The Golden Gophers put the rest of the Big Ten on notice that they mean business, as they went toe-to-toe with the Buckeyes. However, a 14-10 1st half lead for Minnesota ended in a 45-31 Ohio State victory Thursday night at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Here’s how it went down in the Big Ten opener.
OSU struck first as Miyan William broke one for 71-yards midway through the first quarter to make it 7-0. They would add a 35-yard Noah Ruggles field goal early in the 2nd quarter before we saw points from the Gophers.
On a 4th and one from their 29-yard line, PJ Fleck elected to go for it, and it paid off with a 56-yard gain from Mohamed Ibrahim as he took it to the Buckeyes 15 yard line. Tanner Morgan would cap the drive with a 13 yard TD pass to Dylan Wright.
Then on the ensuing possession for Ohio State, C.J. Stroud was intercepted by Terrell Smith. This gave the Gophers possession at the Buckeyes 37 yard line with 8:03 left in the 1st half. Eight plays later, Ibrahim was taking it in for a 1 yard TD score to put Minnesota on top 14-10 with 3:32 left in the half.
The hometown faithful were rocking as their Gophers went into the locker room with the lead.
OSU opened the second half with possession and went 81 yards in seven plays. Stroud capped off the drive with a 38-yard TD pass to Chris Olave to reclaim the lead for the Buckeyes.
Minnesota’s drive looked to be over quickly with an interception. However, a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty by Dallas Gant, gave them new life. They would take advantage of the new life as Ibrahim took it back in for a 19-yard score.
Following punts from either teams, Ohio State would once again take the lead. This time it came on a 56-yard strike from Stroud to Garrett Wilson on the first play of the drive. Minnesota’s ensuing possession would end in disaster, as Haskell Garrett returned a fumble 32-yards for the Buckeyes as they went up 31-21, marking the true shift in the game that proved fatal to the Gophers. Additionally, the Gophers would lose Ibrahim late in the third after going down with an apparent leg injury after a 1-yard run. He would spend some time in the injury tent before making his way into the tunnel, only to reemerge shortly thereafter wearing a boot on his left leg.
Minnesota was able to trim the deficit to one score early in the 4th quarter after a 46-yard field goal from Matthew Trickett. However, three plays later, Stroud was connecting with TreVeyon Henderson for a 70-yard TD strike, pushing the OSU lead to 38-24 with 9:43 left to play.
The Gophers and Buckeyes again traded punches with touchdowns on both of their respective ensuing drives. With the score 45-31, and time winding down, Minnesota was running out of time. On 2nd and ten at their own 39-yard line, Tanner Morgan connected with Mike Brown-Stephens for 20 yards. However, Brown-Stephens was lit up by OSU’s Lanthan Ransom, forcing a fumble resulting in a final turnover. The play was reviewed and cleared of any targeting, much to the displeasure and protest of Gophers head coach Fleck.
Ohio State would run the final 3:54 off the clock and take the air out of the stadium. The win gives Ohio State momentum for next week’s home matchup against Oregon. Minnesota will host Miami (OH), as they look to rebound.
