The Gophers came close to pulling off another upset against fourth-ranked Penn State on Saturday, but key mistakes in crucial moments ultimately cost them.
Minnesota jumped to a 10-point lead early in the second quarter, only for the Nittany Lions to quickly respond and tie the game. The Gophers executed a successful trick play for a touchdown, but a second trick play attempt faltered at a critical time. They also blocked a punt and returned a blocked extra point for two points, yet Penn State answered with a game-changing fake punt when it mattered most.
In the end, the Nittany Lions escaped with a 26-25 win at Huntington Bank Stadium, improving to 10-1 overall and 7-1 in the Big Ten. The loss dropped Minnesota to 6-5 and 4-4 in conference play, despite a valiant effort. The Gophers held Penn State to seven points below its average and scored nearly 12 more points than the Nittany Lions typically allow, but came up short in yet another close contest.
"There’s a lot of tears in that locker room because of how hard they played," said Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck. "But Penn State found a way to make one more play than we did."
Minnesota's offense showed promise, with quarterback Max Brosmer completing 15 of 23 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown — a double-reverse flea-flicker to tight end Jameson Geers for a 17-10 lead late in the first half. However, Brosmer also threw an interception and lost a fumble, both of which led to Penn State field goals. Receiver Daniel Jackson caught six passes for 90 yards, while running back Darius Taylor rushed for 58 yards on 17 carries.
Special teams also provided highlights, with Derik LeCaptain blocking a punt and Jack Henderson blocking a PAT, which Ethan Robinson returned 89 yards for two points. But despite these flashes of brilliance, it wasn’t enough to seal the upset.
For Penn State, quarterback Drew Allar threw for 244 yards and a touchdown, while tight end Tyler Warren hauled in eight passes for 102 yards.
The game came down to key moments in the fourth quarter. After a 12-yard run by Nicholas Singleton put Penn State ahead 23-22, the Gophers fumbled the ball away, and Penn State capitalized with a 32-yard field goal to make it 26-22.
Brosmer managed a strong drive late in the game, connecting on passes of 23 and 30 yards to put the Gophers in the red zone. However, a loss of yards and two incompletions led to a 26-yard field goal by Jack Kesich, cutting the lead to just one point with 5:48 remaining.
Minnesota's last-gasp trick play, a throwback to tackle eligible Aireontae Ersery, was thwarted when Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter broke up the pass. "It just didn’t come together how it came together in practice," Fleck said.
With the Gophers' defense on the verge of getting the ball back, Penn State pulled off a successful fake punt on a fourth-and-1 play, with tight end Luke Reynolds rushing for 32 yards to the Gophers' 34. Head coach James Franklin called the play after working on it throughout the season. “It’s been cooking, it’s been marinating for a while,” Franklin said.
Penn State then converted two more fourth-and-1 plays to run out the clock, leaving the Gophers no time to mount a comeback.
“That was a heavyweight fight right there,” Fleck said. “I’m just proud of our team, how hard they fight. But you come up short, and it’s really disappointing.”