No. 12 Michigan held off Minnesota, securing a 27-24 victory and retaining the Little Brown Jug in a rain-soaked battle on Saturday. Kalel Mullings was a standout performer, rushing for 111 yards and scoring two crucial touchdowns.
Entering the fourth quarter with a commanding 24-3 lead, Michigan faced a surprising resurgence from Minnesota, which scored three touchdowns in quick succession to narrow the gap to just 27-24 with only 1:37 remaining.
The Gophers managed to recover an onside kick, but a penalty for offsides thwarted their momentum. Mullings secured the second kick, enabling the Wolverines to run down the clock and secure their victory.
With this win, the Wolverines improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten, extending their remarkable school-record conference winning streak to 27 games. They have not lost a Big Ten matchup since falling to Michigan State in 2021.
Minnesota, now at 2-3 overall and 0-2 in conference play, sought to reclaim the Little Brown Jug for the first time in a decade, aiming for only their third victory in this rivalry since 2000.
Mullings’ performance was particularly vital, compensating for a less-than-stellar showing from the passing game. Quarterback Alex Orji completed 10 of 18 passes for 86 yards, throwing one touchdown but also an interception that contributed to Minnesota’s late-game surge.
Mullings kickstarted Michigan’s scoring with a 27-yard touchdown run on their opening drive, but both offenses struggled in the adverse weather conditions that followed.
The Wolverines’ defense made a pivotal play early in the second quarter, forcing a fumble that set them up at the Gophers’ 16-yard line. Mullings then powered through for a 1-yard touchdown, extending Michigan’s lead to 14-0.
Later in the quarter, Kechaun Bennett blocked a Minnesota punt, which led to Orji connecting with Tyler Morris for an 11-yard touchdown, pushing the score to 21-0.
Minnesota finally got on the scoreboard just before halftime, with quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis finding Nick Kallerup for a 44-yard gain, setting up Dragan Kesich for a successful 20-yard field goal.
Dominic Zvada restored Michigan’s 21-point advantage with a 53-yard field goal midway through the third quarter. However, Orji’s interception on the subsequent drive allowed Minnesota’s Darius Taylor to score from 3 yards out, cutting the lead to 24-10.
After a quick three-and-out from the Wolverines, freshman Koi Perich returned a punt 60 yards to set up Taylor for his second touchdown, closing the gap to 24-17 with just over 11 minutes remaining.
Michigan managed to consume 6:32 of the clock on their next drive, culminating in Zvada’s second field goal for a 27-17 lead with 4:33 left. However, Minnesota’s Brosmer connected with Daniel Jackson for a 12-yard touchdown, tightening the score to 27-24.
