Not only would a loss have moved the Gophers to 2-4 on the season, entering their early bye week, but it would have pretty much buried their hopes at playing in a bowl game season hopes and put Fleck squarely on the hot seat heading into the offseason.

But, that’s not what happened. Instead, Minnesota found the running game that they have been missing since last season ended, and QB Max Brosmer had by far the most efficient performance of his one-year Gophers career. Oh, and we have a new superstar playing safety. You may have heard of him, Koi Perich, out of Esko, MN?

What we learned about the Minnesota Gophers vs USC

Combine their effective offensive performance with a defense that was just good enough, in part thanks to Perich’s breakout performance, and the Minnesota Gophers walked out of Huntington Bank Stadium as 24-17 winners vs the No. 11 ranked team in the country.

Instead of a PJ Fleck hot seat, we got PJ Fleck in his feelings, after the victory. Now, the Golden Gophers are 3-3 and go into the bye with a ton of momentum. Here’s what we learned about the 2024 Minnesota football team on Saturday night.

1. The run game is back and Darius Taylor is still HIM

We’ve waited all season, but it finally showed itself tonight. The Minnesota Gophers running game is back. After coming into Saturday as the 114th team in the country in rushing yards per game, the Gophers put up a whopping 194 yards on the ground and three rushing touchdowns.

All three touchdowns were scored by Max Brosmer, two via the tush push and one when he pulled on an option and ran in untouched. But the star of tonight’s contest on offense was the star sophomore running back.

After carrying the ball just 48 total times through the first five games, and just 23 in the last two, Darius Taylor got 25 carries vs USC and looked like his old self doing it, gashing the Trojan defense for 144 yards, at 5.8 yards per pop.

Make it 8 carries for 81 yards already for @Dariustay1or after this 40-yard gainer 🤩

📺 @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/93NJptBYo2

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) October 6, 2024

Darius Taylor : 25 carries for 144 yards & a lost fumble on 5.8 yards per carry & 5 catches for 56 yards (Season-highs in carries & rushing yards) pic.twitter.com/LZh0cWMsER

— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) October 6, 2024

But it wasn’t just Taylor’s ground game that was impressive this weekend, he was also Minnesota’s leading receiver, catching 5 passes from Max Brosmer for 56 yards. Both were team highs.

We knew, coming into the year, that the Gophers had one of the best running backs in the Big Ten, but he and the offensive line had yet to really show it. That is no longer true, after Saturday night.

2. Max Brosmer is still the difference

There isn’t going to be a lot of talk about Max Brosmer’s day. Yes, he ran in three touchdowns. Scoring on two tush pushes is great, for the 7 people nationally who play college fantasy football. But his passing yardage was low, at just 169 yards and 0 touchdowns.

It’s not the classic passing numbers that impress you about Max Brosmer’s day, though. It’s the efficiency of which he ran Minnesota’s offense. Yes, he didn’t even reach 170 yards through the air, but he completed 15 of his 19 passes on the night. That’s a 79% completion percentage, for those wondering.

Max Brosmer strolls into the end zone 🔥@GopherFootball is all tied up with No. 11 USC in the fourth quarter.#B1GFootball on @BigTenNetwork 📺 pic.twitter.com/OkWW9kN4BB

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 6, 2024

And it’s Max who gets the offensive line setup and into their blocking scheme. After just a few months in the Minnesota Gophers program, it’s Max who often calls the final play, as it best suits what defense he sees. So we may not see it on the stat sheet, but a lot of last night’s offensive efficiency can be credited to Max Brosmer.

Related: Gophers Upset #11 USC with 2nd Half Comeback Sealed by Koi Perich Interception

You want to know what else can be credited to Brosmer? PJ Fleck’s newfound love for aggressiveness. He went for it on 4th down twice vs USC, in the 4th quarter. Both times, I can confidently say that the majority of coaches around the country would have punted the first time and kicked the field goal the 2nd time.

Especially with less than a minute left to play and the lead just a chip shot field goal away. But because he has Max Brosmer, Fleck went with a last second tush push, and the Gophers won because of it.

Gophers take over late 👀

After a scoring play, @GopherFootball leads No. 11 USC 24-17.#B1GFootball on @BigTenNetwork 📺 pic.twitter.com/TqpJrqANny

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 6, 2024

3. Minnesota defense still struggling vs run, but Koi Perich has arrived

The Minnesota Gophers offensive line may have fixed itself, to a large degree, vs the USC Trojans. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the defensive line. Creating pressure on USC QB Miller Moss wasn’t the problem, but for yet another week, the Gophers defense struggled mightily to stop the opposing rushing attack.

USC piled up 173 rushing yards, on the night, moving them to No. 66 in the country against the run, allowing 137.2 rushing yards per game. After watching the Minnesota defense suffocate opposing rush attacks for years, it’s difficult to watch this 2024 group give up yardage in chunks, but that has been the reality.

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

Luckily, Corey Heatherman’s group has been much better against the pass. Prior to USC’s final drive of the game, the Gophers had allowed the Trojans just 153 yards through the air. Trying to deny a touchdown, they gave up 47 yards on that final minute, allowing Moss to march USC’s offense down the field. That was until true freshman Koi Perich ended the evening with one of the best interceptions in Minnesota Gophers history.

Moss threw a deep ball over the middle of the field, where Perich rose up over the USC WR and another Gopher defender to snag the ball out of mid-air and seal his hometown team its biggest victory since 2019. Perich also grabbed 6 tackles, which tied for third-most on the Gophers. He forced a momentum changing fumble earlier in the 2nd half, too.

THE KID FROM ESKO! #RTB #SkiUMah #Gophers

📺 @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/s6y6z7nBU7

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) October 6, 2024

Bonus: University of Minnesota still knows how to party

Then, after one quick kneel-down to complete the upset, we found out another thing we haven’t learned since 2019. The Minnesota Gophers crowd still knows how to rush the field and party.

Related: Minnesota Gophers Might Use Koi Perich on Offense…?

During Max Brosmer’s postgame radio interview, a crowd of thousands gathered around him, to a point where you could not see him and KFAN sideline analyst Justin Gaard in the middle of the mob. A moment that nobody in Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday night will ever forget.

MINNESOTA STORMS THE FIELD AFTER TAKING DOWN NO. 11 USC 💪🚨@GopherFootball x @B1Gfootball pic.twitter.com/92ov7cd8No

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 6, 2024

Who’s this guy in the middle of mayhem!! @Gaardsy @DanBarreiroKFAN pic.twitter.com/6Efl9dpz8p

— TBJ (@Daytripper3) October 6, 2024

And tonight, that’s exactly what it looked like. Two historic powerhouses battling it out for what will probably be a future trophy game of some sort. Whether that is reality or not probably depends on whether or not you remember the Vietman War, but that’s beyond the point.

Tonight’s game was fun. It felt like two teams who have been playing each other for years. Both defenses played well, at times, mostly vs the pass. But both offenses found plenty of success too, especially on the ground. Throw in some costly turnovers on both sides, and we were treated to one beautiful football game.

But in a game that felt like it was slowly slipping away in the 3rd quarter, the Minnesota Gophers true freshman from Elko, MN forced a huge momentum changing turnover on defense that allowed the Gophers to tie the game.

Darius Taylor, Max Brosmer restore Minnesota Gophers run game

From there, the Gophers took control and never gave it back. In the end, the fans were rushing onto Huntington Bank Stadium, when time expired on a 24-17 Minnesota upset over the No. 11 ranked Trojans.

On offense, Darius Taylor reminded the country that he is one of the best running backs at the college football level, pumping out 144 yards on the ground, while leading all receivers with 5 receptions for 56 yards. Max Brosmer also scored all three of Minnesota’s touchdowns, two on tush pushes, including this one to put the Gophers up by a touchdown with less than a minute to play.

Gophers take over late 👀

After a scoring play, @GopherFootball leads No. 11 USC 24-17.#B1GFootball on @BigTenNetwork 📺 pic.twitter.com/TqpJrqANny

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 6, 2024

On defense, the Gophers again struggled to stop the run. USC put up a total of 173 yards rushing and one touchdown. Much like we have seen all season, the gaps in the defensive line were gaping all night.

The same cannot be said in the pass game. The Trojans put up an even 200 yards through the air. Most of them, however, were on the final drive of the game. The Minnesota Gophers were only concerned with preventing a game-tying touchdown, at that point.

Koi Perich Seals victory with unbelievable interception

Speaking of that final drive. Remember the aforementioned true freshman, Koi Perich? Not only did he have 6 tackles, including one for a loss, and a forced fumble that changed the trajectory of Saturday’s game, but he also caught the game-sealing interception on the goal line.

THE KID FROM ESKO! #RTB #SkiUMah #Gophers

📺 @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/s6y6z7nBU7

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) October 6, 2024

If you watched a young Antoine Winfield Jr take the souls of opponents like Fresno State (two years in a row), among others, I’m not sure how you would have been able to view tonight’s rise of Koi Perich and not have flashbacks to No 31.

Related: Minnesota Gophers Might Use Koi Perich on Offense…?

Perich’s impact could be felt immediately when he stepped on the field. His six tackles were tied for third most on the team and he only started playing defense every snap, in the second half. But it’s moments like the one above that turn great players into campus legends like Winfield Jr became.

Koi only got on campus four months ago. Most true freshman on the Minnesota Gophers roster have double that time under their belt. But you can’t teach talent, and you can’t teach a hunger for the football like Koi Perich has.

Huge victory for PJ Fleck and the 2024 Golden Gophers

There is no way PJ Fleck takes our hometown hero off the field on defense again. Not for the rest of his collegiate career, unless forced to. Not only was Saturday a coming out party for Darius Taylor and Koi Perich, though. It was a huge win for the Gophers, and one they really needed to keep their bowl hopes alive.

But with the victory now in-hand, you can’t help but feel good about where this team is, entering week 7. Next up on the docket is the UCLA Bruins, who might be the worst team in the Big Ten.

Related: 4 Bold Predictions for Minnesota Gophers’ Matchup vs USC Trojans

Of course, the Gophers can’t afford to take anyone lightly. But without a doubt, their upcoming slate vs UCLA, Maryland, Illinois and Rutgers (with a couple bye weeks sprinkled in) suddenly looks a lot more manageable, than the gauntlet we were looking at just a week or two ago.

Unsurprisingly, Minnesota is nearly a double-digit underdog at home against the Trojans. It’s a reflection on a Golden Gophers offense, which ranks 78th in scoring (28.4 PPG), 73rd in passing (225.8 total ypg) and 114th in rushing (101.4). It’s why we’ll be keeping an eye on both defenses between USC vs Minnesota.

Related: Heisman Watch 2024

Let’s dive into the stats you need to know for Saturday night’s USC Trojans vs Minnesota Gophers matchup. As always, we include additional stats and data as part of our analysis.

18.5% – USC Trojans pressure rate against Power 5 opponents

This isn’t the same laughably bad USC Trojans defense we’ve seen in previous seasons. Lincoln Riley hired D’Anton Lynn as the Trojans defensive coordinator this offseason. That move is proving to be one of the best hires in college football.

Entering college football games today, USC ranks 32nd in yards per game allowed (304.8). They also rank 20th in scoring defense (17 PPG allowed). However, the Trojans’ pass rush often disappears for long stretches of games.

Related: More Stats to Know for USC Trojans vs Minnesota Golden Gophers

Entering Week 6, USC ranks 89th nationally in sack rate (4.63 percent), and they’ve been worse against Power 5 opponents. In three games against LSU, Michigan and Wisconsin, the Trojans managed just 15 pressures against 81 dropbacks. That’s well below the national average, at just 18 percent pressure rate, per Pro Football Focus.

On the other side of this Trojans’ pass rush, however, is a Gophers offensive line that has allowed the ninth-most pressures (44) and seventh-most sacks (eight) among Power 5 teams. In short, this is a matchup of a stoppable force vs movable object could have a major influence on this game which leads us to our next stat.

33.8% – Completion Rate Differential for Minnesota Golden Gophers QB Max Brosmer when pressured, vs clean pocket

It’s been a rough 2024 season for starting quarterback Max Brosmer. The senior signal-caller has completed under 62 percent of his pass attempts in three games this season and he ranks 76th among quarterbacks in yards per attempt (7.1). One of the obvious difference-makers in his performance is facing pressure vs clean pockets and there’s a stark contrast between the two performances.

• Max Brosmer stats vs pressure (PFF): 37.9% completion rate, 5.0 yards per attempt, 1-2 TD-INT, 37.3 NFL QB rating

Related: Minnesota Gophers Football Commits 2025

Among qualified Power 5 quarterbacks, Brosmer ranks 55th in completion rate (37.9 percent) when he is pressured. He also ranks 51st in yards per attempt (5.0), 58th in PFF grade (40.1) and 61st in NFL QB rating (37.3). The issues are even more amplified by Minnesota’s issues upfront, but pressures and sacks are just as much on the quarterback as the offensive line.

• Max Brosmer stats vs clean pocket (PFF): 71.7% completion rate,7.3 yards per attempt, 5-2 TD-INT, 81.9 PFF grade, 98.8 QB rating

When he does have time to throw, Brosmer is accurate and efficient. He boasts the eighth-highest Adjusted Completion rate (83.5 percent) from a clean pocket and his QB rating jumps by 61.5 points when the pocket is clean. That’s what makes this battle of the trenches the biggest X-factor on Saturday for the USC Trojans vs Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Also Read: NFL defense rankings, see where Minnesota Vikings land

5 — TD passes by USC Trojans QB Miller Moss when blitzed.

Under first-year defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, this Gophers defense knows how to get to the quarterback, sometimes in unconventional ways. Minnesota defensive back Jack Henderson is tied for the team lead in sacks (1.5). Seven Gophers defenders have been credited with at least one sack this year.

Henderson is also tied for the fourth-most pass rush snaps (11) among defensive backs. He’s been sent after the quarterback on 37.9 percent (second-most in FBS) of his snaps on passing downs.

Related: Highest paid college football coaches

• Miller Moss stats vs blitz (PFF): 58.2% completion rate, 7.9 yards per attempt, 5-1 TD-INT, 83.3 PFF grade, 74.5% Adjusted Completion rate, 106.3 NFL QB rating

It makes for a fascinating chess match against this Trojans offense. Miller Moss isn’t being talked about as one of the best quarterbacks in college football, but he is playing well.

Moss ranks 17th among Power 5 quarterbacks in Adjusted Completion rate (74.5 percent) when blitzed. He’s also thrown 5 touchdowns on 55 pass attempts, against the blitz. Of note, Miller Moss boasts the third-highest completion rate (60.9) percent with a 3-1 TD-INT line when pressured this season.

Related: USC Trojans Football Commits 2025

21 – Yards Allowed this Season by Minnesota Golden Gophers CB Ethan Robinson

USC vs Minnesota will play on the Big Ten Network. Thus, there won’t be a primetime audience for the Gophers defense to receive the national attention it deserves. However, one player absolutely worth highlighting before this matchup is Golden Gophers cornerback Ethan Robinson.

Related: Love the USC Trojans? Check Out LAFBNetwork.com

A transfer from Bucknell, the 6-foot defensive back has been outright phenomenal this season. Among starting cornerbacks across the FBS, Robinson has allowed the second-fewest receiving yards (21) across five games. He’s played 131 coverage snaps, allowing the second-lowest reception rate (20 percent), on 10 total targets.

Whether it’s in zone coverage (1 reception on 8 targets), which he plays 60.3 percent of the time, or man coverage (1 reception for 21 yards), Robinson has been a shutdown CB. If Minnesota is going to upset USC on Saturday night, Robinson needs to be elite, which would allow Hetherman to blitz more.