Minnesota Golden Gophers Knock Off No. 25 Nebraska Cornhuskers
Sometimes in college football, you witness a beatdown so thorough it makes you wonder if one team forgot they had a game that night. That’s exactly what happened Friday when the Minnesota Golden Gophers absolutely demolished No. 25 Nebraska 24-6 at Huntington Bank Stadium, extending their stranglehold over the Cornhuskers to six straight wins.
If you’re keeping score at home (and Nebraska probably wishes you weren’t), that’s half a dozen consecutive times the Gophers have sent the Huskers packing with their tails between their legs. At this point, Nebraska’s relationship with Minnesota has become more toxic than a reality TV show.
Minnesota’s Ground Game Turned Nebraska’s Defense into Swiss Cheese
The Gophers came out swinging with a ground attack that would make even the most seasoned defensive coordinator reach for the antacids. Minnesota pounded the rock for 186 rushing yards while holding Nebraska to a pathetic 36 yards on the ground – numbers so lopsided they’d make a Vegas bookie blush.
Darius Taylor was the star of this ground-and-pound showcase, carrying the ball 24 times for 148 yards and a touchdown. His backbreaking 71-yard scamper early in the second quarter didn’t just flip field position – it flipped the entire momentum of the game. That single run set up Drake Lindsey’s touchdown plunge that gave Minnesota a 7-6 lead they never relinquished.
The offensive line deserves massive credit here, too. Head Coach P.J. Fleck shuffled his big boys around like a chess master, and the new configuration worked like a charm. They allowed just one sack all night while opening holes big enough to drive a Zamboni through.
Nebraska’s Offensive Line Became a Turnstile Operation
Speaking of offensive lines, Nebraska’s protection unit had about as much success as a screen door on a submarine. The Cornhuskers allowed a season-high nine sacks, turning Quarterback Dylan Raiola into a human pinball. The kid got knocked around so much that he probably saw more stars than the Hubble telescope.
Raiola, who entered the game with impressive numbers, managed just 177 passing yards – his lowest output of the season. When your quarterback is spending more time on his back than a yoga instructor, good things rarely happen. The loss of starting Left Tackle Elijah Pritchett to a targeting ejection in the second quarter turned an already shaky protection scheme into a complete disaster.
Minnesota’s Defense Brought the Pain Train
The Gophers’ defensive unit played like they had a personal vendetta against Nebraska’s offense. They brought pressure from every conceivable angle, with safeties and linebackers crashing the party in the backfield like uninvited wedding guests.
This defensive performance was poetry in motion – violent, beautiful poetry that left Nebraska’s skill players running for their lives. The Cornhuskers managed just 213 total yards, getting outgained by Minnesota 339-213. Those aren’t football stats; they’re evidence of a complete and utter dismantling.
The Streak Continues For Fleck’s Squad
Fleck now has seven wins over ranked opponents at Minnesota, and this might be his most impressive yet. His team executed a game plan so perfectly that it looked like they’d been practicing against Nebraska’s tendencies for months. The Gophers controlled both lines of scrimmage, managed the clock, and played mistake-free football when it mattered most.
For Nebraska fans still holding onto hopes of relevance, this loss stings worse than stepping on a LEGO barefoot. Six straight losses to Minnesota isn’t just a losing streak – it’s a full-blown psychological complex at this point.
