The Minnesota Golden Gophers have dropped to 2-3 on the season after nearly coming back against the Michigan Wolverines.
The Golden Gophers went down 21-3 to end the first-half of play before preparing quite an interesting comeback against the Wolverines. Michigan has a strong defense, but the Wolverines struggled to make plays in the air against the Golden Gophers in the second-half.
While the Golden Gophers were able to pull the game close and attempt a comeback, the team inevitably fell apart before doing so. As the Minnesota special teams unit attempted an onside kick, a controversial offsides call was made which led to the gam effectively ending.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers fought hard, but ultimately made too many mistakes early on to overcome. The Golden Gophers fans, on the other hand, saw the potential in the team during the game.
Good to see the team fighting like they did
— Barstool Gophers (@BarstoolUMN) September 28, 2024
If there was 60 more seconds in the game, Minnesota would’ve won. That flag was the makeup for the illegal hands to the face call at the beginning.
Only assumption I can make is that God hates the Gophers. I’m sorry.
— AmonBastion.IF (@AmonbastionI) September 28, 2024
Don’t let the blown call on the Minnesota on-side kick distract from the fact that the Golden Gophers had more first downs, 55 more yards, and outscored Michigan 21-6 in the 2nd half. The Wolverines got up to 86 total yards passing though! Totally sustainable!
— Green Gandalf (@GreenGandalf79) September 28, 2024
Some fans have paid close attention to the offsides call made at the end of the game, which arguably ended the chances of Minnesota completing the comeback. Many fans have called for action to be taken against the Big Ten Conference officials.
Incompetence.
Gophers & all of us were robbed of an exciting last 1:37.
If I can back it up & see him onside when the ball was kicked, the Refs can.
I’m a Michigan fan, but Minnesota was not offside when that onside kick was struck. @FOXSports @FOXNCAAFootball @NCAAFootball pic.twitter.com/pUkxqsiCXV— chrisberks223 (@chrisberks223) September 28, 2024
Some other fans have remained realists, and while the call was blown and something should be down, the Minnesota Golden Gophers also lost the game themselves.
Absolutely horrible call – but the Gophers had 7 chances to score and didn’t.
Coming from an M guy, the refs absolutely deserve heat for this – but Minnesota lost by 3. It’s their own fault. https://t.co/EQ8fFQXnma
— Cliff Burnside (@Uncle_Chili) September 28, 2024
Minnesota Golden Gophers Nearly Pull Off Improbable Comeback Against Michigan
While the Minnesota Golden Gophers did a lot wrong against Michigan in the loss, plenty was done correctly by the team as well.
Minnesota recorded 258 yards passing while also recording over 50 yards more of total offense than the Wolverines did. Michigan struggled against the Minnesota defense in the second-half of play as well, which was a promising thing to see for Golden Gophers fans. While the game was not won by Minnesota, it showed plenty of signs of potential this season.
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