Quarterback Max Brosmer punched in the third of his three rushing touchdowns with 56 seconds left in the game and Minnesota held on to upset visiting No. 11-ranked Southern California, 24-17, Saturday in Minneapolis.
Brosmer’s TD carries were a five-yarder and a pair of goal-line runs. His last one required a video review, a fourth-down sneak that the officials initially called a USC stop.
The call was overturned, giving Brosmer the score to cap a 12-play, 75-yard Golden Gophers drive. USC drove back down the field, but Koi Perch sealed the win by out-jumping 6-foot-6 Trojans receiver Duce Robinson in the end zone to intercept Miller Moss’ deep ball thrown into double coverage.
Minnesota (3-3, 1-2 in the Big Ten) limited Moss to 200 yards on 23-of-38 passing and picked off the USC quarterback twice. Devon Williams intercepted Moss early in the fourth quarter, which led to a six-play, 65-yard Golden Gophers touchdown drive.
Darius Taylor opened the game-tying possession with a 22-yard reception and a rush of 19 yards. Taylor finished with 144 yards on 25 carries and caught a team-high five passes for 56 yards.
After Brosmer capped that drive with a five-yard touchdown rush, the Minnesota defense forced a quick three-and-out to regain the ball and set up the winning possession.
USC (3-2, 1-2) pulled ahead in the third quarter when Woody Marks closed a 12-play, 91-yard drive with a goal-line touchdown. Marks rushed for 134 yards on 20 carries. Quinten Joyner added 44 yards on four carries for the Trojans.
Moss connected with Robinson on a three-yard touchdown in the first half. Robinson caught four passes for 39 yards, while Kyron Hudson’s five receptions for 54 yards led the Trojans.
With the loss, USC remains winless on the road in its brief Big Ten history. Minnesota, meanwhile, snapped a two-game losing streak after dropping its first two conference games of the season.
–Field Level Media