Run the North | Golden Gophers football

ShireNiner · Post by **ShireNiner** » 13 Dec 2025, 23:06

18th ranked Gophers come off a bye ready to make a statement to start the second half of the season

Minnesota’s defense is eager to show they are better than the first four weeks/ShireNiner PS5 Images

By: Aiden “AJ” Wexler, Minnesota reporter
Week 7, 2026 | Northwestern at Minnesota

The bye week is the perfect time for teams to step back, reevaluate their season, and fix the issues that have been holding them back. For Minnesota, that issue is the defense. Offensively, Minnesota is a top-ten team in the nation. 35.2 points per game, over 500 yards per game, and a Heisman candidate at running back. Defensively, Minnesota is lucky to be above .500 after five games. Allowing 32 points per game, 4th worst in the Big Ten, 423.3 yards per game, third worst in the Big Ten, and only six takeaways this season. The only bright spot for the defense is a conference-leading 22 sacks.

"We lost a lot of players last season from the defense. A lot of leaders who transferred and graduated. A new core is here, young players are being asked to play more, and it is showing. You will see a new team this week. Young guys have experience under their belts now, and guys are getting used to the way we want to play." Defensive coordinator Joe Rossi, who is also in his first season with the team.

The opponent could not be better for Minnesota this week. A struggling Northwestern comes to town after losing three straight and being blown out by Minnesota last year, 46-10.

Matchups to watch

Weston Bryan, QB, 119/200, 59%, 11 TD, 7 INT

AJ Brand, QB, 69/111, 62%, 801 yds, 8 TDs, 1 INT

Vaughn Blue, RB, 68 att, 355 yds, 5.2 avg, 2 TD

AJ Turner, RB, 140 att, 1,064 yds, 7.6 avg, 9 TDs

Ronnel Johnson, WR, 38 rec, 485 yds, 7 TD

Kenric Lanier II, WR, 19 rec, 219 yds, 3 TD

Michael Kilbane, LEDG, 13 Tkls, 4 TFL, 2.5 sacks

Emmanual Karmo, REDG 17 Tkls, 7 TFL, 5.5 sacks

Aiden “AJ” Wexler is a writer for ShireNiner Nation covering Minnesota Gophers Football. He previously covered local high schools in the Minneapolis area. He is based in Minneapolis, MN. Follow AJ on Twitter @AidensFake.

Comments

redsox907 · Post by **redsox907** » 14 Dec 2025, 00:02

Northwestern easy money

ShireNiner · Post by **ShireNiner** » 14 Dec 2025, 00:36

Easiest game of the year

Post by **Soapy** » 14 Dec 2025, 07:53

streets need a body

Count · Post by **Count** » 14 Dec 2025, 09:33

should be an easy win. Turner's stats are wild, but Brand also needs some love for only throwing 1 INT so far

ShireNiner · Post by **ShireNiner** » 14 Dec 2025, 10:34

ShireNiner · Post by **ShireNiner** » 14 Dec 2025, 10:35

Soapy wrote: ↑
14 Dec 2025, 07:53
streets need a body

They got one

Count wrote: ↑
14 Dec 2025, 09:33
should be an easy win. Turner's stats are wild, but Brand also needs some love for only throwing 1 INT so far

Then he does this..

ShireNiner · Post by **ShireNiner** » 14 Dec 2025, 10:35

¹SMU 49 |

PSU 50 |

¹²AM 31 |

²⁰TX 21 |

¹⁷OLE 16 |

¹¹LSU 35 |

²⁴FSU 45 |

WIS 34 |

IA 35

LOU 41 |

⁵UM 52 |

OKL 10 |

²³MIZ 27 |

TENN 26 |

¹⁰UGA 27 |

MIAMI 41 |

PUR 31 |

UW 27

Minnesota 37, Northwestern 17 — Dominant defense and timely running push Gophers to win.

Dexter Ricks Jr intercepted a pass late in the 4th quarter of Saturday nights win /ShireNiner PS5 Images

By:Aiden “AJ” Wexler, Minnesota reporter
Week 7, 2026 | Northwestern

Coming out of the bye week, Minnesota was focused on proving they are better than the 3-2 record has shown. Defensively, Joe Rossi and his young squad have been embarrassed by the big plays and yards allowed. Saturday night was a clear message that they are ready to show the Big Ten that Minnesota is a real threat. Northwestern is a middle-of-the-conference team statistically, but Minnesota held them to 44 yards in the first half and only three points.

"The energy was there from the start." Coach Smith said after the game. "I liked the way the guys battled up front, stuffing any running lanes and putting pressure on their young, talented quarterback every time. Three sacks and negative rushing yards in the first half is better than any team could have asked for."

On offense, the Gophers started slow. Northwestern packed the box, limiting the chances for AJ Turner to get into the open and limiting Minnesota to two field goals to start the game. Freshman Manuel Valles set his career best and then broke it with a 50 and 52-yard field goal to put Minnesota on top 6-0 after the first two possessions. Minnesota finally found a break in the Wildcat defense as the first quarter ended, and AJ Brand found Jalen Smith down the sideline for a 46-yard touchdown, ending the quarter 13-0. One of two touchdown passes by Brand, who finished with only 105 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception that should be credited to the receiver more than the quarterback.

Both sides exchanged field goals to start the second quarter before Minnesota finally broke a big run, but not from any of the three backs fans would expect. This time it was Grant Washington on his first carry in three games, breaking a 71-yard touchdown run (pictured below). Washington has two carries for 95 yards for the game.

Down 23-3 at the break, Northwestern came out to start the second half with two big plays in the air to drive them right down the field and give them a quick touchdown, making it 23-10. The rest of the quarter was a dreadful pattern of Gophers running into crowded lines and Northwestern punting after three plays. The quarter ended 23-10 with the Gopher fans seeing Turner's Heisman numbers slipping.

But then the fourth quarter came, and Turner found his groove. Catching a three-yard touchdown pass to make it 30-10, Turner was finally starting to get invovled in the game. On the next drive, Brand hit Smith across the middle, but the receiver had the ball bounce off his hands for an interception, setting Northwestern up with a short field for their second touchdown, making it 30-17.

"Honestly, if we did not give them that second touchdown, Turner doesn't go back into the game, and he finishes with a poor stat line for his standards. He can thank Smith and AJ for giving him more carries." Smith joked after the game.

The following drive, the last of the game for Turner, saw him break a 62-yard touchdown run (pictured below) to put him over 200 yards for the game after 35 carries.

"They were all over the box," Turner said after the game. "It was hard to find space, but the boys up front kept pushing and eventually gave me a lane. They keep making it easy for me, and I keep trying to hit the right holes."

The win moves Minnesota to 4-2 (3-1) and continues to push them up the table. "Upsets are happening all over the country. We take it one game at a time and keep putting up wins, who knows where this season ends."

Soapys Stat Box

AJ Brand - 11/20, 105 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT

Weston Bryan - 25/45, 247 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT

AJ Turner - 35 atts, 219 yds, 6.2 avg, 1 TD, 1 rec TD

Vaughn Blue - 15 att, 29 yds, 1.9 avg

Jalen Smith - 1 rec, 46 yds, 1 TD

Ronnel Johnson - 6 rec, 81yds

Jourdan Thomas - 10 tkls, 2 TFL, 2 DEFL

Emmanuel Karmo - 3 tkls, 1 sack

Dillon Tatum - 11 tkls, 1 TFL

Mike Kilbane - 8 tkles, 3 TFL, 1 sack

Aiden “AJ” Wexler is a writer for ShireNiner Nation covering Minnesota Gophers Football. He previously covered local high schools in the Minneapolis area. He is based in Minneapolis, MN. Follow AJ on Twitter @AidensFake.

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Comments

redsox907 · Post by **redsox907** » 14 Dec 2025, 13:37

cheesing the run game for wins

:cantproveit:

also, links to other chises in thr bottom is a great touch :rockclap:

Cash Moore definitely cheating while we're on the subject

Count · Post by **Count** » 14 Dec 2025, 16:31

AJ Turner does it again

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