Run the North | Golden Gophers football

ShireNiner · Post by **ShireNiner** » 28 Dec 2025, 22:59

Axe Em’: #3 Minnesota Demolishes Wisconsin to Clinch Spot in Big Ten Championship
Minnesota Golden Gophers (9-2, 7-1 Big Ten, CFP No. 3) at Wisconsin Badgers (4-7, 3-5 Big Ten)
Big Ten Conference, Week 12

#4 MINN | 14 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 52
WISC | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10

Fame Ijeboi started the game with a bang, hitting 68 yards for an opening TD (ShireNiner PS5 images) Images

By:Aiden “AJ” Wexler, Minnesota reporter
Saturday, Nov 28, 2026 | Minnesota at Wisconsin

The 136th meeting of the most-played rivalry in college football has been filled with defensive battles and low-scoring duals. Saturday was the exact opposite of that.

Behind a relentless rushing attack and an efficient performance from quarterback AJ Brand, the No. 3 Minnesota Golden Gophers dismantled the Wisconsin Badgers 52-10 on Saturday. The victory ensures Paul Bunyan’s Axe remains in Minneapolis and, more importantly, punches the Gophers' ticket to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship game.

The game started with a lightning strike. On Minnesota's first possession, backup RB Fame Ijeboi burst through a hole for a 68-yard touchdown, setting a tone that Wisconsin never matched.

While Turner and Ijeboi (132 yards) bludgeoned the Badger front, AJ Brand played his most efficient game of the season. Brand finished 19-of-24 (79%) for 182 yards and 3 touchdowns, finding Jalen Smith, Kenric Lanier II, and Alan Soukup for scores.

Wisconsin’s only spark came in the first quarter when Trech Kekahuna hauled in a 62-yard bomb from Danny O’Neil, but the Gopher defense suffocated the Badgers from that point on. Wisconsin was held to a dismal 9 total rushing yards on the afternoon, a new low after 11 yards last week against Michigan State.

The Gopher defense, led by Aidan Gousby and Emmanuel Karmo, lived in the Wisconsin backfield. While the sack numbers weren't as impressive as previous weeks, the pressure was constant, holding the Badgers to a 45% completion rate and a complete abandonment of the run game. Dexter Ricks Jr. continues to be a lockdown presence on the perimeter, recording two deflections that halted Badger drives in the second half.

The Turner Milestone: 1,960 and Counting
Entering the game needing a massive performance to keep his historic pace alive, AJ Turner delivered. Despite playing limited snaps in the fourth quarter due to the blowout, Turner turned 19 carries into 156 yards and 3 touchdowns.
With 1,960 rushing yards on the season, Turner is now just 40 yards shy of becoming the first Gopher to ever hit the 2,000-yard mark.

"We didn't come here to talk about records today," Turner said while clutching the Axe. "We came here to take what's ours. The records are cool, but that trophy in the locker room and the trip to Indy mean more."

Scoring Summary
Quarter 1

Fame Ijeboi, 68 yd run (11:36)

Jalen Smith 15 yd pass from AJ Brand (5:57)

Trech Kekahuna 62 yd pass from Danny O’Neil (5:30)

Quarter 2

AJ Turner, 9 yd run (10:33)

Kenric Lanier II 12 yd pass from AJ Brand (5:55)

Atticus Bertrams 52 yd FG (1:05)

Manuel Valles, 35 yd FG (0:02)

4th Quarter 3

AJ Turner, 5 yd run (7:05)

Alan Soukup 19 yd pass from AJ Brand (1:12)
Quarter

AJ Turner, 2 yd run (0:05)

Soapys Stat Box
Passing

AJ Brand, QB, 19/24, 79%, 182 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT

Danny O’Neil, QB, 11/24, 45%, 165 yds, 1 TDs

Rushing

AJ Turner, RB, 19 att, 156 yds, 8.2 avg, 3 TDs

Fame Ijeboi, RB, 12 att, 132 yds, 11.0 avg, 1 TD

Cade Yacamelli, RB, 4 att, 9 yds, 2.2 avg

Receiving

Kenric Lanier II, WR, 2 rec, 21 yds, 1 TD

Kyan Berry-Johnson, WR, 5 rec, 53 yds

Defense

Aidan Gousby, MIKE, 6 Tkls, 1 TFL

Tackett Curtis, MIKE, 6 Tkls, 2 TFL, 1 sack

Emmanual Karmo, REDG 3 Tkls, 2 TFL

Matthew Jung, SS, 9 Tkls, 2 TFL

Dexter Ricks Jr, CB, 5 Tkls, 1 TFL, 2 DEFL

Jonas Duclona, CB, 6 Tkls, 1 INT

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

Post by **Agent** » 28 Dec 2025, 23:10

Damn hell of a run

Post by **Caesar** » 28 Dec 2025, 23:26

Ijebol taking some shine from Turner.

ShireNiner · Post by **ShireNiner** » 28 Dec 2025, 23:38

9 MICH	27 \|	20 ORE	42 \|	MSST	17 \|	ND	20 \|	IOWA	27 \|
6 OSU	35 \|	MSU	28 \|	11 MISS	41 \|	4 USC	28 \|	NEB	24\|

Week 13 in the CFB: No. 1 loses again, Ohio State wins 'The Game,' and Conference Championships set

Golden Gophers punched their ticket to Indy with a win over the Badgers (ShireNiner PS5 images)

By:Steven Koenig
Week 13, 2026 | NCAAF

The regular season has reached its dramatic conclusion, and the 2026 landscape has been scorched by a Red Raider sun. As the dust settles on Week 13, the Conference Championship games are set, and the playoffs are starting to shape up.

Here is everything you need to know about the final weekend of the regular season.

Texas Tech had the week off and benefited the most. Extra rest before the Big 12 Championship game against BYU, moved up in the standings, and their quarterback remains a Heisman favorite. Only Ohio State had a better week by beating its rivals, Michigan, and sealing its ticket to the playoffs. As of now, the Buckeyes moved up to 2nd in the standings with two other Big Ten teams in the Conference Championship, with one of them bound to drop after a loss.

On the bottom side, Florida lost to rivals Florida State, dropping from first to 7th in the standings, still with a chance at the playoffs but not a guarantee yet.

Heisman watch

Conner Weigman (QB) - 3,885 Yds, 41 TD, 4 INT
His case: The engine of the only 12-0 team in the Power 4. The best TD/INT ratio in the league and the most passing yards.

AJ Turner (RB) - 1,960 Yds, 20 TD
His case: The workhorse who put the Gophers on his back. Guaranteed Doak Walker winner, record-setting season, and the consistent favorite all season.

Jayden Maiava (QB) - 3,816 Yds, 38 TD, 3 INT
His case: The most efficient playmaker in the nation.

Landon Roldan (WR) - 1,493 Yds, 16 TD
His case: The most explosive "home run" threat in the SEC.

Kevin Jennings (QB) - 3,610 Yds, 33 TD, 5 INT
His case: The dual-threat leader of the Mustang revolution.

What did you think of this story?

Steven Koenig is a senior writer for ShireNiner Nation covering College Football. He previously covered a variety of sports and events, including World Cups and Olympics, for MSNBC Sports. He is based in Boston, MA. Follow Steven on Twitter @SteviesFake.

Comments

ShireNiner · Post by **ShireNiner** » 28 Dec 2025, 23:39

Agent wrote: ↑
28 Dec 2025, 23:10
Damn hell of a run

His cut speed is unreal.

Caesar wrote: ↑
28 Dec 2025, 23:26
Ijebol taking some shine from Turner.

He's going to be a star next season. I think he's better than Turner right now.

ShireNiner · Post by **ShireNiner** » 28 Dec 2025, 23:51

Florida to the Frozen North: 4-Star RB Liangelo Provo Commits to Minnesota

Provo joins a young, talented running back room next season in Minnesota (ShireNiner PS5 images)

By: Aiden “AJ” Wexler

MINNEAPOLIS — Mick Smith and the Minnesota Golden Gophers continue to reap the rewards of their historic 2026 season. Fresh off a dominant rivalry win and a Big Ten Championship berth, the Gophers have landed another major piece for their future offense.

Liangelo Provo, a bruising four-star running back out of Sarasota, Florida, officially announced his commitment to Minnesota on Sunday. Provo, one of the most physically imposing backs in the Southeast, chose the Gophers over a late push from several SEC and Big 12 programs.

The Profile: Liangelo Provo
Hometown: Sarasota, FL
Height/Weight: 5-foot-10, 212 lbs
247Sports Composite Rating:

(0.9145)
Rankings: No. 425 National | No. 54 RB | No. 62 FL

In a recruiting cycle filled with "scat-backs" and track stars, Provo is a refreshing throwback to the era of power football. At 212 pounds, he possesses a thick lower half and a violent running style that perfectly fits the "Row the Boat" offensive identity.

"Provo is a true 'contact seeker' who operates best between the tackles," says 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst Tom Loy. "He doesn't dance in the hole. He identifies the gap, lowers his shoulder, and creates yards after contact at a rate that is rare for high school prospects. He’s the type of back that wears a defensive front down by the third quarter. His balance through contact is elite, often bouncing off arm tackles that would stop most backs his size."

With AJ Turner graduating after a record-breaking Heisman-caliber season, Smith needed to find the next workhorse. While Fame Ijeboi provides the lightning, Provo is the thunder. With Provo wearing down defenses and Ijeboi providing the speed to make big plays late in a game, Minnesota has a future one-two punch ready to go.

Provo joins five-star WR Connor Malik as the cornerstones of an offensive class that is arguably the most talented in over a decade for the Gophers. By beating out southern powerhouses for a Florida blue-chipper, Minnesota has proven it is becoming a team the nation needs to recognize.

What did you think of this story?

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

Post by **Soapy** » 29 Dec 2025, 06:36

that jump cut was special

ShireNiner · Post by **ShireNiner** » 29 Dec 2025, 07:24

Soapy wrote: ↑
29 Dec 2025, 06:36
that jump cut was special

that’s why we are the best running team in the country.

Appreciate it.

Post by **six7** » 29 Dec 2025, 09:30

keep that 2-headed RB monster committee a tradition

ShireNiner · Post by **ShireNiner** » 29 Dec 2025, 10:01

six7 wrote: ↑
29 Dec 2025, 09:30
keep that 2-headed RB monster committee a tradition

That’s the plan. Continue to Run the North. But next year I want to add some passing, especially with a 5 start WR coming. We need to average closer to 250 passing yards a game instead of 190.

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