Michigan Minnesota game score, highlights from controversial ending

Michigan football ended its five-game homestand to start the season with a 27-24 survival of Minnesota on Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

No. 12 Michigan (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) defeated Minnesota (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) to stay unblemished in the conference, but nearly blew a 21-0 lead.

A Dominic Zvada 35-yard field goal proved to be the difference. The Golden Gophers recovered an onside kick, but were ruled offsides while replays showed the call was incorrect.

TRENDING:Fox’s Chris Peterson ‘sick’ over refs controversial Minnesota-Michigan onside kick call

Kalel Mullings scored a 27-yard touchdown on the opening drive then powered in for a short touchdown in the second quarter after being set up by a Zeke Berry forced fumble. The Wolverines blocked a punt to set up a Tyler Morris touchdown to go up 21-0. Minnesota closed the first half with a last-second field goal and Michigan opened the second with a 54-yard field goal by Zvada.

Tight end Colston Loveland returned after missing one game while star cornerback Will Johnson did not play after being questionable on the pregame availability report. Defensive end Josaiah Stewart and receiver Semaj Morgan also did not play.

Here’s the game recap between Michigan and Minnesota football:

Michigan vs. Minnesota live updates recap, game highlights

Final: Michigan survives Minnesota, 27-24

Michigan hangs on for the win to move to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten. Wolverines travel for the first time this season to face Washington next Saturday night in a national title rematch.

“Not very happy with the performance,” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said in his postgame interview on the field with Fox’ Jenny Taft.

1:28, 4Q: Alex Orji fumbles snap, but recovers for loss of 11 yards

Holy cow. The snap in shotgun went through Orij’s hands as Michigan had a crowded backfield, but he was able to fall on the bouncing ball in the backfield. What is happening? It’s now third-and-23 with 43 seconds left. Mullings ran for six yards and the Gophers could not stop the clock.

1:36, 4Q: Minnesota recovers onside kick but was called offside; U-M recovers re-kick

In a bang-bang play, the referees called a Minnesota player offside on the onside kick. The Gophers recovered the kick.

Mike Pereira, Fox’s rules analyst, disagreed with the call. It did not look to be clear and obvious offsides. Fox analyst Chris Petersen, the former longtime coach at Boise State and Washington, said he was “sick” over the refs decision.

1:37, 4Q: Daniel Jackson makes absurd one-hand TD catch; U-M up 27-24

Daniel Jackson just made one of the highlights of college football in Week 5, making a one-hand catch while being interfered with by Zeke Berry for a 12-yard score. Minnesota is within 27-24.

Max Brosmer converted a 12-yard pass to Jackson in a tight window on fourth-and-6 from midfield to keep the Gophers alive. Brosmer later converted a QB sneak on fourth-and-inches.

4:33, 4Q: Michigan drives for clutch FG, leads 27-17

Zvada makes a 35-yard field goal to make this a two-possession game. A 14-play, 58-yard drive took 6:32 off the clock to give the Wolverines’ defense a chance to recover. The drive mostly featured Mullings runs, but Alex Orji did complete a 15-yard pass to Loveland.

11:08, 4Q: Golden Gophers have life; Michigan lead cut to 24-17

Minnesota forced a three-and-out from the Michigan offense, then got a weaving 60-yard punt return from Koi Perich to the Wolverines 17-yard line. Running back Darius Taylor scored from 4 yards out three plays later for his second touchdown in fewer than three minutes. The Big House is stunned right now.

Michigan’s Kalel Mullings was stuffed for a 3-yard loss on third-and-1 to end the possession preceding the punt.

14:01, 4Q: Minnesota scores first TD; Michigan up 24-10

The Golden Gophers scored their first touchdown of the game, finishing a 14-play, 76-yard drive with a 3-yard plunge from Taylor. The drive was aided by defensive tackle Mason Graham’s personal foul that negated a Michigan stop on fourth-and-11 at the Wolverines 27.

4:00, 3Q: Alex Orji intercepted by Ethan Robinson on deep shot

Orji’s first turnover came when he tried to stretch the field and find Colston Loveland on a seam shot, but the pass drifted too far toward the middle of the field and Robinson wrestled the ball away for the interception. Orji seemed to have two players open down the field but could not deliver an accurate shot to take advantage.

This ended up swinging the game and giving Minnesota life.

7:36, 3Q: Dominic Zvada hits 54-yard FG; Michigan leads 24-3

Michigan’s kicker has no issues with the elements. Dominic Zvada drove a 54-yard field goal through the elements to push Michigan’s lead back to 21. The Wolverines took 7:24 off the clock with a 13-play drive that went just 40 yards and was stopped after Donovan Edwards was stuffed on a third-down run. Kalel Mullings converted one fourth-down with a second effort and Orji picked up two firsts on third down with a completion to Colston Loveland and a scramble.

Halftime: Minnesota hits last-second FG; Michigan leads 21-3

Minnesota got on the board with a desperation drive just before halftime.

On third-and-23 from midfield and 10 seconds left, quarterback Max Brosmer found tight end Nick Kallerup on a hail mary completed at Michigan’s 1-yard line and was able to rush the field goal unit out with no timeouts and successfully hit the chip shot for their first points.

3:41, 2Q: Jyaire Hill makes acrobatic, toe-tapping INT; Michigan leads 21-0

The big plays keep on coming for Michigan. On Minnesota’s first play after the touchdown, the offense aired it out with a deep shot down the sideline, but Hill cut in front of the receiver and made a leaping catch along the sideline while getting one foot in bounds. The play was reviewed but stood after a second look.

3:57, 2Q: Kechaun Bennett blocks Minnesota punt, Michigan goes up 21-0 a play later

Michigan’s special teams are in on the action in what has been a dominant half for the Wolverines. After the defense forced a quick three-and-out, Kechaun Bennett got loose through the middle of the Minnesota line and got both hands on the attempted punt. The kick was recovered by Christian Boivan and returned to the Minnesota 11.

On the first play from the offense, Alex Orji hit Tyler Morris on a route to the flat and Morris turned it upfield and dove to hit the pylon for the score. He was originally ruled down at the 1 but it was overturned after review. Michigan’s last two touchdown drives were a combined 25 yards.

8:59, 2Q: Kalel Mullings powers in for second TD; Michigan leads 14-0

Berry’s takeaway turned into a Michigan touchdown three plays later. After the fumble, Michigan ran the ball three straight times right up the gut with Mullings, who picked up all 16 yards and lowered his head across the goal line for his second touchdown. On his second attempt to set up the score, Mullings carried half of the Minnesota defense for a ride down to the goal line.

10:25, 2Q: Zeke Berry rips ball for fumble deep in Minnesota territory

Zeke Berry just told the Minnesota offense to hit the weight room. At the end of a gang tackle near the sideline, Berry ripped the ball out of Minnesota wide receiver Daniel Jackson’s hands for a fumble to get the ball back to the offense at the Minnesota 16-yard line. Berry maintained possession through the robbery.

2:01, 1Q: Minnesota misses 55-yard FG; Michigan leads 7-0

P.J. Fleck does not care about the wet and windy conditions in Ann Arbor. Minnesota’s head coach called a timeout ahead of fourth-and-11 and settled on attempting a 55-yard field goal. Lefty Gopher kicker Dragan Kesich had enough leg on the low-driven field goal attempt, but his kick hooked wide right to keep Michigan’s lead at a touchdown. Minnesota ripped off three first downs on three straight plays with two screens and a Jaren Mangham run to reach Michigan territory.

6:34, 1Q: Kalel Mullings walks in untouched for 27-yard TD; Michigan leads 7-0

This week started the same as last week for the Wolverines. After starting the game with forcing a quick punt, Michigan’s offense put together a nine-play, 79-yard drive that only featured three passing plays. Michigan capped off the drive with an inside zone handoff to Mullings out of the shotgun and he exploded through a big hole in the left side of the offensive line to a clear path to the end zone. Michigan picked up three third-down conversions on the drive, including the touchdown, a completion to Colston Loveland and an Orji scramble to keep the drive moving.

Michigan injuries: Colston Loveland available; Will Johnson questionable

The Wolverines got their star tight end back but could be without cornerback Will Johnson, who was listed as questionable in the pregame availability report. Defensive end Josaiah Stewart, the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, receiver Semaj Morgan and center Greg Crippen are also questionable.

Safety Jaden Mangham, safety Wesley Walker, nickelback Ja’Den McBurrows, defensive back Micah Pollard, running back Jordan Marshall, linebacker Jason Hewlett, running back Leon Franklin and running back Bryson Kuzdzal are also out.

Michigan vs. Minnesota football pregame notes

Michigan survived a quarterback switch in the opening game of Big Ten play to outlast USC 27-24 last week. Orji wasn’t asked to do much and helped facilitate a hard-nosed rushing attack that broke through on the final drive after Mullings’ 63-yard run.

Now, the Gophers come to town for a battle for the Little Brown Jug. Minnesota is coming off a 31-14 home loss to Iowa. The Gophers have averaged 15.5 points in two games against Power 4 opponents this year, both losses (19-17 to UNC) and will now have to go on the road for the first time.

Minnesota is susceptible on the ground, making it a tough matchup with Michigan. Iowa ran for 272 yards and four touchdowns last week, including eight rushes of at least 10 yards. On defense, Michigan is coming off its best game of the year and will look to keep the momentum rolling.

Michigan visits Washington next Saturday night in a national championship rematch from January.

More:This is what Michigan football is. Time will tell if it’s enough to get back to the CFP

What time is Michigan vs. Minnesota today?

Date: Saturday, Sept. 28.
Time: 12 p.m. ET.
Where: Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

What channel is Michigan vs. Minnesota on today?

Michigan vs. Minnesota availability report

Michigan: Out: S Rod Moore. Questionable: TE Colston Loveland (upper body), S Jaden Mangham (undisclosed), DB Micah Pollard (undisclosed), RB Jordan Marshall (undisclosed) and LB Jason Hewlett (undisclosed), QB Jack Tuttle (undisclosed).

Minnesota players who missed Week 4: DB Justin Walley, DB Aidan Gousby, TE Pierce Walsh, DB Jordan Greenhow, DL Kadean Johnson, DL Jaylin Hicks, DL Theorin Randle.

Michigan vs. Minnesota predictions

Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press: The Wolverines have blown out mid-level Big Ten teams like Minnesota a lot in recent years, but without a solid passing game it’s hard to see them pulling away, unless it happens late. The Gophers have the better pass game, and U-M has been susceptible to giving up yards when the opponent’s QB gets the ball out quickly. But if Minnesota doesn’t establish its own run game on its end, the Wolverines’ front four of Josaiah Stewart, Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant and Derrick Moore could feast on a one-dimensional offense. Michigan will look to wear it down Minnesota in the same way Iowa did a week ago. The pick: U-M 20, Minnesota 12.

Michigan vs. Minnesota betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM on Saturday morning.

Spread: Michigan by 10½ points.
Over/under: 34½ points.
Moneyline: Michigan -450; Minnesota +340.

Michigan vs. Minnesota weather

The forecast in Ann Arbor is projected to be cloudy with a high of 68 degrees.

Michigan 2024 schedule

vs. Fresno State (W 30-10)
vs. Texas (L 31-12)
vs. Arkansas State (W 28-18)
vs. USC (W 27-24)
vs. Minnesota
AT Washington
BYE
AT Illinois
vs. Michigan State
vs. Oregon
AT Indiana
BYE
vs. Northwestern
AT Ohio State

See Michigan ticket prices for every 2024 game

Jared Ramsey is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press covering the city’s professional teams, the state’s two flagship universities and more. Follow Jared on X @jared_ramsey22, and email him at [email protected].

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Michigan vs. Minnesota live updates recap, game highlights

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