Minnesota football failed to answer Northwestern’s 21-point run in the fourth quarter, leading to a 37-34 overtime loss on Saturday. The team was looking to rebound after a tough loss at North Carolina the previous week.

Northwestern fans began walking out of Ryan Field heading into the final quarter, leaving both the student section and half the stands almost empty. However, the Gophers found a way to hand the Wildcats a lifeline by opting to kick a field goal rather than going for a walk-off touchdown.

During the post-game press conference, Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck said the accountability for the loss starts with him.

“You always look at yourself first as a head coach, what could you have done differently, what could you have done better,” Fleck said. “Completely unacceptable in the fourth quarter, period. They went out there and got it done, we didn’t.”

Running back Darius Taylor, a bright spot for the Gophers, picked up his second straight Big Ten Freshman of the Week. The feat had not been accomplished at the University of Minnesota since Shannon Brooks in 2015.

After both team’s first drives stalled out, the Wildcats took over at their 11-yard line. On third-and-20, Northwestern threw a screen pass to receiver A.J. Henning, whose fumble was recovered by Gophers defensive lineman Kyler Baugh.

A play later, quaterback Athan Kaliakmanis found reciever Le’Meke Brockington over the middle of the field for a touchdown to make it 7-0 Minnesota. The touchdown was Minnesota’s first points scored in the first quarter all season.

Both teams punted after failing to gain any movement on their next drives. Northwestern ran the ball five straight times for 26 yards on their fourth drive of the game, closing out the first quarter 7-0 Minnesota.

The Gophers stopped the Wildcats on third-and-six to force a punt to start the second quarter. Taylor opened the proceeding offensive drive with back-to-back carries that he took for 14 yards.

Kaliakmanis then moved the Gophers near the red zone after receiver Corey Crooms Jr. caught his pass one-handed for a 27-yard gain. Taylor followed the play up with three straight rushes for 21 yards. Minnesota stayed on the ground and gave the ball to Taylor once more for the score, making it 14-0 Gophers.

Minnesota continued to put their faith in Taylor. On their next offensive drive, the Gophers were stuck on third down with five yards to the first down marker. Taylor took the rock and broke off 25 yards. A play later, Kaliakmanis hit a wide-open receiver Daniel Jackson in the back of the endzone to put Minnesota up three scores.

Northwestern responded quickly. With 2:06 left in the first half, quarterback Ben Bryant hit receiver Bryce Kirtz for an 80-yard touchdown, closing the gap by seven.

Minnesota found themselves in a tough third-and-15 situation the next drive. Kaliakmanis dropped back and couldn’t find an open target. He tucked the ball in and sprinted toward the marker. He hurdled a defender along the way but was planted into the ground in mid-air. The Gophers quarterback popped back up short of the first and kicker Dragan Kesich capped off the possession with a career-long 50-yard field goal.

Taylor had 137 yards rushing on 18 carries at halftime, his third straight game with over 133 yards rushing. Kaliakmanis’s performance was day-and-night compared to last week, finishing the half perfect in his attempts (8-8), with 107 total yards and two touchdowns.

Kaliakmanis carried his momentum into the third quarter, throwing to Jackson’s corner route for a 16-yard gain to start the second half. The drive stalled shortly after and the Gophers would punt three plays later.

The game slowed down for several possessions. The Wildcats tacked on a field goal during the exchange. The pace didn’t pick up until Taylor ran through Northwestern linebacker Bryce Gallagher, breaking free for a 41-yard touchdown run to close out the third quarter.

The 21-point lead would be the Gophers’ largest lead for the remainder of the game.

A mixture of good offense and a personal foul committed by Gophers safety Jack Henderson put Northwestern in the red zone. Wildcat running back Cam Porter walked in for their first rushing touchdown of the game, pushing the score to 31-17.

Northwestern got the ball back down two possessions after a three-and-out by the Gophers. Three straight passes by Bryant to Kirtz followed and eventually cut the lead by seven points. The three-play 69-yard drive took 39 seconds off the clock.

Kirtz recorded 10 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns against Minnesota.

Northwestern’s star wide receiver said postgame that Saturday was a culmination of the work he put in leading up to this season.

“I mean it definitely meant a lot,” Kirtz said. “I put in a lot of work, you know, I’ve had four knee surgeries over the past four years. So, tonight really, you know, just brought it all to light and really just showed me why all that hard work and all that time put in the training room, on the field, taking extra reps and why it all paid off.”

The touchdown was followed by two punts by Minnesota and one by Northwestern. On Minnesota’s third punt, Crawford placed it perfectly inside the 20. The ball continued to roll until it was stopped by Quentin Redding in the endzone, turning the Wildcat’s potential start at the one-yard line into a touchback.

The Gophers’ defense began to crumble, allowing the Wildcats to drive 80 yards and score a game-tying touchdown with just two seconds left, sending the game to overtime.

On Minnesota’s first and last offensive possession in overtime, Crooms hung onto a first-down ball from Kaliakmanis after taking a big hit from a Wildcat defender. Minnesota failed to score and settled for three points, giving Northwestern a chance to win.

Taylor was unable to be on the field for the final drive as he was pulled from the game due to an injury.

On Northwestern’s first play, Bryant found his tight end, Charlie Mangieri, wide open, dropped in the pass, and Mangieri walked into the endzone for the win. Bryant totaled 396 yards passing and four touchdown passes on 67% completion rate.

The Gophers were outdone on third down in back-to-back weeks, converting 4/14 compared to the Wildcats’ 8/18. Northwestern also outgained Minnesota in yards through the second half (315 to 188).

On the opposing end, it was an incredible night for newly appointed Northwestern head coach David Braun. Following the game in a press conference, Braun said he was proud of his team and their fight.

“I think what we saw tonight is a direct reflection of what this group is all about and the things that those of us are with this group day in and day out get a chance to see,” Braun said. “We haven’t had an opportunity to see that come out in full force on gameday and we saw it tonight.”

The Gophers are now 2-2 on the season as they head home to face University of Louisiana Lafayette, who are 3-1 after beating the University of Buffalo 45-38.

Minnesota football could not keep up with the No. 17 North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday, losing their first game of the season 31-13.

The Gophers’ defense had various blown coverages throughout the match. North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, one of the best in college football, took advantage and collected 414 yards through the air.

In a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Joe Rossi, Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, discussed the defense’s struggles against the Tar Heels leading to a loss.

“We didn’t play well enough to win. Poor performance … We got to be better,” Rossi said. “We gave up too many explosive plays. We didn’t do well enough on third down. To me, the game came down to those two things.”

North Carolina went 12 for 17 on third down opportunities compared to Minnesota’s offense, who converted 3 of their 12.

While there were plenty of negatives on the defensive side of the ball, senior defensive back Jack Henderson stood out as the Gophers’ top playmaker.

During the press conference, Henderson walked through his interception off Maye and the coverage responsibilities he had on the play.

“They shot the back out and, in that specific coverage, I couldn’t get out-leveraged by the running back. Typically, when they throw a back out in the flat, there is always something behind you,” Henderson said. “Coach Rossi always says not to take the cheese, so I kind of played it top-down, and Drake Maye wanted the seven route behind me and I just went up and got it.”

Minnesota’s secondary added two more interceptions against North Carolina, putting them at six on the season, the third-most in the country.

The Gophers offense matched Maye’s two interceptions. The first came from a pass by quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis that was tipped off the hands of tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford. The other was thrown by backup quarterback Cole Kramer, who threw a deep ball downfield to receiver Daniel Jackson.

Kaliakmanis had a tough time hitting receivers and taking advantage of a strong run game that rushed for 170 yards. He finished the game completing 11 of his 29 pass attempts for 133 passing yards.

Greg Harbaugh Jr., Minnesota’s offensive play-caller, said he wants to see the offense “execute better under the pressure of the situation.”

“Can’t let the moment get too big for us at certain times. Just continue to get better every single day,” said Harbaugh “It’s all about development. We’re a developmental program.”

True freshman running back Darius Taylor is an excellent example of the program’s developmental process.

Taylor took over the role he featured back in week two and has produced significant numbers since. Last week, the running back led the way for the Gophers, putting up 138 yards on 22 carries.

Head coach P.J. Fleck, during a press conference Monday morning, discussed the impact Taylor has had and how he can further improve going forward.

“I mean, Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice in three games, he’s very good. But if you analyze his runs, there are so many things that he can do so much better,” Fleck said.

The Gophers look to improve on both sides of the ball as they head on the road this week to Evanston, Illinois, to face the Northwestern Wildcats.

Minnesota headed into Chapel Hill searching for their first ranked win on the road in nine seasons. Instead, the Tar Heels’ aerial attack proved too much as Minnesota was outgained by over 200 yards in Saturday’s 13-31 loss to North Carolina.

Execution was one of the main issues in the loss, whether it was third down stops, incompletions or failure to make explosive plays. Head coach P.J. Fleck reflected in the post-game press conference on how the execution needs to improve.

“I think our team has a chance to be a top 25 team,” Fleck said. “I feel we were a few plays away from being in that talk tonight. So, we got to get those few plays fixed.”

The Gophers’ last win against a ranked opponent on the road came in 2014 against no. 21 Nebraska.

North Carolina started the game at their 25-yard line. Quarterback Drake Maye took no time to start connecting with his receiver Nate McCollum. Maye targeted McCollum five times on the drive, including a dime perfectly thrown over Gophers safety Aidan Gousby for a touchdown.

All of Maye’s first-quarter passes were completed to McCollum for seven receptions, 95 yards and a touchdown.

The quick score did not detract Minnesota from their usual ways. Sophomore quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis played within ten yards of the line of scrimmage and handed true freshman running back Darius Taylor a majority of the workload.

The drive was cut short after a poorly placed pass by Kaliakmanis hit the hands of tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford, tipping the ball into the air and into the hands of opposing linebacker Power Echols.

Kaliakmanis struggled throughout the game, finishing with just 133 passing yards, 38% completion percentage and an interception. Post-game the Gophers quarterback reflected on the tough game in Chapel Hill.

“Coaches had a great game plan. It just came down to me executing and I failed to execute,” Kaliakmanis said. “That was probably the worst game I’ve ever played and I can’t wait to learn. I fell short today and let my teammates down.”

The next drive, defensive linemen Kyler Baugh and Jah Joyner combined for a sack on the Tar Heels’ following drive and pushed their offense into a fourth and long. Maye continued to do it all for North Carolina and pooch punted the possession back to Minnesota.

After Kaliakmanis failed to get the Gophers’ offense out of their territory, Maye took advantage of the early opportunity to score again. He hit running back Omarion Hampton underneath for a 17-yard gain. A few plays later, Maye caught Minnesota mid-substitution which led to tight end Kamari Morales breaking open behind the defense for a 55-yard catch.

Hampton finished the drive by punching it into the end-zone for six, putting North Carolina up 14-0 with 13:17 left in the first half.

Minnesota scored in two of their next three drives. Their first followed Hampton’s touchdown via a Dragan Kesich field goal. The next score was carried in for a touchdown by Taylor with 30 seconds left in the first half.

Between Minnesota’s comeback efforts, Maye continued to connect through the air, launching a pass to receiver J.J. Jones deep over the middle on a post for 39 yards into Minnesota territory. North Carolina then ran a fake screen to McCollum which left tight end Bryson Nesbit open for a walk-in touchdown.

The score was held to 10-21 at halftime in favor of the Tar Heels. Minnesota’s defense had allowed 287 passing yards at this point, a surprisingly high mark given their average of allowing 92.5 passing yards per game.

Minnesota started the second half strong, moving the ball on the ground and through the air. Kaliakmanis hit receiver Le’Meke Brockington over the middle for a pickup of 18 yards to the Tar Heels’ 29-yard line. The offense could not push further and settled for another Kesich field goal.

The defense returned the favor within six plays and forced North Carolina to punt. Just as the Gophers seemed to have gained offensive momentum, Kaliakmanis took an awkward slide after crossing the first down mark and limped off the field. Backup quarterback Cole Kramer came in to replace Kaliakmanis and, on his first pass attempt, threw a deep interception intended for receiver Daniel Jackson.

North Carolina made it a two-possession game the following drive by knocking down a 42-yard field goal.

Defensive lineman Danny Striggow picked up a sack on Maye for a loss of five to put North Carolina behind the chains. After the game, Striggow talked about how Maye compared to other quarterbacks Minnesota has played.

“He was very composed in the pocket. I felt like we were able to get some good pressure on him, obviously we got him on the ground a few times, but he was comfortable back there,” Striggow said. “A lot of quarterbacks you see get antsy when the pocket starts to close on them; he looked comfortable.”

Both teams pitted their rushing attacks against each other as the game clock continued to wind down. Their exchanges resulted in several punts, but, through running back British Brooks, the Tar Heels were the first to find success. From one yard away, Brooks rammed through the Gophers defensive line for North Carolina’s fourth touchdown.

The Gophers offense failed to return the favor and went three-and-out. They opted to punt yet again, this time sealing their fate with 4:01 left in the game. The Tar Heels sent out their offense for one last time to run out the remaining minutes and secure the win over the Gophers.

Minnesota drops to 2-1 on the season and will head to Evanston, Illinois, to face the Northwestern Wildcats, their second Big Ten matchup of the 2023 season.

Minnesota Gophers football will visit Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Saturday to play against the no. 20 Tar Heels, their first ranked opponent of the season. The game will be the first time both programs face each other.

The Gophers put on a dominant display in all facets last weekend, beating Eastern Michigan 25-6. The performance created a momentum the team is hoping to carry over as they head into a tough road test.

Minnesota’s defense currently sits as the eighth-best in the country in yards allowed per game (223.5) while only allowing one touchdown in the first two weeks.

Quarterback Drake Maye, who is projected by many to be a top-five NFL draft pick next year, leads the North Carolina offense with 238.5 passing yards per game and three total touchdowns.

Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck commented on how great of a player Maye is and was asked what impressed him about the Tar Heels quarterback.

“Everything he is as advertised, he’s smooth now, nothing rattles him. He is a great runner; he is a great athlete, very accurate,” Fleck said. “He can do it all, that’s why he is the number one quarterback in the draft, they say, coming up.”

Heading into week three of the college football season, the Gophers have allowed 92.5 passing yards per game. The last time North Carolina failed to reach 100 passing yards was in 2016 against Virginia Tech.

The Gophers are expecting a handful from the North Carolina offense, which also features a running back who ran for 234 yards and three touchdowns against Appalachian State.

On Minnesota’s defensive side, look for defensive lineman Kyler Baugh to do damage control on Maye and the Tar Heels’ passing game.

Baugh is coming off his best performance as a Gopher statistically, recording seven pressures and two sacks.

“I mean, I’ve been here a while. It was probably the best game a defensive tackle has had,” said defensive coordinator Joe Rossi.

Rossi’s defensive line has improved drastically in the first two weeks. After only recording 19 sacks a season ago, the Gophers are currently on pace to beat that number in six games.

The improvements made upfront have also benefited the Gophers’ defensive backs. The group has tallied four interceptions in the first two games, two of them coming from safety Tyler Nubin.

During a press conference covered by The Daily Tar Heel, North Carolina head coach Mack Brown was asked about the difference his team feels before facing the Gophers, a team North Carolina is unfamiliar with, versus rival teams.

“The difference is emotion,” Brown said. “They know a lot of kids on the South Carolina team and the Appalachian State team. Most of [the players] only know Chris Collins [on Minnesota].”

Collins is a sixth-year defensive lineman for the Gophers who transferred from North Carolina this past year.

Brown clarified that, despite the unfamiliarity, “We have seen them play Nebraska; we have seen them play Eastern Michigan.”

The Minnesota Gophers hosted the Eastern Michigan Eagles in a non-conference showdown. Both teams entered the game 1-0 after winning at home in their season openers.

For the second straight week, captain Cody Lindenberg was not available due to an injury he picked up during practice. Chris Autman-Bell was questionable heading into the game and did not see a single snap.

Eastern Michigan won the toss and elected to receive, looking to carry on the momentum from their successful special teams performance the week before.

On the opening drive, Gophers safety Darius Green darted toward Eastern Michigan quarterback Austin Smith and tackled him for a loss of three yards. Defensive lineman Kyler Baugh followed the play with his first sack on the season.

Running back Sean Tyler kick-started the Gophers’ offense with an outside run for a 12-yard gain. The offense continued to move down the field with Gophers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis connecting with wide receiver Daniel Jackson for 22 yards.

After eclipsing their rushing total against Nebraska with 56 yards on the first drive, Minnesota found themselves inside Eastern Michigan’s five-yard line. Four unsuccessful rushes later and the Gophers turned the ball back over to the Eagles.

Minnesota’s defense had trouble containing the run in the first half. The Eagles averaged 5.9 yards per carry and used that production, turning it into two field goals in the second quarter. However, the Gophers’ secondary kept the Eagles away from the end zone all game.

The Gophers secondary held Eastern Michigan to just 71 passing yards on 45% completion with an interception.

Once again Minnesota got the ball inside the 10-yard line and could not punch it in, settling for a 24-yard field goal from Dragan Kesich, the hero of last week’s nail-biting win over Nebraska, to make it 3-0 Minnesota.

On Minnesota’s next offensive drive, Darius Taylor established himself as lead back for the rest of the game.

Taylor began by showing off his elusiveness on back-to-back carries, one for 19 yards followed by another for seven. The true freshman finished the drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown, the first of his college career. He finished the game with 33 carries for 193 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

“My biggest takeaway from this game was keeping my head focused, being poised, keeping things just honed in, focusing on my details, doing what I’m supposed to do and riding on the coattails of the [offensive] line and tight ends,” Taylor said.

With Minnesota up 10-6, Tyler took the second-half opening kick to the 25-yard mark. The backfield duo of Tyler and Taylor carried the offense to the goal line, but Eastern Michigan’s defensive front stood firm and stone-walled the Gophers from reaching the end zone. Kesich knocked down his third field goal.

Minnesota’s defense continued to shut down the Eastern Michigan offense. In the second half, they limited the Eagles to just four yards of total offense while dominating time of possession by a difference of 13 minutes and 44 seconds.

Halfway through the fourth quarter, Eastern Michigan was backed up against their end zone and was forced to punt. Redshirt sophomore Eli Mau broke through the Eagles special teams unit and blocked the punt.

Baugh had one of the better moments during the game when the Big Ten Network cameras found Baugh in awe of the block.

Post-game, Baugh reflected on what he was thinking during the moment.

“I was shocked. I was like, ‘I’ve never seen that happen before,’ and honestly I don’t know what was going through my head because my jaw was dropped.”

The Gophers recovered the ball in the end zone, but the initial touchdown call was shortly overturned and ruled as a safety.

“We played complimentary football,” said head coach P.J. Fleck. “Even when times got tough, we made plays on offense. The defense was outstanding. Special teams blocked a punt. It was all connected.”

The block was Minnesota’s first since Preston Jelen’s block against Michigan in 2020.

In two minutes, Kaliakmanis and Smith traded interceptions in their following possessions. The Gophers then returned to the run game and never went back.

Minnesota ran nine-straight times on their final drive, leaving less than 30 seconds to spare, before failing to convert on third down. Kesich ran back onto the field and tallied his fourth field goal of the night, pushing the score to 25-6.

Baugh preserved the score with a sack on the game’s final play. His two-sack performance marks his first multi-sack game of his collegiate career.

In the post-game press conference, Baugh reflected on how new defensive line coach Winston DeLattiboudere has impacted his mentality heading into games.

“My mindset has changed just by approaching every day differently, being positive with my teammates, playing the game of football,” said Baugh.

After finishing the 2022 season with just 19 sacks, Minnesota has seven sacks in the first two games of the 2023 campaign.

Minnesota finished with 413 total yards of offense while holding Eastern Michigan to just 152 total yards. The Gophers’ next game will be against the No. 20 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in the Associated Press college football poll, led by quarterback and potential top-five draft pick Drake Maye.

The Minnesota Gophers came off a 13-10 win over Nebraska at home last weekend. The Gophers’ talented secondary was on display, collecting three interceptions and a forced fumble.

After starting off the season on the right foot, Minnesota takes on Eastern Michigan tonight at 6:30 pm.

Tyler Nubin was named Big Ten Player of the Week after his two interception game against Nebraska. Dragan Kesich received Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after drilling the game winning field goal against the Cornhuskers.

Minnesota had two studs on the back end of the defense in Justin Walley and Nubin. Tre’Von Jones was added through the transfer portal to fill the second cornerback slot. 

On the P.J. Fleck Show, Nubin was asked about the depth in the defensive backs room.

“They are some dogs man, competitive dogs and they love to play,” Nubin said. “That’s really why I love playing with them because they love the game as much as me.”

Jones is a graduate student who transferdd from Elon University, made an instant impact in the first half with a pass breakup and an interception while Nebraska was in the red zone.

The defense bottled Nebraska’s offense to just ten points. The only touchdown they allowed came from a trick play involving a backward pass by Anthony Grant to Jeff Sims, who then threw it 35 yards downfield into the endzone to Alex Bullock.

The lead-up to the touchdown was a Rahmir Johnson 63-yard kick return.

Eastern Michigan is coming off a 33-23 win over Howard in week one. In the game, the Eagles returned two kicks for touchdowns from two different players: Jaylon Jackson and Hamze El-Zayat.

To seal a comfortable win over Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Minnesota’s secondary must maintain their level of play while their special teams must improve on closing in on returners.

P.J. Fleck met with the media earlier this week and talked about how Eastern Michigan won their week-one game through special teams.

“Anytime you have two returns in a game for a touchdown, that’s not by accident. They did that last year and took one to the house against Western Michigan,” Fleck said. “They are good at it and they spend a lot of time at it. They’ve got a few techniques that they use that are a little different from what we’ve seen.”

On the Eastern Michigan side, head coach Chris Creighton spoke about the upcoming game during an Eastern Michigan Athletics press conference. 

The Eagles head coach is preparing his team for a tough test on the road against the Gophers. Creighton had nothing but praise for Minnesota ahead of their matchup this weekend.

“This opponent is really tough. They’re big, they’re strong, their athletes are really good and they’re really well coached,” Creighton said. “It’s one of those things I’ve always thought, with Coach Fleck and his teams, people talk about the program part a lot, as they should, but I think sometimes people don’t talk enough about how well coached they are.” 

Minnesota will look to improve to 2-0 against Eastern Michigan on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Huntington Bank Stadium. A win would be the program’s second straight season with a 2-0 start.

Minnesota beat Nebraska in climactic fashion on Thursday night, winning 13-10. The victory marks their fifth straight win over the Cornhuskers and their sixth total during P.J. Fleck’s tenure as the Gophers’ head coach.

The Gophers announced hours before kickoff that linebacker Cody Lindenberg, a rising star on the defense, and defensive lineman Darnell Jefferies, a big-bodied veteran, would be out due to injury.

To begin the 140th season of Gophers football, Minnesota returned the opening kick and, on their first play, called for a pass to tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford that went for seven yards. Running back Sean Tyler earned the spot as a starter and followed up the catch with a one-yard carry.

The drive stalled two first downs later and put Mark Crawford in position to punt from the Gophers 47-yard line. The punt rolled for 52 yards until Gopher defenders stopped it a yard away from Nebraska’s endzone.

Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims captained the Cornhuskers offense through a heavy rushing attack. His six-foot-four, 220-pound frame paired with his speed made him a viable threat to the Gophers’ defense early on.

Sims opened the Cornhuskers’ first offensive drive with a designed quarterback run, dodged a tackle attempt and took it outside for 26 yards. Nebraska was later forced to punt after Minnesota cornerback Justin Walley made a big-play-preventing tackle in space.

Kaliakmanis initiated the following drive with an extended play-action fake and fired a pass to Corey Crooms Jr. on a dig route over the middle for a 20-yard completion. Kaliakmanis connected with him again for another first down on an under route for 10 yards.

The transfer from Western Michigan finished his first quarter as a Gopher with five catches for 37 yards.

After failing to pick up a first down in opposing territory, kicker Dragan Kesich nailed a 34-yard field goal to put Minnesota up 3-0, capping off a solid 13-play, 7-minute, 41-second drive.

Fifth-year transfer Tre’von Jones produced numerous highlights throughout the first half, starting with an essential pass breakup on Nebraska’s first drive in the second quarter. Jones then stopped a quarterback run by Sims on the next play with a key tackle.

Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin followed Jones’ tackle with a pick off of Sims to end Nebraska’s drive upfield — the ninth interception of his Minnesota career.

The Gophers’ offense began to feel immediate pressure from Nebraska’s defensive line, stalling their push toward the end zone. The Gophers failed to turn Nubin’s turnover into any points after Kesich missed his kick wide left, keeping the score at 3-0 Minnesota with less than four minutes in the half.

Nebraska capitalized on the opportune field position and made their way to the goal line. Sims hurried to the line after the run was stopped inches from the goal line and threw himself in on a quarterback sneak. However, a false start voided the Cornhusker touchdown and moved the offense five yards back.

On second and goal from the six-yard line with just seconds left in the first half, Sims was forced to pass and threw it straight to Jones for a second interception. Jones finished his first-ever half of football as a Gopher with five tackles, an interception and a pass breakup.

Tyler Nubin reflected on Jones’ interception in the post-game press conference.

“He read the eyes, sank back, and really helped me out too because I was kind of out-leveraged a little bit,” Nubin said. “You know, I thank him for that one. He’s a ball player and he made a great play.”

Rahmir Johnson broke a 63-yard kickoff return at the opening of the second and the energy felt in the sold-out crowd in Huntington Bank short-circuited.

Still scoreless, Nebraska took a gamble on a trick play by pitching the ball to the right side to Anthony Grant, who then stopped to throw it back to Sims, who then launched it 35 yards to a wide-open Alex Bullock for a touchdown.

The defensive line responded well after the touchdown. Minnesota saw three total sacks on Sims from Jalen Logan-Redding, Danny Striggow and Jah Joyner, limiting the momentum Nebraska could gain from pulling off the broken touchdown play.

Kaliakmanis seemed to find a rhythm, fitting a dart to Spann-Ford for a first down. On the play, Nebraska’s key defensive lineman, Ty Robinson, was ejected due to a targeting penalty on a helmet-to-helmet hit on Kaliakmanis.

The Gophers failed to produce anything with the extra 15 yards. Kaliakmanis shorted a deep pass and was picked off by cornerback Omar Brown, a Minneapolis native.

Successful plays made by running back Gabe Ervin Jr. and wide receiver Marcus Washington marched Nebraska downfield and into field goal range. The Cornhuskers’ kick was successful as they found themselves up by one score early into the fourth quarter.

Both team’s offenses stalled and punted in three straight possessions. However, with Nebraska on offense during the fourth drive, Walley injected life back into the game, forcing a fumble on Ervin Jr. that was recovered by defensive back Aidan Gousby.

Kaliakmanis connected with Spann-Ford once more down the middle, this time for a 15-yard gain and a first down, putting them in the red zone.

Kaliakmanis put a little too much juice into his throw to wide receiver Daniel Jackson, throwing Jackson out of bounds despite him making the catch. 

Kaliakmanis went back to Jackson two plays later, targeting him in the corner of the endzone. Jackson once again made the catch comfortably but, this time, narrowly stayed in bounds by dragging the toes of his back foot across the endzone for a picturesque touchdown to tie the game at 10.

Sims and the Cornhuskers did not let the highlight touchdown slow them down, but the urgency to get downfield allowed Nubin to jump on another opportunity for an interception, his second on the day.

With less than a minute to go, Minnesota worked the left sideline, driving the ball to the 32-yard line. On third-and-13, Tyler broke off the longest run of the night for 11 yards to the Nebraska 29.

Minnesota took a timeout with three seconds remaining, setting up Kesich for the eventual 47-yard game-winning field goal.

Kaliakmanis finished his first start of the season 24-44 for 196 yards, one touchdown and one interception. 16 of the 44 passes were in the direction of Jackson.

Kaliakmanis explained during the press conference how their connection has grown from last year, through camp and into week one.

“I think it started last year, we just have such a good relationship off the field,” Kalikmanis said. “I know that if it’s one-on-one and he’s not open I’m going to give him the ball because he proves to everybody that he can make plays in big-time moments.”

During the post-game press conference, Fleck reflected on all the big plays made by the Gophers.

“It’s so fun to coach a group of guys who never think they are out of it,” Fleck said. “I kept saying in the huddle our best players have to make the plays.”

The Gophers survived an opening night scare and start the season 1-0. They will now look to get ready to host Eastern Michigan on Sept. 9 for their next game.

Since John Anderson became the coach in the fall of 1981, Minnesota baseball has produced over 100 MLB draft picks. The Gophers hold the longest streak in the Big Ten with 36 straight seasons with a draftee.

Anderson arrived on campus in 1974 with hopes of playing for Gophers legend Dick Siebert. 

Instead, Anderson received a coaching opportunity under two Minnesota legends in Siebert and George Thomas. Thomas left in 1981 and the head coaching reins were turned over to Anderson.

Now over 40 years later, Anderson still manages the Gophers at Siebert Field, named after his mentor.

Anderson has produced high-level talent every year he has been the head coach. Player development has been a point of emphasis for Anderson while at Minnesota.

“I think the one thing I learned from Dick Siebert and George Thomas really young was, in this program, if you want to have a good program and have good players and teams, you gotta be really good at player development,” Anderson said.

Minnesota’s ability to turn projects into stars at a staggering rate has resulted in the 36-season streak of MLB players.

The streak started in 1988 with Jay Kvasnicka and has continued today through centerfielder Brett Bateman and pitcher George Klassen. The Chicago Cubs selected Bateman in the eighth round while the Philadelphia Phillies selected Klassen two rounds earlier.

Bateman, reflecting on his time at Minnesota, praised Anderson and hitting coach Patrick Casey.

“[Anderson’s] vision and leadership for player development is shown in the trust with his coaching staff and his players,” Bateman said. “Casey especially challenged me to try new and difficult things every single day, specifically on the contact and timing point of baseball. Whether it was with one-eyed goggles or virtual reality, many things were thrown my way to try to find something that developed me more as a player.”

Focusing on off-the-field development led to Bateman having a career year at the plate. He finished last season hitting .354 (1st on the Gophers, 8th in the Big Ten) and defending the outfield without making a single error.

Bateman shared what he would tell incoming recruits looking at Minnesota as a possible school to continue their baseball career.

“At the University of Minnesota, I have been able to not only develop as a player but to develop as a better person. I have created an unbelievable amount of connections throughout my time, and I am blessed to know the people that I know today,” Bateman said.

Coming out of high school, Klassen had displayed an unteachable arm talent but needed fine-tuning. Anderson worked with Klassen to improve the consistency of his pitches.

Klassen had Tommy John surgery his freshman year, which impeded both his development and confidence. However, during Klassen’s recovery period, Anderson never questioned if his talents remained. 

“When [Klassen] is 25 or 26, he’s going to be an outstanding pitcher, and I’m pulling for him and hope that he can find his way in professional baseball,” Anderson said.

The Phillies took a chance on the talented right-hander with enormous upside. Klassen will get his chance to play baseball at the next level with a great organization whose top five prospects include three right-handed pitchers.

In the previous two years, the Gophers propelled three other players to the MLB. Two of them, Zach Raabe and Aidan Maldonado, were selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021 and 2022.

Brewers Area Scout Riley Bandelow reflected on the recent success of Minnesota’s baseball program with the draft and the team’s addition of the two Gophers.

“Yeah, I think both of those guys, for me personally, it was the intangibles that really set those guys apart and I think that’s a testament to the kids, but also, the Gopher program,” Bandelow said. “You don’t have to worry about work ethic and makeup and off-the-field stuff when you’re scouting the Gopher program.”

Anderson has been around the program for over 40 years and in that time has made countless connections with his players off the field. Bateman saw first-hand how Anderson’s personable outreaches openly prepared teammates for life after baseball.

“Coach Anderson is more than just a baseball coach at the University of Minnesota. Many players, including myself, often refer to him as another fatherly figure,” Bateman said.

Those relationships formed between Anderson and his players last beyond the MLB Draft. Anderson said he remains in contact with Max Meyer, a Miami Marlins pitching prospect who tied Paul Molitor as the highest draft pick in Gophers baseball history (third overall).

The right-hander had reached the MLB level for the first time last year and started two games before undergoing Tommy John Surgery. Anderson talked of his most recent conversation with Meyer about the recovery process. 

“Yeah, I stay in contact with him; recovery is going fine. It’s a long process, I think he’s bored, but so far, so good,” Anderson said. “I think the plan is for him to pitch again next year.”

Glen Perkins is another well-known name in the Twin Cities, having been drafted out of the University in 2004 and pitched for the Minnesota Twins for 12 years.

Anderson recalled Perkins’ career trajectory: from struggling his freshman year to becoming an All-Star in the MLB.

“The [problem] that happened with [Perkins] not pitching his freshman year was growing up and maturing … [The coaching staff] took a look at him and made some adjustments in the player development, and he bought in,” said Anderson. “He had a great relationship with former Pitching Coach Todd Oakes. They worked very well together and he trusted him and was willing to try whatever he asked him to try.”

Anderson mentioned Oakes and Perkins remained close. Perkins would return to campus to throw with Oakes and work on his game until Oakes died in 2016.

The numerous stories collected by draftees throughout the years serve as a testament to the annual success of Minnesota’s strong, 36-year-old college-to-MLB pipeline.

The Minnesota Gophers currently hold possession of college football’s 29th-best 2024 recruiting class. Two members of their recruiting class hail from the same high school in Florida.

Dallas Sims and Mauricio Hinds, both born and raised in Canada, play football for Clearwater Academy International (CAI) in Florida.

The two currently live together in the same house with “host parents” who both teach at the school. Hinds and Sims have formed a special bond during their time living together that goes beyond football.

“For the first eight months I was here, we did that every night just hanging out in his room, and so we got really close,” Hinds said in an interview published on YouTube. “That’s my guy, man, like that’s my brother like you form a bond with all the guys in your house.”

The friendship evolved into a brotherhood through countless hours spent together both on and off the field. Sims shared the same sentiment talking about how, after the first two months together, it felt like they had been brothers for two years.

Hinds started playing organized football during his freshman year in Philadelphia. After his first semester, he decided the school was the wrong place for him and elected to transfer.

The change prompted Hinds to weigh his options once again, and he decided to attend CAI, which he calls the best decision he has ever made.

One of the biggest factors in his decision was the quality of work CAI puts into player development. CAI Head Coach, Jesse Chinchar, was impressed with the strides he has taken to improve his game.

“I think it’s a testament to his coachability and work ethic … One of the easiest kids to work with that we’ve ever had,” Chinchar said.

Chinchar added Hinds is “extremely athletic” and has an “uncommon” ability to run and play in space, qualities that helped expedite his development.

Chinchar previously coached another talented Canadian, defensive back Rhyland Kelly, who committed to Minnesota back in 2022.

The Gophers originally sent wide receivers coach Matt Simon to Florida on a recruiting trip surrounding Sims. During his time in Clearwater, Simon asked Sims about other players on his team, leading Sims to give him Hinds’ name.

“Yeah, Coach Simon, my positional coach, asked me what players stand out on my team,” Sims said. “Mauricio and I are very similar, so I knew the coaching staff at Minnesota would love him and what he brings to the game.”

Hinds remembers Simon being at practice and recalled putting together two good weeks of practice, which ultimately led to an offer to play football at Minnesota.

The two teammates are currently preparing for the season and Sims is poised for an exceptional year. Chinchar believes, with what he has seen this offseason, Sims has taken his game to another level.

“His work ethic and leadership have continued to grow this offseason, and I think it’s going to pay off in a big way,” said Chinchar. “His football IQ is starting to grow, and you can see him seeing the game and understanding defenses and how to run routes against different looks, and knowing what to expect. It’s really elevated his game and ability to get open.”

These two Minnesota recruits are looking to make a splash in their final season at Clearwater Academy International.

The pair traveled the country going on college visits together and ended up deciding on Minnesota over South Florida, Arizona, Florida and Washington.

Sims and Hinds arrived at Clearwater as individuals looking for an opportunity to play high school football.

“I’ve been working on basically everything,” Sims said about his preparation for his senior year at Clearwater. “I don’t just try to train one [skill] every time I train. I try to train everything, from physical training to mental training.”

The New Orleans Saints selected Minnesota safety Jordan Howden in the fifth round of the NFL draft in April. Throughout his five seasons with the Gophers, Howden was a productive and crucial part of their secondary.

He showed versatility during his time in Minnesota, playing free safety, slot corner and in the box. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Howden’s greatest strength is his tackling. In his final college season, he posted a 3.1% missed tackle rate, missing just two tackles across 13 games.

Howden continued to impress NFL scouts and general managers after the regular season at the NFL Combine. He clocked in a 4.49 40-yard dash, the fifth fastest time by a safety at the Combine.

The Saints saw this, paired with his experience of over 3,000 snaps played in college, and decided to take a chance on him.

Gophers defensive back Tyler Nubin, who played with Howden for four seasons in the secondary, gave some insight on how Howden is transitioning to the NFL and training camp.

“[Howden] is doing real good in New Orleans, getting nickel reps right now. They moved him to nickel so they are getting to see the coverage skills that we saw here for four years,” Nubin said. “I am excited to see him get a shot at getting on the field.”

Howden’s versatility resembles a commonly sought asset in the NFL. Players of his skill set who can and will do everything asked of them have an increased chance of making the team.

Training camp is just around the corner and with that, various opportunities to impress the Saints coaching staff. Howden will look to leave a lasting impression to make the roster and compete for playing time in the preseason.

But from the looks of it, the pressures that come with transitioning from college football to the NFL are not fazing Howden.

Todd McShay, an NFL Analyst who covers the NFL Draft on ESPN, told the Pioneer Press about his perspective of Jordan Howden and his transition to the NFL.

“You look at the experience he brings to the game, 49 starts at Minnesota as a four-year player, 240 tackles; he has played in the slot in the big nickel role, he’s played as a two-high safety, which I think he can hold up in,” McShay said. “I question if he can be a single-high safety. I don’t see the twitch and change of direction skills. But when the ball is in front of him, he can close in a flash. I like his instincts as a safety as well.”

Additionally, Mel Kiper, NFL Draft expert on ESPN, was impressed with Howden’s body of work at Minnesota.

“He closes quickly, where he reads the quarterback’s eyes and anticipates well,” Kiper said. “I thought he was a good tackler overall in coverage, down the field. He was making plays late in coverage.”

During Howden’s first day of media availability as a Saints player, he was asked if he had a specific vision of how he fit into the New Orleans defense.

“I don’t have a vision. I’m one of those types of players like wherever the team needs me, I’m available,” Howden said. “Anywhere on the field, that’s just how it’s always been growing up. I’m a team player … Whatever the team wants me to do.”