Get ready for a shocking upset that will leave college football fans buzzing! The Minnesota Golden Gophers dominated the No. 25 Nebraska Cornhuskers in a 24-6 victory on October 17, 2025, marking their sixth consecutive win in this rivalry. But here's where it gets controversial: Was it Minnesota's relentless defense or Nebraska's self-inflicted struggles that sealed the deal? Let's dive in.
In a game that showcased Minnesota's defensive prowess, Darius Taylor rushed for 148 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Drake Lindsey efficiently completed 16 of 20 passes for 153 yards and a score. The real story, however, was the Golden Gophers' defense, which sacked Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola a staggering nine times—a new school record. This performance was even more impressive considering Minnesota was missing two of its top three cornerbacks due to injuries.
“Nine sacks; I love that,” Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck remarked proudly. “We're talking about the whole complete defense doing what you're supposed to do when you're supposed to do it.” Fleck's record against Nebraska now stands at an impressive 7-1, and the Golden Gophers haven't lost to the Cornhuskers in Minneapolis since 2015.
Nebraska, meanwhile, struggled to find its rhythm. Raiola completed 17 of 25 passes for 177 yards, but the Huskers were held to a season-low 36 rushing yards. Adding to their woes, Nebraska played without two starting linemen: guard Rocco Spindler, who was hospitalized with a broken finger, and tackle Elijah Pritchett, who was ejected for targeting in the second quarter. And this is the part most people miss: Nebraska’s inconsistent line play on both sides of the ball was a major factor in their downfall.
“We were just kind of out of whack the whole day,” admitted Nebraska coach Matt Rhule, whose team also faced rumors of his potential candidacy for the vacant Penn State job earlier in the week. “At no point did we make the play we needed to make to win the game.” The Huskers failed to score a touchdown for the first time since a 62-3 loss to Ohio State in 2016, a stat that Raiola bluntly described as “pretty brutal.”
Minnesota’s victory wasn’t just about defense; their offense had standout moments too. Lindsey connected with Le'Meke Brockington on a 20-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, capping a 98-yard, 14-play drive that Fleck hailed as the epitome of “Gopher football.” Taylor’s 71-yard run in the second quarter set up another score, pushing him past 2,000 career rushing yards in just 23 games—tied for the third fewest by a Gopher since 1955.
But here’s the controversial question: Did Minnesota win this game, or did Nebraska lose it? The Golden Gophers’ rushing attack, ranked 114th nationally before this game, suddenly found success with outside zone runs that have historically troubled Nebraska. Meanwhile, the Huskers’ injuries and distractions seemed to compound their struggles. What do you think? Was this Minnesota’s triumph or Nebraska’s collapse? Let us know in the comments!
The Golden Gophers (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) now look ahead to their matchup against Iowa next Saturday, while the Cornhuskers (5-2, 2-2) will host Northwestern on October 25. Will Nebraska bounce back, or will their struggles continue? Stay tuned as the season heats up!
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