-yard field goal and Koi Perich muffed a punt at his own 8-yard line.

Minnesota also was missing running back Darius Taylor with a leg injury. Taylor rushed for 161 yards this season before exiting in the first quarter against Northwestern State, and he could be out again Saturday.

Last week, Minnesota rushed for 130 yards as Fame Ijeboi finished with 85 yards on 16 attempts.

“He’s still a really young player,” Fleck said about Ijeboi. “He’s hungry. He had a phenomenal practice yesterday, as I think all the running backs did, but he’s a guy we’re going to count on now and as we continue to count on in the future as we keep moving forward.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 3, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers tight end Nick Kallerup (87) is tackled by Virginia Tech Hokies linebacker Caleb Woodson (20) during the first quarter of the Dukes’ Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Minnesota’s defense dominates Virginia Tech in Mayo Bowl

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Darius Taylor rushed for 113 yards and one touchdown and threw for another score as Minnesota pulled away for a 24-10 victory over Virginia Tech in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday night in Charlotte.

Max Brosmer completed 18 of 29 passes for 211 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Minnesota (8-5). Elijah Spencer had six catches for 81 yards and two TDs for the Golden Gophers, who won their eighth consecutive bowl game.

Collin Schlee scored the lone touchdown for Virginia Tech (6-7). William Watson III completed 8 of 12 passes for 81 yards and one interception, and Schlee connected on 2 of 6 passes for 68 yards.

Minnesota outgained Virginia Tech 403-223 in total yards. The Golden Gophers had 23 first downs, compared with nine first downs for the Hokies.

Virginia Tech opened the scoring in the final minute of the first quarter. Schlee took the snap and sprinted left for a 3-yard touchdown to cap an 80-yard drive.

Minnesota scored on a trick play to pull even at 7-7 on the following possession. Brosmer turned and pitched a toss to Taylor, but the running back turned into a passer and lobbed a pass to Spencer in the back of the end zone for a 10-yard score.

Spencer caught his second touchdown pass, this time a 12-yard strike from Brosmer, to give Minnesota a 14-7 lead with 5:13 to go in the first half.

Taylor made it 21-7 with a 28-yard touchdown run with 56 seconds to go before halftime. He broke free down the left sideline for his 10th rushing score of the season.

The Hokies pulled within 21-10 as time expired at the end of the first half. John Love drilled a 60-yard field goal, which marked the second-longest kick in school history.

Dragan Kesich made a 44-yard field goal to increase Minnesota’s lead to 24-10 with 11:59 remaining in the third quarter.

Za’Quan Bryan had a fourth-quarter interception to help the Golden Gophers preserve the victory.

–Field Level Media

Nov 29, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Darrion Dupree (13) is tackled by Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive lineman Danny Striggow (92) during the second quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Minnesota defense dominates as Wisconsin dealt rare losing season

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Max Brosmer passed for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead Minnesota past archrival Wisconsin 24-7 in the annual battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe on Friday afternoon, ending the Badgers’ streak of consecutive winning seasons at 22.

Brosmer completed 17 of 26 passes for 191 yards without an interception for the Gophers (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten).

Wisconsin (5-7, 3-6) closed the season with five consecutive defeats and its first losing season since going 5-7 under Barry Alvarez in 2001. It was the longest active streak of winning seasons among Power 4 teams.

The defeat also likely snapped Wisconsin’s streak of 22 consecutive bowl games, as there is almost no chance the Badgers get a bid as a five-win team because of Academic Progress Rate (APR).

Darius Taylor rushed for 143 yards on 32 carries for the Gophers, who had a 374-166 advantage in total yards.

Wisconsin was held to just 36 yards rushing on 24 attempts. Braedyn Locke completed just 15 of 32 passes for 130 yards.

Brosmer’s 1-yard plunge put Minnesota up 7-0 late in the first quarter, capping a nine-play, 89-yard drive. Brosmer completed 4 of 5 passes for 71 yards on the march, including a 21-yard completion on third-and-7 to the 1-yard line.

The Gophers made it 14-0 on their next possession when Brosmer capped the 75-yard drive with a 7-yard scoring pass to Daniel Jackson.

Minnesota pushed the lead to 21-0 with a methodical 11-play drive that consumed the first 6:02 of the third quarter. Brosmer completed all six of his passes on the drive, including a 15-yard touchdown to tight end Jameson Geers.

Wisconsin answered with its first sustained drive, kept alive by a late hit penalty on third-and-15. Locke’s 15-yard pass to Vinny Anthony II made it 21-7 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter.

The Badgers drove to the Minnesota 10, but Nathanial Vakos was wide right on a 37-yard field-goal attempt with 12:10 remaining.

Dragin Kesich’s 43-yard field goal put the Gophers up 24-7 with 3:19 left.

–Field Level Media

Nov 9, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) drops back to pass during the first half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

QB Athan Kaliakmanis excels against former team as Rutgers downs Minnesota

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Athan Kaliakmanis threw three touchdowns against his former team, including a go-ahead 4-yard score to Ian Strong with 7:41 remaining in the fourth quarter, in Rutgers’ 26-19 home victory over Minnesota on Saturday afternoon in Piscataway, N.J.

Kaliakmanis completed 17 of 33 passes for 240 yards against the Golden Gophers, for whom he played two seasons, including in 2023 when he threw 14 touchdowns in 12 games.

Rutgers improved to 5-4, 2-4 in the Big Ten in snapping a four-game losing streak.

Kaliakmanis threw a pair of first-half TDs to Dymere Miller before Rutgers’ defense set up the go-ahead score that gave the Scarlet Knights a 23-16 lead.

On first-and-16 from the Minnesota 6-yard line, tight end Jameson Geers fumbled when he was hit by Tyreem Powell at the 10 and Shaquan Loyal recovered.

Two plays after the fumble, Rutgers’ Strong cut up the middle and was left open for an easy TD pass when Minnesota defensive back Ethan Robinson backed off.

Following Strong’s go-ahead score, the Scarlet Knights increased their lead when Jordan Walker sacked Max Brosmer in the end zone for a safety with 6:53 left, and Jay Patel kicked a 22-yard field goal with 2:45 remaining.

Brosmer finished 27 of 45 for 262 yards and Geers had eight catches for 73 yards, but Darius Taylor was held to 28 rushing yards on 10 carries as the Golden Gophers (6-4, 4-3) saw their four-game winning streak stopped.

Rutgers earned the win despite missing star running back Kyle Monangai due to undisclosed injury that hampered him in its loss at Southern California two weeks ago. Antwan Raymond replaced Monangai and finished with 73 yards on 22 carries.

The Scarlet Knights held a 14-9 lead by halftime thanks to two TDs to Miller.

Miller made a diving 1-yard catch with 3:31 left in the first quarter on fourth down for a 7-6 lead. After Minnesota ended the first period with a 9-7 lead on a 51-yard field goal by Dragan Kesich, Miller hauled in a 17-yard TD with 9:54 left in the second quarter.

Minnesota regained the lead on its first series of the second half when Brosmer rolled out for a 17-yard pass to Marcus Major with 9:07 left in the third quarter.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Pat Bryant (13) is tackled by Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Ethan Robinson (2) and Kerry Brown (14) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Minnesota upsets No. 24 Illinois on late TD

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Max Brosmer threw a go-ahead, 1-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Geers with 5:14 left in the fourth quarter, then visiting Minnesota held on for a 25-17 upset win over No. 24 Illinois on Saturday afternoon in Champaign, Ill.

Brosmer completed 22 of 37 passes for 213 yards and for Minnesota (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten), which earned its fourth straight win and became bowl eligible. Darius Taylor had 22 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown.

Luke Altmyer completed 20 of 33 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown for Illinois (6-3, 3-3), which has lost back-to-back games. Josh McCray had 72 rushing yards and a touchdown and Zakhari Franklin had five catches for 71 yards and a score.

Illinois seized a 17-16 lead with 9:03 to go in the game. Altmyer looked left and fired a strike to Franklin in the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown.

The Golden Gophers answered on the next drive to grab a 22-17 lead. Brosmer rolled right and lobbed a pass to Geers in the right flat for a score.

Minnesota’s Dragan Kesich added a 46-yard field goal to make it 25-17 with 1:52 to play.

Illinois had a chance at a game-winning drive in the final minute. The Fighting Illini had the ball at the Minnesota 16-yard line, but Jah Joyner stripped the ball loose from Altmyer. Danny Striggow pounced on the fumble with 29 seconds left to secure the victory.

The Golden Gophers scored first to grab a 3-0 lead. Kesich made a 20-yard field goal midway through the opening quarter.

Illinois pulled even at 3-3 on a 25-yard field goal by David Olano with 10:08 remaining in the first half.

Minnesota made it 10-3 on the following possession when Taylor broke free for a 29-yard rushing touchdown.

The Fighting Illini fought back. McCray looked as if he might be stopped for a short gain, but he stayed on his feet and burst forward for a 42-yard score.

Kesich made a 45-yard field goal to give Minnesota a 13-10 lead before halftime.

The Golden Gophers increased their lead to 16-10 on Kesich’s third field goal, this time from 38 yards, with 4:36 remaining in the third quarter.

Illinois safety Miles Scott was ejected with 6:11 left in the game. He drew a targeting penalty after delivering a helmet-to-helmet hit against Minnesota wideout Elijah Spence.

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer (16) stiff arms UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Siale Taupaki (92) during the second quarter at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Max Brosmer’s TD pass late in 4th rallies Minnesota past UCLA

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Max Brosmer threw a go-ahead, 4-yard touchdown pass to Darius Taylor with 27 seconds to go, and visiting Minnesota held on for a 21-17 win over UCLA in a Big Ten Conference matchup on Saturday night.

Taylor also scored a rushing touchdown for Minnesota (4-3, 2-2), which earned a victory at the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1962. Brosmer completed 26 of 37 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns.

Ethan Garbers completed 25 of 36 passes for 293 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions for UCLA (1-5, 0-4). J.Michael Sturdivant was the Garbers’ top target with seven catches for 107 yards and a touchdown.

The Golden Gophers trailed 17-14 when they got the ball at their 39-yard line with 2:20 remaining. Brosmer guided a seven-play, 61-yard scoring drive that culminated with a quick pass to Taylor as he found an opening and sprinted untouched into the end zone.

The Bruins tried a Hail Mary pass as time expired, but Garbers’ desperate heave was picked off in front of the goal line by Golden Gophers defensive back Koi Perich.

UCLA established a 10-0 lead at the half.

Keegan Jones put the Bruins on the scoreboard with a 1-yard rushing touchdown with 8:49 to go in the first quarter. He took a snap in the wildcat formation and followed some big blockers on his way to the end zone for his first touchdown this season.

Mateen Bhaghani added a 34-yard field goal as time expired at the end of the half.

Minnesota pulled within 10-7 when Brosmer connected with Elijah Spencer for a 12-yard touchdown with 10:33 to go in the third quarter. Spencer caught the ball near the Bruins’ 5-yard line and scampered along the left sideline for the score.

Taylor put the Golden Gophers on top 14-10 with 7:16 left in the third quarter. He took a handoff and shoved past the goal line for his sixth rushing touchdown of the season.

UCLA grabbed a 17-14 lead on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Garbers to Sturdivant with 6:54 remaining. Sturdivant got a couple of steps behind the Golden Gophers’ secondary and caught a pass in stride.

–Field Level Media