Minnesota is coming off one of its biggest victories in years after it knocked off then-No. 11 Southern California a week ago in Minneapolis.
Now, the challenge for Minnesota (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) will be to avoid a letdown after a big win. The Golden Gophers will visit UCLA (1-4, 0-3) on Saturday evening in their first meeting since 1978.
Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said he was proud of his players for toppling USC on a night he called “electric,” but that the mood had shifted from festive to focused.
The Golden Gophers’ 24-17 victory followed back-to-back losses against Iowa and then-No. 12 Michigan. The team did not quit, Fleck said, which gave him hope going forward.
“We play in a very, very competitive league where every week is going to be a dogfight,” Fleck said. “We’ve been close on a lot of games, and those (losses) sometimes can take a team and turn them into a downward spiral. This team’s never done that. They just continue to come back and work throughout the week.”
The next test will come on the road against the Bruins, who hope to snap a four-game losing streak. UCLA is coming off setbacks to three straight ranked opponents — 34-17 against then-No. 16 LSU, 34-13 vs. then-No. 8 Oregon, and 27-11 against then-No. 7 Penn State last week.
First-year Bruins coach DeShaun Foster said his team showed flashes of positive play, particularly against Penn State, but it needed to execute on a more consistent basis.
“We’re just trying to put together a full game,” Foster said, “and hopefully it will be this week that we do that.”
Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer has passed for 1,263 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions for the season. Top running back Darius Taylor has 402 yards and five touchdowns on 73 carries.
UCLA is led by quarterback Ethan Garbers, who has passed for 808 yards and three touchdowns, with six interceptions. T.J. Harden leads the team with 151 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.
–Field Level Media
