Jordan Nubin rushed for 204 yards on 40 carries and two touchdowns, leading Minnesota to a 27-12 win over Michigan State in Minneapolis on Saturday.
Nubin, who had only six carries coming into the game, got the opportunity due to backfield injuries. Athan Kaliakmanis passed for 200 yards with one touchdown and one interception and Daniel Jackson caught seven passes for 120 yards and a touchdown for Minnesota (5-3, 2-3 Big Ten).
Sam Leavitt had 73 passing yards and 52 rushing yards with a touchdown and interception in relief for Michigan State (2-6, 0-5), which has lost six straight. Starting quarterback Katin Houser was limited to 117 passing yards.
Michigan State forced a pair of turnovers in the first quarter and turned them into six points.
Jayden Mangham recovered a fumble during the Golden Gophers’ first possession. After the Spartans failed to pick up a first down, Jonathan Kim kicked a 38-yard field goal.
Jordan Hall sacked Kaliakmanis on the Gophers’ next possession and Avery Dunn recovered at Minnesota’s 33-yard line. Kim soon drilled a 42-yard field goal.
A 30-yard pass from Kaliakmanis to Brevyn Spann-Ford set up Dragan Kesich’s 25-yard field goal with 4:54 left in the half.
The Gophers drove 94 yards on their last possession of the half to take a 10-7 lead. Kaliakmanis’ 30-yard pass to Corey Crooms brought them into the red zone. They scored on Kaliakmanis’ 22-yard pass to Jackson over the middle.
Mangham’s interception deep in Michigan State territory during the third quarter prevented the Gophers from stretching their advantage.
Nubin rushed for 69 yards during a drive spanning the third and fourth quarters, including his 18-yard scoring run, to give Minnesota a 17-6 lead with 12 minutes to go.
Leavitt replaced Houser and gave the Spartans an immediate jolt. He passed or ran on all eight plays of a 75-yard drive, culminating in his 9-yard touchdown pass to Tyrell Henry. The two-point conversion pass attempt came up short.
However, Michigan State’s defense couldn’t stop Nubin. He scored from two yards out with 4:11 remaining to give the Gophers a 24-12 lead.
–Field Level Media
