Run the North | Golden Gophers football

[ShireNiner]

Gophers look to stay hot against struggling Indiana


Horan and Karmo have 16.5 sacks combined for the Gophers this season (ShireNiner PS5 Images)

By: Aiden “AJ” Wexler
Week 11, 2026 | Minnesota at Indiana

Minnesota’s margin for error in the Big Ten is slim, but the path in front of the No. 8 Gophers is clear. Win the last three games, and they are in the Big Ten championship game again. The game they lost by two points last season to Ohio State by a missed two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter.

Minnesota (7–2, 5–1 Big Ten) arrives as one of the league’s hottest teams, built around a punishing run game and a defense that lives on big sacks and turnovers. Indiana (5–4, 2–4) is fighting to stay bowl-eligible in what is a rebuilding season after just missing the playoffs last year under Curt Cignetti.

Game Notes to Watch

• Minnesota's AJ Turner has already piled up 1,609 rushing yards on 236 carries with 14 touchdowns, averaging 6.8 yards per attempt. Indiana’s defense is ranked 10th in the Big Ten in rushing defense, allowing 127.4 yards per game, but is coming off four games in a row allowing 115+ yards to opposing backs.

• Minnesota leads the nation with 40 sacks, and Indiana has allowed 11 sacks this season

• Indiana's Jack Lausch has 9 interceptions this season, and running back Beebe has four fumbles. Minnesota's defense has caused 2+ turnovers in four straight games.

• Indiana coach Curt Cignetti has a 26–10 record in Bloomington, but his teams are 3–8 against ranked opponents.

• Minnesota's coach, Mick Smith, has a 16–7 record with Minnesota, and 10-2 against unranked opponents

Key Players
AJ Brand (SO), QB, 136/223, 60%, 1,402 yds, 13 TDs, 5 INTs, sacked 10 times
AJ Turner (SR), RB, 236 att, 1,609 yds, 6.8 avg, 14 TDs
Kenric Lanier II (JR), WR, 29 rec, 322 yds, 3 TD
Robert Herndon (FR), RT, 707 snaps, 0 sacks allowed
Aidan Gousby (SR), MIKE, 63 Tkles, 11 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 2 DEFL
Emmanuel Karmo (SO), REDG, 26 Tkles, 13 TFL, 10 sacks, 1 DEFL
Mitch Horan (FR), WILL, 47 Tkles, 16 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 2 DEFL, 1 INT

Jack Lausch (JR) 189/336, 56%, 2,159 yards, 16 TDs, 9 INTS, sacked 11 times
Lee Beebe JR (SR), RB, 157 att, 798 yds, 5.1 avg, 7 TDs
Charlie Becker (SO), WR, 47 rec, 571 yds, 4 TD
Evan Lawrence (SO), RT, 678 snaps, 5 sacks allowed
Seonta Stewart (SO), SS, 49 Tkles, 1 INT
J'mari Monette (SR), DT, 25 Tkles, 11 TFL, 5.5 sacks
Andrew Depaepe (JR), REDG, 22 tkls, 7 TFL, 3 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.

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Comments

[The JZA]

That Purdue game was a little closer than expected, but a W is a W.

If Turner don't win Heisman, we know where eyes are gonna be directed

[ShireNiner]

That Purdue game was a little closer than expected, but a W is a W.

If Turner don't win Heisman, we know where eyes are gonna be directed

if he doesn’t win the Heisman, we riot. He’s been the favorite almost every week and only consistent player in the top five since the start of the season.

[djp73]

Would be good to get Turner some more rest in this one but tough with the Heisman on the line

[ShireNiner]

Would be good to get Turner some more rest in this one but tough with the Heisman on the line

I should have rested him..

[ShireNiner]

MINNESOTA SURVIVES LATE SCARE, HOLDS OFF INDIANA 27–26


Lanier’s 50-yard touchdown was one of the few offensive sparks for the Gophers on Saturday (ShireNiner Network)

By: Aiden “AJ” Wexler, Minnesota reporter
Week 11, 2026


BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — No. 8 Minnesota didn’t look like a Top 10 team for long stretches Saturday afternoon, but the Golden Gophers looked like one when it mattered most. Minnesota held on for a tense 27–26 road win over Indiana, surviving a furious second-half push with timely field goals and key defensive plays when it mattered.

The Gophers (8–2, 6–1 Big Ten) jumped out early, with a 50-yard touchdown pass to Kenric Lanier II on the game’s opening possession, then AJ Turner punched in a 2-yard score midway through the quarter to give the Gophers a 14–0 lead. The game was looking too easy for Minnesota, which had scored two touchdowns, recorded two sacks, and accumulated 149 yards of offense after just three drives.

But then Indiana responded late in the first on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Jack Lausch to Dorian Rashed, and the Hoosiers carried momentum into the second quarter. Touchdown catches by Charlie Becker and a 41-yard Nico Radicic field goal allowed Indiana to briefly seize control, taking a 17–14 lead.

Minnesota managed only a 46-yard Manuel Valles field goal late in the second quarter, sending the teams into the locker room tied at 17.

The third quarter belonged to Radicic, whose 18-yard field goal put Indiana up 20–17. Minnesota’s offense sputtered through the period, failing to score in the third for the second straight week.

Early in the fourth, Turner provided a short-yardage answer, scoring his second touchdown of the game on a 1-yard run to put Minnesota back in front, 24–20.

Indiana refused to go away. Radicic drilled two more field goals — from 29 yards at 6:48 and again at 1:56 — pushing the Hoosiers ahead 26–24 and putting real pressure on the Gophers. The second field goal came after a big defensive play by the Gophers' top sack leader, Karmo, with a third-down sack in the red zone.

Brand responded with his best drive of the day, moving Minnesota into range for Valles, who calmly knocked through a 23-yard field goal with 24 seconds left to give Minnesota the lead for good. Indiana’s final desperation drive ended with an interception on a Hail Mary to the endzone.

It wasn’t pretty, but it was another win for Minnesota, which continues to stack victories while staying firmly in the Big Ten title race. The Gophers struggled to run the ball for the first time this season, and for the first time all season, Turner was not the leading rusher for Minnesota.

"It was a struggle. I don't care what the record says; they are a great team. We have two more playoff games to finish the season. We know the stakes, a loss and our goals are gone. We need to stay focused and just keep finding ways to win."


Soapys Stat Box
AJ Brand (SO), QB, 21/33, 63%, 246 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
AJ Turner (SR), RB, 16 att, 38 yds, 2.3 avg, 2 TDs
Fame Ijobei (SR), RB, 7 att, 78 yds, 11.4 avg
Kenric Lanier II (JR), WR, 5 rec, 92 yds, 1 TD
Jerry Cross (SR), TE, 7 rec, 65 yds
Aidan Gousby (SR), MIKE, 10 Tkles, 2 TFL
Emmanuel Karmo (SO), REDG, 2 Tkles, 2 TFL, 2 sacks
Kerry Brown (SO), SS, 8 Tkles, 1 INT

Jack Lausch (JR) 36/44, 81%, 420 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Lee Beebe JR (SR), RB, 11 att, 34 yds, 3.0 avg
Andrew Barker (JR) TE, 7 rec, 78 yds, 1 TD
Javon Tracy (SR) WR, 8 rec, 54 yds
Jalen Thomson (JR), MIKE, 14 Tkles, 1 TFL
Jayden Sweeney (SR), CB, 4Tkles, 1 INT

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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

[djp73]

Tough one for Turner but it least he found the end zone twice and yall won

[Captain Canada]

Not the stat-padding day AJ was looking for, but you escaped with a win. Must have been stacking that box against your guy.

[ShireNiner]

Tough one for Turner but it least he found the end zone twice and yall won

He actually dropped in the Heisman race now. Needs to finish the season strong these last two games.

Not the stat-padding day AJ was looking for, but you escaped with a win. Must have been stacking that box against your guy.

They actually didn’t. Just missed blocks. The offensive line had a horrible day. Presnap the lanes looked good, one on one blocking everywhere. We just didn’t block like normal.

[Soapy]

making me feel stupid, I have no idea who that is. We will make it though.

Soapy's RTG privileged white boy who beats asian women *ALLEGEDLY*

Now I feel better about myself for not knowing about that nonsense. My players hang around respectable people in respectable environments.

bro?

boys thought they had an easy dub and almost FAFO