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Gophers Upset No. 17 Iowa, 14-13

Robinson's 61-yard Field Goal Stuns Hawkeyes

P.J. Fleck Celebrates Big Ten Win in Debut

The Minnesota Golden Gophers pulled off a stunning upset of the No. 17 Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday night at Huntington Bank Stadium, winning 14-13 on a 61-yard field goal by Matthew Trickett as time expired.

The game was a defensive struggle throughout, with both teams struggling to move the ball consistently. The Gophers took a 7-0 lead on a 2-yard touchdown run by Kobe McCrary in the second quarter, but the Hawkeyes tied it up on a 34-yard field goal by Caleb Shudak just before halftime.

The second half saw both teams trade field goals, with Trickett hitting a 40-yarder for Minnesota and Shudak connecting from 39 yards for Iowa. The Hawkeyes took a 13-10 lead with just over two minutes remaining on a 25-yard field goal by Shudak.

The Gophers then drove down the field and set up Trickett for the game-winning field goal. The kick was good from 61 yards out, tying the longest field goal in school history, and gave Minnesota its first win over Iowa since 2014.

The win was a huge upset for the Gophers, who were a 14-point underdog coming into the game. It was also a big win for first-year head coach P.J. Fleck, who celebrated his first Big Ten victory in style.

Key Stats

• Total Yards: Iowa 265, Minnesota 183
• First Downs: Iowa 13, Minnesota 10
• Penalties: Iowa 7-65, Minnesota 2-15
• Turnovers: Iowa 1, Minnesota 0

Key Players

• Matthew Trickett (Minnesota): 2-2 FGs, including the game-winner from 61 yards
• P.J. Fleck (Minnesota): First-year head coach who led team to first Big Ten win
• Caleb Shudak (Iowa): 3-3 FGs, including two in the second half

Reaction

“This is a huge win for our program,” said Fleck. “Our guys showed a lot of heart and determination tonight. We knew we were underdogs, but we believed in ourselves and we got the job done.”

“We're disappointed with the loss, but we have to give credit to Minnesota,” said Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz. “They made the plays when they needed to and they deserved to win the game.”