Minnesota outlasts IL 32-23 to stay in bowl hunt

Minnesota has lost four straight games – surrendering 40 or more points twice during that span – and hopes to keep its postseason dreams alive by avenging last year’s 28-24 upset loss to the Fighting Illini. But Minnesota reached the goal line with seconds before halftime, and Leidner hit Rashad Still with a touchdown pass to take a 21-13 lead into the break. Leidner’s 202 completions are the most in Gophers history for a junior, surpassing the 200 by Cory Sauter in 1996. He ran for 174 yards on 17 carries and scored three touchdowns, including the one that sealed it.

A promising recovery from a controversial start has sputtered down the stretch for IL.

Reserve Henry Enyenihi is probable after sitting out with a knee injury.

“They do a great job with that for what they’re working with”, Leidner said.

Rodney Smith entered Saturday as the Gophers leading rusher with 550 yards despite missing last week’s Iowa game with a sprained right ankle. But they struggled mightily in the third quarter as Illinois’ offense opened the third quarter with a 75-yard touchdown drive to close within one point. Claeys said of Smith’s ankle.

Both teams, now, will need to beat their biggest rivals next week to become bowl eligible.

The Illini couldn’t stop Minnesota’s rushing attack and couldn’t come up with touchdowns when they needed to, falling to the Gophers, 32-23, on Saturday afternoon in the Twin Cities. He’s trying to time it up and get a good jump to get the field goal blocked. Minnesota got dominated statistically in the second half, and it looked to be only a matter of time before the Illini gained control of a back-and-forth game.

The kickoff temperature of 22 degrees was the third-lowest in seven seasons for the Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium.