Gophers dismissed by Mississippi State, 38-13, in Big Ten-SEC matchup
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When Noah Kahan’s hit song “Northern Attitude” blared after the opening quarter of the Gophers’ season opener against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 3, joyful fans sang along as if it were a concert at Huntington Bank Stadium.
At the same juncture Saturday, a Southeastern Conference opponent had traveled north and firmly put that same fanbase in a sullen attitude. At that point, Mississippi State was up 14-3 and well on its way to dominating 38-13 win in a rare Big Ten-SEC regular-season matchup.
“You got to give them all the credit in the world because they dictated the terms of the fight,” head coach P.J. Fleck said.
Fleck has now lost four straight regular-season games against Power Four conference schools, following defeats to California (2025) and North Carolina (2023-24).
Mississippi State (2-0) won one SEC game last season and was only a one-point favorite against Minnesota, but the Bulldogs scored on all four first-half possessions to drag down early optimism surrounding Fleck’s 10th season.
By the time the Bulldogs extended their lead to 38-13 with 12 minutes left, most fans headed for the exits.
The Gophers (1-1) suffered multiple breakdowns in the secondary to allow the Bulldogs a handful of big passing plays and committed an uncharacteristic 11 penalties for 112 yards. It was the most penalties in Fleck’s tenure.
Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor passed 227 yards and three touchdown and ran 13 times for 86 yards, often scampering for chunks of yards when the first play broke down.
“He’s an amazing player,” said linebacker Maverick Baranowski. “A lot of the throws out there were tight windows, great balls, double coverage. He just put them in there. Then his ability to extend the plays, unlike most people (in the country). Really good player, had a great game tonight.”
The U’s defensive problems started on the opening drive, when defensive backs John Nestor and Aidan Gousby appeared to have a miscommunication that allowed Taylor to connect with a wide-open Zion Ragins on a 22-yard touchdown.
Minnesota’s top running back Darius Taylor appeared hampered and carried only six times for 15 yards in the first half. After halftime, he only made one catch for five yards.
To start the third quarter, the Gophers’ defense scored a touchdown to tease a comeback. From the 4-yard line, linebacker Joey Gerlach pressured Taylor into throwing a backward pass, with cornerback Aydan West recovering it in the end zone to make it 28-13.
To end the third quarter, Minnesota’s offense put together a drive, but had a turnover on downs at Mississippi State’s 4-yard line. Drake Lindsey threw short of the sticks and Javon Tracy was tackled for no gain.
Minnesota had five punts and two field goals. Kicker Luke Drzewiecki, a transfer from New Mexico, made both of his attempts from 44 and 41 yards.
It was Minnesota’s first matchup against Mississippi State and the first home game against an SEC opponent since Vanderbilt came to Memorial Stadium in 1959.
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