Minnesota powered past No. 25 Nebraska with a dominant 24-6 victory on Friday night, led by a strong ground game and relentless defense. Running back Darius Taylor set the tone, rushing for 148 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Drake Lindsey delivered a steady performance, completing 16 of 20 passes for 153 yards and another score. The Gophers’ defense was just as impressive, sacking Nebraska’s freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola nine times and holding the Cornhuskers to only 36 yards rushing — their lowest total of the season.
With the win, Minnesota improved to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten, extending its winning streak over Nebraska to six straight games. Head coach P.J. Fleck continued his dominance in this matchup, improving to 7-1 against the Huskers. Nebraska, which fell to 5-2 and 2-2 in conference play, struggled on both lines of scrimmage and saw its hopes of winning consecutive road games for the first time since 2006 slip away.
The game began as a defensive battle, with both teams trading punts and field position. Minnesota finally broke through early in the second quarter when Lindsey scored on a 1-yard sneak, capping a drive sparked by Taylor’s explosive 71-yard run down the right sideline — his longest of the season. The run also marked a big comeback moment for Taylor, who had been limited in recent weeks after missing two games due to injury. Nebraska managed a pair of field goals in the first half to make it 7-6, but the Gophers’ defense never allowed them to gain momentum.
In the second half, Minnesota’s offense began to wear down Nebraska’s defense. Late in the third quarter, Lindsey engineered a 98-yard drive that lasted 14 plays and took over six minutes off the clock. A crucial defensive holding penalty on fourth down kept the series alive, and Lindsey capitalized by connecting with Le’Meke Brockington on a 20-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 14-6.
On Minnesota’s next possession, Nebraska appeared to grab an interception that could have shifted the game’s momentum, but a pass-interference penalty wiped out the play. Taking advantage of the second chance, Taylor finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to seal the victory. From there, Minnesota’s defense dominated the rest of the way, repeatedly collapsing the pocket and keeping Raiola on the run.
Raiola, who completed 17 of 25 passes for 177 yards, showed flashes of poise but had little help from his offensive line. Minnesota’s front seven overwhelmed Nebraska’s protection, with Anthony Smith and Karter Menz leading the charge at 2½ sacks each. The Gophers’ total of nine sacks was their most in a game since Fleck took over as head coach in 2017.
For Minnesota, the game marked a long-awaited resurgence in its running attack. Ranked near the bottom nationally in rushing yards before the game, the Gophers rediscovered their rhythm with 186 yards on the ground. Their familiar outside zone scheme — a staple under Fleck — proved effective once again, exposing the same defensive gaps Nebraska has struggled with in recent years.
The loss exposed lingering issues for Nebraska, whose offensive and defensive lines couldn’t match Minnesota’s physicality. The Huskers’ lack of consistent pass protection and inability to establish the run proved costly, and they now face questions about maintaining their momentum heading into the second half of the season.
Meanwhile, Minnesota’s confidence is back on track as they look to build on this performance. With Taylor healthy again and the defense firing on all cylinders, the Gophers appear poised to make noise in the Big Ten West race.
