The Minnesota Gophers Football team finished their regular season schedule in a winning way, defeating a sinking Wisconsin team 24-7 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. The Gophers played solidly both offensively and defensively, crushing a Badgers team that mailed in their final season performance. Particularly ineffective was the Badgers passing attack, which was led by their undersized quarterback. Braedyn Locke finished 15-32 for 130 passing yards and 1 touchdown pass. Minnesota’s defensive front harassed him all day, and he had four passes broken up by Minnesota linemen in the contest.
Minnesota’s season was up and down, to be sure, with several highlights and some down moments. The Gophers have a busy agenda off the field this week, with National Signing Day on Wednesday and Bowl selection Sunday in one week.
Gophers Win and Take Back the Axe
Minnesota’s victory over Wisconsin last Friday was a complete team effort. Quarterback Max Brosmer accounted for all three Gophers touchdowns, starting with his one-yard quarterback sneak in the first quarter. Then, in the opening seconds of the second quarter, Brosmer hit wide receiver Daniel Jackson with a tight rope seven-yard touchdown strike right at the right pylon to up the score to 14-0 Minnesota.
Minnesota would add to their lead in the third quarter when Brosmer hit a leaping Jameson Geers with a 15-yard touchdown pass as Minnesota continued to bury the struggling Badgers. Minnesota would add a 43-yard Dragan Kesich field goal midway through the fourth quarter for their final score of the afternoon.
A Joey Gerlach personal foul penalty on third down created an opportunity for Wisconsin to score their only touchdown of the game. Three plays later, Wisconsin quarterback Locke would throw a perfect strike to Vinny Anthony II for a 15-yard touchdown reception. The Gopher’s defense would limit the Badgers’ offense to a lone field goal attempt down the stretch to preserve their 24-7 victory.
For the day, Brosmer would go 17-25 for 191 yards and the two touchdown passes. Jackon caught six passes to move him into fourth place on the All-Time Gopher’s most receiving yards list with 2,685 yards. And the offensive line had probably their strongest game of the season, which allowed running back Darius Taylor to rush 32 times for 146 yards.
Defensively, freshman Koi Perich led the way with eight tackles, turning in another spectacular game in his first season at Minnesota. Justin Walley and Danny Striggow would each register a sack, and the Minnesota defense would collectively break up 10 Locke pass attempts. Paul Bunyan’s Axe returns to the Gophers for the third time in four years.
Bowl Preview
Potential Bowl destinations for the University of Minnesota Football team include:
- Pinstripe Bowl, New York City, NY-Saturday, December 28
- Music City Bowl, Nashville, TN-Monday, December 30
- First Responder Bowl, Dallas, TX-Thursday, January 2
- Duke’s Mayo Bowl, Charlotte, NC-Thursday, January 2
Transfer Portal
With most of the regular college football season concluded, transfer portal movement has just started, but from here on out, announcements will come at a torrid pace. Gophers coach P.J. Fleck is so far only aware of seven defections from this year’s team.
Defensive back Craig McDonald announced at midseason that he had entered his name into the portal. The Minneapolis native will be heading to his fourth collegiate stop after playing his first two seasons at Iowa State and then a cup of coffee at Auburn in 2022.
He has since been joined by defensive lineman Luther McCoy, Hayden Schwartz, and running back Sieh Bangura all of whom saw little action for the Gophers this season. Also entering the portal are preferred walk-ons Ryan Algrim, Jordan Greenhow, and Jack Hawkinson.
A potential portal pickup is rumored to be Wisconsin defensive back Amare Snowden. Snowden is the nephew of Gophers great Ron Johnson, who has already started his recruitment efforts. Snowden, who entered the portal on December 1, also had Minnesota’s interest as a 2022 recruit.
National Signing Day
The initial period for student-athletes to formally commit to D1 and D2 NCAA football programs starts tomorrow. The University of Minnesota, like all programs, looks forward to getting the written commitment from its recruits.
Some of the top recruits for the Gophers for the 2025 season include:
- Emmanuel Karmo, Robbinsdale Cooper, Minnesota-4-Star-Edge
- Jackson Kollock, Laguna Beach High School, California-3-Star Quarterback
- Jayquan Stubbs, Cleveland Heights High School, Ohio-3-Star Defensive Lineman
- Ethan Stendel, Caledonia High School, Minnesota-3-Star Linebacker
- Shane Marshall, Irwin County High School, Georgia-3-Star-Running Back
Tomorrow
Total Apex Sports will cover coach Fleck’s press conference tomorrow at Huntington Bank Stadium as he discusses the newest Gophers’ recruits.
