Run the North | Golden Gophers football

[djp73]

At least he is getting paid to get abused

[Caesar]

The die is cast. Run the ball. Michigan isn’t stopping Turner.

[Captain Canada]

Averaging 7 yards per carry is fucking nuts. Fuck Blue.

[YaBoyRobRoy]

do I see that right? Michigan started the season with 6 road games? lol.

[ShireNiner]

At least he is getting paid to get abused

Getting paid the minimum. We give free scholarships and health insurance. That's enough.

The die is cast. Run the ball. Michigan isn’t stopping Turner.

Or do we throw the ball and catch them off guard??

Averaging 7 yards per carry is fucking nuts. Fuck Blue.

He usually has 3 or 4 yard carries but then breaks one or two 40+ yard runs a game.

do I see that right? Michigan started the season with 6 road games? lol.

Opposite, they had all home games. Oregon was their first away game of the year.

[ShireNiner]

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Overtime thriller in Minneapolis: Gophers stun Michigan 32-31 in overtime on Saturday Night's Primetime game


Big plays, big misses, and a huge decision in OT sum up the historic night for Minnesota (ShireNiner Network)


By: Aiden “AJ” Wexler, Minnesota reporter
Week 9, 2026 |


"That schedule is fucking brutal though. Miami, UCLA, Washington, Penn State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, AND Wisconsin?? I have faith in you..." "Those 4 games after Akron " "yikes...this season is gonna be rough. That offense looks like it'll struggle" "Putting Notre Dame and Miami in the schedule is crazy. "youth movement and a tough schedule. gonna be a long year.."

Mick Smith heard it all to start the season. Losing his starting quarterback, the tough schedule, a brutal conference, losing the Doak Walker winner, and losing seven defensive starters. Everyone expected failure this season. People were expecting 6-5 at best. The "gauntlet," as it was referred to, weeks two to eight would break the Gophers' season in Smith's second year.

The gauntlet has been completed, and Minnesota sits 8-2, one game back in the Big Ten conference, 9th overall in the newest college playoff poll, and with the fate of their season squarely in their hands.

A week after going to Notre Dame and winning in the final minutes, Minnesota repeated the feat against the number three team in the country, Michigan. The game was not perfect; it was sloppy, with missed chances and almost a blown two-touchdown lead. But in the end, with the game on the line, Minnesota turned to a player that fans feel has held them back this season.

Quarterback AJ Brand. The numbers were not daunting, only 147 passing yards, but Brand came through on pressure moments. Three fourth-down conversions, one for a touchdown, a perfect throw for the touchdown in overtime, and then the biggest play of his young career. Instead of kicking the extra point, Minnesota went for the win with a two-point conversion. Brand rolled out and did what you are not supposed to do as a quarterback. He threw it back across the middle, finding the late crossing route of Jalen Smith for the win.

Brand takes a hit as he delivers the game-winning throw in overtime

"These are moments you play for. Game on the line, the ball in your hands, and your fans cheering you on." The redshirt freshman said after the game. "I have not been asked to do a lot this season, so when I was asked to win the game, I knew this was my moment."

The win is the biggest of Mick Smith's career, keeping him undefeated at home and now ranked in the top ten of the CFP poll. "We showed tonight that handing the ball to AJ Turner is not all we can do. Others stepped up, the other AJ, Fame, but most importantly, the defense. That pick six was massive by our senior leader [Nestor], if we hit those field goals, this game isn't even close in the end."

Despite the big win, the negative of the night was freshman kicker Manuel Valles having the worst game of his young career. Coming into the game, Valles' missed one kick all season. His first kick tonight was blocked, the second went far right, and his third hit the left post.

The loss for Michigan is the first since Steve Sarkisian arrived last summer. "The loss is tough to take. Minnesota is turning into a difficult school to play and a hard place to win, but this loss changes nothing for us. We beat Ohio State, we are in the playoffs, and most likely in the Big Ten championship still. The loss is just a wake-up call for us."



Soapys Stat Box
AJ Brand - 16/28, 147 yds, 2 TD
Bryce Underwood - 29/44, 297 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT
AJ Turner - 27 atts, 124 yds, 4.6 avg, 1 TD
Justice Haynes - 13 att, 49 yds, 3.8 avg, 1 TD
DeAnee Rogers - 4 rec, 33 yds, 2 TD
Andrew Marsh - 8 rec, 106 yds, 1 TD
John Nestor - 5 tkls, 1 TFL, 1 interception, 1 Def TD
Kerry Brown - 7 tkls, 2 DEFL
Mitch Horan - 6 tkls, 1 sack, 1 interception, 2 TFL, 2 DEFL
Cole Sullivan - 16 tkls, 2 TFL, 2 DEFL
Cole Brandt - 5 tkls, 2 TFL, 1 sack

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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

[redsox907]

Mick Smith said PUT SOME RESPEKT ON MY NAME

huge win. Turner is the star but the pieces around him doing their part. Gotta wonder if his W&T will make it through the season tho. How the other AJ step up without the Heisman contender behind him may define their playoff hopes

[The JZA]

big win in the big house!

[djp73]

Career defining win there.

[Soapy]

watershed moment for the program

Sark on that sauce already