Minnesota hadn’t posted a home win in its Big Ten rivalry with Michigan since 1977.
So you can forgive their fans for storming — and swarming — the field at Huntington Bank Stadium following the Golden Gophers’ 20-14 victory Saturday over the Wolverines.
“Besides my marriage, besides my kids being born, this might be the best day of my life,” Minnesota coach PJ Fleck said after the game in an on-field interview.
With Fox sending its “Big Noon Kickoff” pregame show to Minnesota for the first time, Michigan carried a 14-7 lead into halftime after a 79-yard interception return for a touchdown by Nathaniel Staehling late in the second quarter.
But the Wolverines committed three turnovers after intermission, and Minnesota’s Drake Lindsey threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Darius Taylor in the fourth quarter.
The Minnesota defense held Michigan to 180 yards of offense in the game to improve to 4-1 and take the Little Brown Jug for the first time since 2014.
Michigan (3-2) also lost to Iowa last week after winning its first three games, including its extra-second victory over Western Michigan on Sept. 5 in the season opener.
