It was a historic day for Minnesota football.
The Little Brown Jug is back in Minneapolis. P.J. Fleck earned his first career victory over Michigan as Golden Gophers head coach, and as Mr. Brightside blasted through Huntington Bank Stadium, fans rushed the field to celebrate a win that had eluded the program for nearly five decades.
The final score: Minnesota 20, Michigan 14.
Michigan arrived as a 5.5-point favorite, seeking to recover from a narrow loss to Iowa the week before.
Instead, the Wolverines were dominated.
Minnesota’s defense set the tone from the opening kickoff, restricting Michigan to just 188 total yards and disrupting sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood, the former No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class, who went 10-of-21 for 101 yards and threw back-to-back interceptions in the second half.
Minnesota’s defense was the defining force, applying relentless pressure and preventing Michigan from ever finding a rhythm.
“They tackled really well, they got after it,” Fleck told FOX Sports’ Jenny Taft postgame. “We trusted the defense to finish the game.”
The win marked Fleck’s first over Michigan since becoming Minnesota’s head coach in 2017 and snapped the Gophers’ home drought against Michigan dating back to 1977 — a span of nearly 50 years.
The Little Brown Jug will remain in Minneapolis.
“They never stopped believing in anything,” Fleck said. “This team is resilient and there is pandemonium in Minneapolis.”
There certainly was.
As celebrations erupted inside Huntington Bank Stadium and music echoed over the loudspeakers, Fleck took it all in.
“Besides my marriage and my kids being born, this might be the best day of my life,” he said.
Hard to argue with that.
Drake Lindsey finds Darius Taylor for a TD to give Minnesota a lead over Michigan
