Max Brosmer threw a go-ahead, 1-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Geers with 5:14 left in the fourth quarter, then visiting Minnesota held on for a 25-17 upset win over No. 24 Illinois on Saturday afternoon in Champaign, Ill.
Brosmer completed 22 of 37 passes for 213 yards for Minnesota (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten), which earned its fourth straight win and became bowl eligible. Darius Taylor had 22 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown.
Luke Altmyer completed 20 of 33 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown for Illinois (6-3, 3-3), which has lost back-to-back games. Josh McCray had 72 rushing yards and a touchdown and Zakhari Franklin had five catches for 71 yards and a score.
Illinois seized a 17-16 lead with 9:03 to go in the game. Altmyer looked left and fired a strike to Franklin in the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown.
The Golden Gophers answered on the next drive to grab a 22-17 lead. Brosmer rolled right and lobbed a pass to Geers in the right flat for a score.
Minnesota’s Dragan Kesich added a 46-yard field goal to make it 25-17 with 1:52 to play.
Illinois had a chance at a game-winning drive in the final minute. The Fighting Illini had the ball at the Minnesota 16-yard line, but Jah Joyner stripped it from Altmyer. Danny Striggow pounced on the fumble with 29 seconds left to secure the victory.
The Golden Gophers scored first to grab a 3-0 lead. Kesich made a 20-yard field goal midway through the opening quarter.
Illinois pulled even at 3-3 on a 25-yard field goal by David Olano with 10:08 remaining in the first half.
Minnesota made it 10-3 on the next possession when Taylor broke free for a 29-yard rushing touchdown.
The Fighting Illini fought back. McCray looked as if he might be stopped for a short gain, but he stayed on his feet and burst forward for a 42-yard score.
Kesich made a 45-yard field goal to give Minnesota a 13-10 lead before halftime.
The Golden Gophers increased their lead to 16-10 on Kesich’s third field goal, this time from 38 yards, with 4:36 remaining in the third quarter.
Illinois safety Miles Scott was ejected with 6:11 left in the game. He drew a targeting penalty after delivering a helmet-to-helmet hit against Minnesota wideout Elijah Spence.
–Field Level Media
