As an avid college football fan, the Michigan vs Minnesota game was one I was really looking forward to. It’s one where I say I can’t lose whoever won because they are rivals of the two college football programs I am a fan of. But with their last meeting in 2024 along with the trajectory of both team’s seasons, I wanted to give my thoughts on this one.
Minnesota not only avenged themselves for how the 2024 game was lost but also avenged Western Michigan
When the Gophers played the Wolverines in 2024, Minnesota had a huge comeback fall short due to a controversial offsides penalty on an onside kick recovery. Michigan ended up winning that game 27-24 and the whole nation realized that Minnesota was robbed from a huge win. The same thing happened with week 1 when Michigan escaped Western Michigan on the controversial 1 second call. So not only did Minnesota get redemption for themselves, the Gophers head coach PJ Fleck also got some revenge for his former football team that he coached in WMU.
Yes Michigan was unranked but I understand why Minnesota fans stormed the field
One talking point was the Gopher Fans storming the field and the questions of “Why? Michigan was unranked”. Yes they were but FOX’s color analyst, Joel Klatt, pointed out how it was their first win at home vs Michigan since 1977 and the first time Minnesota overall retained the Little Brown Jug since 2014. If I was a Gopher fan, I would storm the field too. Now Idk if it as big as their 2019 win vs No. 4 Penn State or even when they got Paul Bunyan’s axe vs my badgers in 2018 but it was big. Also Michigan fans saying it was Minnesota’s Super Bowl, you guys stormed the field after Western Michigan so you have no room to talk.
A friend and former high school teammate of mine helped cause the interception that led to the Gophers game winning TD.
When Michigan’s quarterback Bryce Underwood threw the interception to safety Za’Quan Harden that led to running back Darius Taylor punching it in for the game winning touchdown. It was all started by Gopher D-lineman Jaxon Howard pressuring Underwood and forcing the bad throw to Harden. I knew Jaxon in high school and played HS football with him. If you got to know him, he’s a great dude and his family is awesome too. Jaxon also gave me one of the best interviews I ever had when starting my Journalistic career journey in high school. So it was nice to see a friend make a big play in a big game on national TV like that, so I want to give a shoutout to him.
PJ Fleck needed this one
I said in my preview that Fleck could afford this win. Well he got it and it’s definitely a great one for his resume as the coach of the Gophers. Think and say what you want about him, but coaching a program like Minnesota, he has a pretty solid resume. It is clear he gets his players to buy in to his “Row the Boat” mantra. (even if it annoys me as a badger fan)
Was I happy Minnesota won? Ehh, however I definitely am glad Michigan lost
Usually a big Gophers win doesn’t make me happy, but with this opponent I can tolerate the Maroon and Gold being happy. There is absolutely not a single thing in this world that I cannot stand more then a Michigan Man. Especially after the Connor Stallions scandal, the Sherrone Moore scandal, even them running their mouths for four straight years with wins over Ohio State. Yea, they needed some big time humbling even if it was to the Gophers.
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