What We Learned About the Minnesota Gophers in Nail-Biting Victory Over UCLA

PJ Fleck - Minnesota Gophers football at UCLA
Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Gophers were in Pasadena, CA at the Rose Bowl, on Saturday night, playing against the UCLA Bruins. It was their first time ever competing as conference foes. In this tale of two halves, the Golden Gopher offense could not move the ball at all in the first. But something changed in a big way, immediately out of halftime.

Mainly, they started putting the ball in the endzone. After posting just 84 total yards and 0 points in the first half, Minnesota gained 63 yards and scored 14 points in the 3rd quarter, alone, followed by 87 yards and another touchdown in the fourth. They went from down 10-0 at halftime to up 14-10 by the end of the 3rd.

In the fourth quarter, the Gophers and Bruins exchanged haymakers and late game leads. Referees tried to screw Minnesota multiple times (shocker). In other words, Saturday’s contest had a lot of the same aspects that all of their conference games have had so far this season.

Another 2024 classic. And for the second week in a row, this time with a final score of 21-17, the University of Minnesota came out victorious vs one of the new Big Ten teams. Here’s what we learned.

Max Brosmer is the difference for Minnesota Gophers

Daniel Jackson is really, really good. And he was again last night. That should not be understated. He will be drafted next April, because he has some of the best hands in the entire country. Vs the Bruins, Jackson caught 10 passes on 13 targets, for 89 yards, and he should have had more (see below).

Max Brosmer - Minnesota Gophers at UCLA
Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

But at the end of the day, the only reason Jackson is getting 13 targets is because of grad transfer quarterback Max Brosmer, who took the game into his hands during the 2nd half Saturday night, and pretty much willed the Minnesota Gophers to a victory.

It wasn’t just about his 26-of-37 passing (70%), 131.9 rating or 2 touchdowns. Brosmer’s completion percentage stands out, and those who have watched him play before know why it’s so high. But without the context that comes with watching him play, you can’t understand how good and how important he really is.

Like the Gophers’ first touchdown. One UCLA defender blew his coverage. It seemed like a confusion on whether he was supposed to be in man or zone. Big mistake. Brosmer saw it immediately: Elijah Spencer – touchdown.

The composure this kid shows is unbelievable. He changes plays and protections at the line of scrimmage, something that no other QB has been allowed to do under PJ Fleck. And you can watch him go through his reads like clockwork.

Related: PJ Fleck Got Emotional Following Minnesota Gophers Win vs USC

Even as the pocket collapses or when he knows a hit is coming, if there is an open receiver on the field, he will find them. His checkdown, game-winning touchdown shows his brilliance. Taylor was Max’s third, maybe even fourth option on this play. The pocket is so tight, but he stands in, surveys, surveys, surveys and hits Taylor, for what appears to be an easy touchdown. It wasn’t.

Don’t forget about Darius Taylor, who ran for a very difficult 30 yards and 1 TD, on a rugged 15 carries. Nothing was easy for him because the Bruins defense was focused on one thing. Stopping him. And they did it pretty successfully. But again, it’s Max Brosmer who makes this offense go, no matter what the stat sheet says.

Good things happen when Koi Perich is on the field

Koi Perich had two more interceptions on Saturday night. Because why wouldn’t he? The true freshman has only been on campus for four months, and he spent the first two recovering from a high school track injury.

Sure, the second interception was a jump ball in the endzone that ended up going right to Perich, but that’s the thing. He always seems to be in the right place, at the right time. It’s like the football finds him… And the first INT was incredible, a diving superman grab that needed review to confirm, given how impossible it appeared in real time. UCLA QB Ethan Garbers was just a split second late on his timing route to the left side. Big mistake.

PJ Fleck started the spoon feeding slowly, but Perich continues to eat everything this coaching staff puts on his plate. After playing a combined 19 defensive snaps vs Nevada, Iowa and Michigan, Koi has been on defense during 101 snaps the last two weeks vs USC and UCLA.

Related: Gophers Teammate Steps in to Help Koi Perich Answer Question About Refs vs USC

Not only does he have four total interceptions on the season, already a freshman record at the University of Minnesota, he’s also piled up 10 tackles and forced a huge fumble on defense. Koi’s also added a layer to the kick and punt return game, that PJ Fleck has NEVER had.

  • Koi Perich PFF Grades thru 7 games (snaps) : DEF: 87.8 (136) | RDEF: 87.9 (43) | PRSH: 65.7 (4) | COV: 88.3 (89) | TACK: 77.9

And no, the Elko kid isn’t just about flash. He’s not running around blowing assignments because he’s seeking big plays. Koi Perich holds an 87.8 PFF grade on defense this season, after Saturday night, which is easily the highest of the entire group. Kerry Brown has the second-highest grade, at 82.1.

We need an investigation into Big Ten referees

For some reason, the Minnesota Gophers continue to get screwed by referees late in Big Ten games. We saw it happen vs Michigan, when they were called for offsides on an onside kick that they very clearly were not offsides on. That cost the Gophers a legitimate opportunity to win the Little Brown Jug.

That wasn’t the only late call that has gone against the Gophers this season, though, and we saw it happen again against the Bruins. Late in the 4th quarter, Lemeke Brockington was ripped to the ground by his nameplate, an obvious horsecollar penalty. No call.

On Minnesota’s 2nd to last drive, Daniel Jackson made another beautiful catch, something we have become very used to seeing. But it was ruled incomplete. Fine, tough call in real time. But then, even upon replay, this was not ruled a catch.

Even the broadcast thought Jackson held the ball steady with both hands. Not just through the ground, but through the first down pole held by a chain gang member who must not have been paying attention and was way late to try and move the marker before Daniel Jackson crashes into it.

Related: How to Watch Minnesota Gophers Games

Those two plays happened on the same drive, with only a busted screen pass sandwiched between, and forced a Minnesota Gophers punt, with just 2:53 left on the clock.

Or how about this no-call at the end of a big Minnesota first down? Jackson is clearly out of bounds. The only reason the UCLA defender pushes him to the ground is out of frustration. He knows the play is over and they just gave up a huge play. It’s quite literally the definition of “unnecessary”.

Too many times this season, it seems that Big Ten referees are involving themselves in the final decisions of Gopher football games. Why? Why are we talking about zebras after every single game? It makes no sense.

No matter, the Minnesota Gophers move to 4-3 on the season and 2-2 in conference play. As of Sunday morning, the Golden Gophers are in 10th place in the Big Ten. Every school ahead of them have played only three conference games. Six of them are 2-1. In other words, the season is just getting started.

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