6 October 2024
Gophers fans have longed for years for head coach P.J. Fleck to be aggressive and play to win the game.
Well, he did in a huge moment Saturday and it paid off as Minnesota upset 11th-ranked Trojans 24-17 on Saturday in front of an announced crowd of 50,913 at Huntington Bank Stadium.
Instead of kicking a go-ahead field goal with 56 seconds remaining, Fleck opted to run a quarterback sneak for a second straight time on fourth down. From the 1/2-yard line, quarterback Max Brosmer was initially marked short of the goal line, but upon review, he was deemed to have crossed the plane.
When confirmed by the referee Ron Snodgrass, Fleck shot his arms up in the air repeatedly in celebration.
It looked like the Gophers would need that gutsy touchdown as USC drove to Minnesota’s 28-yard line, but true freshman safety Kio Perich intercepted Miller Moss with 14 seconds left.
The Gophers (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) beat a top-25 team for the first time since No. 24 Iowa last November. Minnesota sent its new Big Ten opponent home to the West Coast home with a defeat after being an 8-point favorite. USC (3-2, 1-2) have lost both of its conference road games this year.
In Minneapolis, fans stormed the field down below and fireworks exploded overhead as Fleck snapped a six-game conference losing streak since last November.
It was a sweet reward after a tough start to the season. Minnesota had first-half problems against Michigan in a 27-24 loss last week after second-half woes came in early season losses to North Carolina and rival Iowa.
Minnesota got the ball to start Saturday’s second half, but its offense was ushered off the field after four plays. Then USC marched 91 yards across 12 plays to take a 17-10 lead.
The Trojans looked like it would put the game away at the start of the fourth quarter, but Jah Joyner’s speed rush hit Moss as he threw and the fluttering pass was intercepted by Devon Williams.
Minnesota answered with a 5-yard touchdown run from Brosmer to tie the game, 17-17, with seven minutes left.
Brosmer finished with three touchdown runs, while running back Darius Taylor rushed 25 times for 144 yards.
The Gophers won the turnover margin 3-1, and its touchdown off Williams’ pick got them back in the game.
The Gophers were the more aggressive team to start the game and took a 3-0 lead through the first quarter. Minnesota established the run with 59 yards on the ground, most coming on a nine-play, 49-yard drive.
The U’s success on the ground didn’t lead to Fleck to decide to go for it on fourth and 2 from the Trojans’ 14, and kicker Dragan Kesich gave the U an early lead with a 32-yard field goal.
Fleck will often take points early in the game, which can contribute to fans’ angst over his coaching style. But Fleck’s eye-popping decision to go for it on fourth down led to big celebrations in Minnesota on Saturday night.
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