A Heisman Hero: AJ Turner makes a surprise appearance to save Gophers in the 4th quarter
AJ Brand was limited on a night of downpour and receiver drops (ShireNiner Network)
By: Aiden “AJ” Wexler, Minnesota reporter
Week 10, 2026
10 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 28
7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21On a night that the state was set for AJ Brand to lead the team for the first time without AJ Turner, the weather decided to play a factor. In the downpour at Purdue, Minnesota had eight (8) dropped passes with six (6) in the first half alone.
“The rain was a factor for sure, but guys need to be better. AJ was putting the ball there, plays had to be made, and nobody was stepping up. We shot ourselves in the foot over and over.” Coach Smith said after the game, a close 28-21 win that nobody expected to be close.
“This is the Big Ten, wins are hard no matter who it is against.”
Without Turner (or so we thought), Minnesota knew the defense was going to have to step up, and the Gopher D did their part. 6.5 sacks and two interceptions led the way as the defense continues to shine since the bye week. Purdue had 301 yards of total offense with three touchdown drives that really broke down to two broken plays by Minnesota. The first was a 54-yard touchdown run by Cole Cabana in the first quarter on a draw play that caught Minnesota off. The second was a 31-yard run by quarterback Tayven Jackson that was pure individual skill, breaking two tackles and jumping over a defender on his way to the endzone.
But when the game was on the line, it was the two defensive captains who stepped up. On second and four, Jon Nestor came with a corner blitz for a big sack, setting up third down and long. The next play, senior captain, safety turned linebacker, Aidan Gousby stepped in front of a middle screen for the interception, his second of the game.
Captain Gousby makes his second interception of the game, leading to the winning drive
That interception set the stage for the game's biggest surprise. Only days after Minnesota announced AJ Turner would be benched, the Heisman favorite came jogging out to the field with just under six minutes left in the game.
"He came to me on the sideline and said, 'Coach, give me a quarter,' and I told him I'll give him one drive," Smith said after the win.
Turner made the most of it, five carries, 54 yards, and a touchdown on his only drive with runs of 17 and 18 yards before his 7 yard touchdown run with 1:54 remaining.
"He's a game changer, best player in the country, and it is not even close," quarterback AJ Brand said. "We know how beat up he is, but he showed heart. Stepping up and making plays when it was needed to get us the dub."
The win keeps Minnesota's playoff and Big Ten championship hopes alive. Moving up to 8th in the polls and tied for first in the Big Ten conference.
Soapys Stat Box
AJ Brand - 25/44, 258 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT Tayven Jackson - 15/31, 171 yds, 2 INT, 1 rush TD Fame Ijeboi - 24 atts, 81 yds, 3.3 avg, 1 TD Cole Cabana - 5 att, 44 yds, 8.8 avg, 1 TD Jerry Cross - 7 rec, 104 yds Jalen Smith - 7 rec, 72 yds De'nylon Morrissette - 4 rec, 34 yds Aidan Gousby - 9 tkls, 4 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INT Emmanuel Karmo - 4 tkls, 3 sacks, 4 TFL Carson Dean - 18 tkls, 9 TFL, 1 INT Landon Brooks - 3 tkls, 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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