American college football season
The 2023 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Golden Gophers were led by P. J. Fleck in his seventh year as head coach. They played their home games at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis . The team was originally ineligible for a bowl game due to a losing record; however, they were awarded a berth due to having the highest Academic Progress Rating among 5–7 teams.[ 1]
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance 7:00 p.m. Nebraska FOX W 13–1053,629
September 9 6:30 p.m. Eastern Michigan * Huntington Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN BTN W 25–648,101
September 16 2:30 p.m. at No. 20 North Carolina * ESPN L 13–3145,151
September 23 6:30 p.m. at Northwestern BTN L 34–37 OT 20,148
September 30 11:00 a.m. Louisiana * Huntington Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN BTN W 35–2446,843
October 7 6:30 p.m. No. 2 Michigan NBC L 10–5252,179
October 21 2:30 p.m. at No. 24 Iowa NBC W 12–1069,250
October 28 2:30 p.m. Michigan State Huntington Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN BTN W 27–1247,392
November 4 2:30 p.m. Illinois Huntington Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN BTN L 26–2742,906
November 11 2:30 p.m. at Purdue NBC L 30–4959,049
November 18 3:00 p.m. at No. 2 Ohio State BTN L 3–37104,019
November 25 2:30 p.m. Wisconsin Huntington Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN (rivalry ) FS1 L 14–2848,119
1:00 p.m. vs. Bowling Green * ESPN W 30–2428,521
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final AP RV RV RV — — — — — — — — — — — — Coaches RV RV RV — — — — — — — — — — — — CFP Not released — — — — — — Not released
Nebraska at Minnesota Rivalry
1
2 3 4 Total
Cornhuskers
0
0 7 3
10
• Golden Gophers
0
3 0 10
13
Scoring summary 2 12:31 Minn Dragan Kesich 34-yard field goalMinn 3–0
3 14:03 Neb Alex Bullock 34-yard pass from Jeff Sims (Tristan Alvano kick) Neb 7–3
4 12:42 Neb Tristan Alvano 27-yard field goal Neb 10–3
2:32 Minn Daniel Jackson 13-yard pass from Athan Kaliakmanis (Dragan Kesich kick) Tied 10–10
0:00 Minn Dragan Kesich 47-yard field goal Minn 13–10
Sunset over a sold-out Huntington Bank Stadium for the season opener.
WR Daniel Jackson and QB Athan Kaliakmanis talk about Jackson's game-tying, toe-dragging touchdown catch in the 4th Quarter against Nebraska.
[ 3]
Eastern Michigan at Minnesota
1
2 3 4 Total
Eagles
0
6 0 0
6
• Golden Gophers
0
10 10 5
25
Date: September 9Location: Huntington Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN Game start: 6:40 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:05Game attendance: 48,101Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C), Cloudy, Wind NW 11 mph (18 km/h)Referee: Mark KluczynskiTV announcers (BTN ): Connor Onion (play-by-play), Tommy Olson (analyst), and Audrey Dahlgren (sideline)
at No. 20 North Carolina [ edit ]
Minnesota at No. 20 North Carolina
1
2 3 4 Total
Golden Gophers
0
10 3 0
13
• No. 20 Tar Heels
7
14 3 7
31
Scoring summary 1 11:47 UNC Nate McCollum 46 yd. pass from Drake Maye (Noah Burnette kick)(9 plays, 75 yards, 3:13) UNC 7–0
2 13:17 UNC Omarion Hampton 1 yd. rush (Noah Burnette kick)(6 plays, 80 yards, 2:25) UNC 14–0
9:47 MIN Dragan Kesich 23 yd. field goal(7 plays, 11 yards, 2:29) UNC 14–3
2:23 UNC Bryson Nesbit 19 yd. pass from Drake Maye (Noah Burnette kick)(7 plays, 80 yards, 2:29) UNC 21–3
0:30 MIN Darius Taylor 2 yd. rush (Dragan Kesich kick)(7 plays, 75 yards, 1:53) UNC 21–10
3 10:22 MIN Dragan Kesich 42 yd. field goal(9 plays, 48 yards, 4:38) UNC 21–13
1:26 UNC Noah Burnette 42 yd. field goal(8 plays, 56 yards, 1:26) UNC 24–13
4 5:00 UNC British Brooks 1 yd. rush (Noah Burnette kick)(11 plays, 76 yards, 5:23) UNC 31–13
Minnesota at Northwestern
1
2 3 4 Total
Golden Gophers
7
17 7 0
31
Wildcats
0
7 3 21
31
Date: September 23Location: Ryan Field Evanston, IL Game start: 6:40 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:39Game attendance: 20,148Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), Clear, Wind E 9 mph (14 km/h)Referee: Tim O'DeyTV announcers (BTN): Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst), and Elise Menaker (sideline)
Louisiana at Minnesota
1
2 3 4 Total
Ragin' Cajuns
7
10 0 7
24
• Golden Gophers
7
7 7 14
35
Date: September 30Location: Huntington Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN Game start: 11:01 am CDT Elapsed time: 3:06Game attendance: 46,843Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C), SunnyReferee: Ron SnodgrassTV announcers (BTN): Chris Vosters (play-by-play), Brock Vereen (analyst), and Dannie Rogers (sideline)
Scoring summary 1 10:36 LA Peter LeBlanc 7-yard pass from Zeon Chriss (Kenneth Almendares kick)(10 plays, 75 yards, 4:24) LA 7–0
02:30 MIN Daniel Jackson 10-yard pass from Athan Kaliakmanis (Dragan Kesich kick)(9 plays, 86 yards, 5:03) TIE 7–7
2 13:26 LA Kenneth Almendares 28-yard field goal(7 plays, 64 yards, 4:04) LA 10–7
07:21 MIN Athan Kaliakmanis 2-yard rush (Dragan Kesich kick)(10 plays, 75 yards, 6:05) MIN 14–10
01:47 LA Robert Williams 6-yard pass from Zeon Chriss (Kenneth Almendares kick)(11 plays, 75 yards, 5:41) LA 17–14
3 08:48 MIN Zach Evans 18-yard rush (Dragan Kesich kick)(11 plays, 80 yards, 6:09) MIN 21–17
4 13:45 MIN Bryce Williams 2-yard rush (Dragan Kesich kick)(8 plays, 42 yards, 3:59) MIN 28–17
05:21 MIN Daniel Jackson 37-yard pass from Athan Kaliakmanis (Dragan Kesich kick)(7 plays, 56 yards, 4:30) MIN 35–17
03:01 LA Jacob Kibodi 52-yard rush (Kenneth Almendares kick)(6 plays, 75 yards, 2:20) MIN 35–24
Michigan at Minnesota Little Brown Jug
1
2 3 4 Total
• No. 2 Wolverines
10
14 21 7
52
Golden Gophers
3
7 0 0
10
Scoring summary 1 14:14 MICH Will Johnson 35-yard interception return (James Turner kick)MICH 7–0
1 7:33 MICH James Turner 31-yard field goal MICH 10–0
1 2:35 MINN Dragan Kesich 54-yard field goalMICH 10–3
2 10:08 MICH Blake Corum 1-yard run (James Turner kick)MICH 17–3
2 5:50 MICH J. J. McCarthy 5-yard run (James Turner kick)MICH 24–3
2 0:06 MINN Daniel Jackson 35-yard pass from Athan Kaliakmanis (Dragan Kesich kick) MICH 24–10
3 8:28 MICH J. J. McCarthy 7-yard run (James Turner kick) MICH 31–10
3 3:20 MICH Colston Loveland 24-yard pass from J. J. McCarthy (James Turner kick)MICH 38–10
3 1:43 MICH Keon Sabb 29-yard interception return (James Turner kick) MICH 45–10
4 9:21 MICH Leon Franklin 2-yard run (James Turner kick) MICH 52–10
Minnesota at No. 24 Iowa Floyd of Rosedale
1
2 3 4 Total
• Golden Gophers
3
0 6 3
12
No. 24 Hawkeyes
3
7 0 0
10
Date: October 21Location: Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA Game start: 2:33 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:38Game attendance: 69,250Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C), Sunny, Wind NW 22 mph (35 km/h)Referee: Tim O'DeyTV announcers (NBC): Paul Burmeister (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst), Zora Stephenson (sideline)
Scoring summary 1 10:35 Iowa Drew Stevens 23-yard field goal Iowa 3–0
0:17 Minn Dragan Kesich 43-yard field goalTied 3–3
2 0:49 Iowa Deacon Hill 1-yard run (Drew Stevens kick)Iowa 10–3
3 8:59 Minn Dragan Kesich 44-yard field goal Iowa 10–6
2:25 Minn Dragan Kesich 28-yard field goal Iowa 10–9
4 8:33 Minn Dragan Kesich 31-yard field goal Minn 12–10
Michigan State at Minnesota
1
2 3 4 Total
Spartans
6
0 0 6
12
• Golden Gophers
0
10 0 17
27
Scoring summary 1 13:19 MSU Jonathan Kim 38-yard field goal(4 plays, 5 yards, 1:22) MSU 3–0
9:49 MSU Jonathan Kim 42-yard field goal(4 plays, 9 yards, 0:50) MSU 6–0
2 4:54 UMN Dragan Kesich 22-yard field goal(8 plays, 94 yards, 2:55) MSU 6–3
0:19 UMN Daniel Jackson 22-yard pass from Athan Kaliakmanis (Dragan Kesich kick)(8 plays, 94 yards, 2:55) UMN 10–6
4 12:07 UMN Jordan Nubin 18-yard run (Dragan Kesich kick)(9 plays, 87 yards, 5:25) UMN 17–6
8:37 MSU Tyell Henry 9-yard pass from Sam Leavitt (two-point conversion failed)(8 plays, 75 yards, 3:30) UMN 17–12
4:11 UMN Jordan Nubin 2-yard run (Dragan Kesich kick)(7 plays, 46 yards, 4:25) UMN 24–12
3:25 UMN Dragan Kesich 31-yard field goal(4 plays, 9 yards, 0:30) UMN 27–12
Illinois at Minnesota
1
2 3 4 Total
• Fighting Illini
14
0 7 6
27
Golden Gophers
7
10 3 6
26
Date: November 4Location: Huntington Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN Game start: 2:45 pm CST Elapsed time: 3:08Game attendance: 42,906Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C), Sunny, Wind S 6 mph (9.7 km/h)Referee: Gregory Blum
Minnesota at Purdue
1
2 3 4 Total
Golden Gophers
10
10 0 10
30
• Boilermakers
14
14 7 14
49
Date: November 11Location: Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN Game start: 3:32 pm EST Elapsed time: 3:29Game attendance: 59,049Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C), Sunny, Wind E 4 mph (6.4 km/h)Referee: Jeffrey Servinski
Minnesota at Ohio State
1
2 3 4 Total
Golden Gophers
0
0 0 3
3
• Buckeyes
7
6 17 7
37
Scoring summary 1 9:22 OSU TreVeyon Henderson 9-yard run (Jayden Fielding kick)(8 plays, 85 yards, 4:02) OSU 7–0
2 13:05 OSU Jayden Fielding 47-yard field goal(9 plays, 58 yards, 2:46) OSU 10–0
4:51 OSU Jayden Fielding 26-yard field goal(11 plays, 81 yards, 4:24) OSU 13–0
3 14:48 OSU TreVeyon Henderson 75-yard run (Jayden Fielding kick)(1 play, 75 yards, 0:12) OSU 20–0
13:53 OSU Marvin Harrison Jr. 4-yard pass from Kyle McCord (Jayden Fielding kick)(3 plays, 6 yards, 0:43) OSU 27–0
10:17 OSU Jayden Fielding 32-yard field goal(5 plays, 15 yards, 1:13) OSU 30–0
4 13:43 OSU Cade Stover 1-yard pass from Kyle McCord (Jayden Fielding kick)(16 plays, 84 yards, 9:18) OSU 37–0
6:43 MINN Dragan Kesich 54-yard field goal(12 plays, 39 yards, 7:00) OSU 37–3
Wisconsin at Minnesota Paul Bunyan's Axe
1
2 3 4 Total
• Badgers
0
14 14 0
28
Golden Gophers
7
7 0 0
14
Scoring summary 1 12:21 MINN Jordan Nubin 1-yard run (Dragan Kesich kick)(6 plays, 72 yards, 2:34) MIN 7–0
2 13:04 WIS Braelon Allen 5-yard run (Nathanial Vakos kick)(11 plays, 86 yards, 5:16) TIED 7–7
4:30 MINN Daniel Jackson 7-yard pass from Athan Kaliakmanis (Dragan Kesich kick)(11 plays, 71 yards, 5:36) MIN 14–7
2:38 WIS Will Pauling 11-yard pass from Tanner Mordecai (Nathanial Vakos kick)(4 plays, 75 yards, 1:52) TIED 14–14
3 9:24 WIS Braelon Allen 4-yard run (Nathanial Vakos kick)(2 plays, 54 yards, 0:25) WIS 21–14
0:10 WIS Riley Nowakowski 5-yard pass from Tanner Mordecai (Nathanial Vakos kick)(10 plays, 86 yards, 4:55) WIS 28–14
Despite the loss giving them an overall 5–7 record, the Golden Gophers would head to a bowl game due to their Academic Progress Rate .
vs. Bowling Green (Quick Lane Bowl)[ edit ]
Quick Lane Bowl: Bowling Green vs. Minnesota
1
2 3 4 Total
Falcons
7
3 0 14
24
• Golden Gophers
6
3 14 7
30
Date: Location: Ford Field Detroit, Michigan Game start: 2:04 pm EST Elapsed time: 3:20Game attendance: 28,521Game weather: IndoorReferee: Tim RichTV announcers (ESPN): Connor Onion (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst), and Tori Petry (sideline)
Scoring summary 1 13:47 BGSU Odieu Hiliare 46-yard pass from Connor Bazelak (Alan Anaya kick)(3 plays, 75 yards, 1:13) BGSU 7–0
5:56 MINN Elijah Spencer 4-yard pass from Cole Kramer (two-point run conversion failed)(13 plays, 75 yards, 7:51) BGSU 7–6
2 8:57 MINN Dragan Kesich 31-yard field goal(7 plays, 42 yards, 2:58) MINN 9–7
1:38 BGSU Alan Anaya 33-yard field goal(4 plays, 0 yards, 1:02) BGSU 10–9
3 9:20 MINN Cole Kramer 1-yard run (Dragan Kesich kick)(11 plays, 78 yards, 5:40) MINN 16–10
4:18 MINN Jameson Geers 7-yard pass from Cole Kramer (Dragan Keisch kick)(6 plays, 27 yards, 3:31) MINN 23–10
4 11:10 BGSU PaSean Wimberly 18-yard run (Alan Anaya kick)(7 plays, 80 yards, 3:29) MINN 23–17
8:03 MINN Darius Taylor 17-yard run (Dragan Kesich kick)(5 plays, 48 yards, 3:07) MINN 30–17
2:33 BGSU Connor Bazelak 2-yard run (Alan Anaya kick)(14 plays, 75 yards, 5:30) MINN 30–24
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