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 stunning 24-6 victory on October 17, 2025, marking their sixth consecutive win in this rivalry. But here's where it gets controversial: Was Nebraska's loss a result of their own missteps, or did Minnesota's relentless defense simply outshine the Cornhuskers? Let's dive into the details.
In a game that showcased Minnesota's defensive prowess, Darius Taylor rushed for 148 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Drake Lindsey completed 16 of 20 passes for 153 yards and a score. The real story, however, was the Golden Gophers' defense, which sacked Nebraska's quarterback Dylan Raiola a staggering nine times—a new school record. This achievement is even more impressive considering Minnesota was missing two of their 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. But this is the part most people miss: Nebraska's struggles weren't just about Minnesota's defense. The Cornhuskers were also dealing with internal distractions, including rumors of coach Matt Rhule being a candidate for the vacant Penn State job.
Nebraska's offense was held to a season-low 36 rushing yards, and Raiola, despite completing 17 of 25 passes for 177 yards, couldn't find a rhythm. 'We were just kind of out of whack the whole day,' Rhule admitted. 'At no point did we make the play we needed to make to win the game.' To make matters worse, Nebraska was held without 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, which set up a touchdown, was another highlight, pushing him past 2,000 career rushing yards in just 23 games—tied for the third fewest for a Gopher since 1955.
Nebraska's challenges were compounded by injuries to two starting linemen. Guard Rocco Spindler was hospitalized with a broken finger, and tackle Elijah Pritchett was ejected for targeting in the second quarter. 'Obviously, you lose two offensive linemen, that’s going to hurt you,' Rhule said, though he refused to make excuses. 'But we’re not going to make any excuses. (Minnesota) got after us.'
Looking ahead, Nebraska (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) will host Northwestern on October 25, while Minnesota (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) travels to Iowa next Saturday. But before we move on, let’s spark some debate: Did Minnesota’s win solidify them as a Big Ten contender, or was Nebraska’s performance an anomaly? And how much did the coaching rumors and injuries truly impact the Cornhuskers’ gameplay? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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