The Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-2) played their best game of the season Friday night, upsetting the No. 25-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-2) to notch their sixth straight win over the Huskers.
The Elite
Nine sacks. After failing to record a sack in either of their last two games, the Gophers’ pass rush looked like a caged animal breaking loose against the Cornhuskers, setting a single-game program record with nine sacks. Redshirt sophomore defensive end Karter Menz had a breakout game with 2.5 sacks. The most
impressive part of the team’s performance: At least half of the sacks came with Minnesota only rushing four or fewer defenders.
The Matt Kingsbury sack. When the Nebraska offense was looking to respond to Minnesota’s opening touchdown drive of the second half, linebacker Matt Kingsbury closed the door on 3rd & 5, trucking Cornhuskers running back Emmett Johnson on a blitz and sacking Dylan Raiolia to force a punt.
The Minnesota secondary. With two of their top three cornerbacks unavailable, the Gophers turned to Za’Quan Bryan, Jai’Onte’ McMillan, and, for a brief period, NC Central transfer Jaylen Bowden to match up with the Cornhuskers’ talented receiving corps. They were able to run with them stride for stride, refusing to allow much separation and giving their pass rush time to get home for coverage sacks. Minnesota defensive backs only allowed two pass plays of 15 yards or more, defusing a previously explosive Nebraska passing game.
The Gopher run defense. Minnesota looked much improved against the run, allowing only 99 sack-adjusted rushing yards. There were some missed tackles, but I give a lot of credit to Nebraska running back (and Minneapolis native) Emmett Johnson, who was very elusive in a phone booth. He has an impressive ability to make tacklers miss and earned many of his 63 rushing yards. But the Gopher defense ultimately got the last laugh, dropping Johnson behind the line of scrimmage on 4th & 1 late in the fourth quarter.
Danny Collins. The Minnesota defensive coordinator took a lot of heat from Gopher fans this week after his defense allowed 456 yards of total offense to Purdue. What a difference a week makes. Collins’ unit held the Nebraska offense to two field goals, which is the first time the Cornhuskers have been kept out of the end zone in a game since a 34-3 loss to Michigan on Nov. 12, 2022. The game called upon Collins to match wits with 30-year coaching veteran and offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, and the winner was clear and obvious.
Darius Taylor. It’s safe to say the Gophers’ star running back is back. After the ground game was stuck in neutral the past two weeks, Taylor finally found his footing, rushing for a season-high 148 yards and a touchdown. His 71-yard sprint down the sideline in the second quarter enabled Minnesota to take the lead.
The 98-yard touchdown drive. Clinging to a one-point lead and pinned deep inside their own territory after Archie Wilson’s 49-yard punt was downed at the 2-yard line, the Gophers set the tone for the second half on their opening drive, marching 98 yards down the field on 14 plays. Taylor and Fame Ijeboi did their part to keep the drive on schedule, but it was quarterback Drake Lindsey who consistently moved the chains. The redshirt freshman signal caller was 5-of-6 for 55 passing yards on the drive, including a 20-yard dime to Le’Meke Brockington for a touchdown. The best part, though? The Nebraska coaching staff calling a timeout to catch their breath after the 10th play of the drive. I guess the Gophers are just built different.
Drake Lindsey. It wasn’t the flashiest performance, but I don’t think anyone is going to complain about 16-of-20 for 153 passing yards and a touchdown. Lindsey was in total command of the offense all game long.
P.J. Fleck owns Nebraska. The $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy might as well have a permanent place in Minnesota now that the Gophers have won six straight over the Cornhuskers. Fleck improves to 7-1 against Nebraska in his tenure here, and he secured a program-record seventh win over an AP Top 25 team.
The Meh
The Minnesota offensive line. I’m probably being too critical of the offensive line, considering they only allowed one sack and helped pave the way for 186 rushing yards. But I thought they were inconsistent in the first half before they really started playing physical in the second half, wearing down the Nebraska defensive front. It is interesting that offensive line coach Brian Callahan hit the reset button before the game, returning all five starters to their original positions after playing a game of musical chairs the last two weeks. They still have a long way to go in the final five games, but this was a much-needed step forward for a beleaguered unit.
