Gophers replay

Gophers 23, Colorado State 20 (OT)

The recap: Trailing 17-13, the Gophers mounted an 80-yard drive to take the lead on KJ Maye's leaping touchdown reception with 55 seconds remaining. But the Rams came right back, with Wyatt Bryan hitting a tying 37-yard field goal as time expired. Colorado State fumbled on its first play of overtime, and Ryan Santoso won it with an 18-yard field goal.

What was learned: Mitch Leidner struggled mightily most of the day, but he still made big plays when it mattered most. Leidner went 5-for-9 for 62 yards on that late desperation drive and also rushed twice for 16 yards. Coach Jerry Kill said the game's ending should give Leidner "a boatload of confidence."

YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:

• Leidner has thrown 153 consecutive passes and played 20 consecutive quarters without an interception. The last one came in the fourth quarter of the team's loss to Ohio State last Nov. 15. This season, Leidner has completed 42 of 80 passes (52.5 percent) for 430 yards and three touchdowns.

• The Gophers pulled potential redshirts from running back Shannon Brooks and defensive back Antonio Shenault. That makes it six true freshmen who have played this year, including linebacker Julian Huff, receiver Rashad Still, cornerback KiAnte Hardin and linebacker Blake Cashman.

• The officials called Colorado State's overtime turnover a fumble, but replays showed it should have been ruled an interception. Colorado State's Dalyn Dawkins said he never had possession of the ball, which bounced to defensive tackle Scott Ekpe after a big hit by linebacker Cody Poock. Ekpe said he wished it had been ruled an interception, since those are so rare for defensive tackles.

UP NEXT: Kent State

11 a.m., Saturday, TCF Bank Stadium

TV: Big Ten Network Radio: 100.3-FM

Records: Gophers 1-1, Kent State 1-1

The skinny: Kent State went 2-9 last year and opened this season with a 52-3 loss at Illinois. The Golden Flashes rebounded Saturday with a 45-13 win over Delaware State, a lower-division team that has lost seven consecutive games dating to last season. Delaware State scored touchdowns on two fumble recoveries, but Kent State outgained the Hornets 492 to minus-33. Junior quarterback Colin Reardon passed for 142 yards and three touchdowns. One highlight came when reserve placekicker April Goss hit an extra point late in the first half. She was just the second woman to score a point in a major college football game. The other was Katie Hnida, who kicked two extra points for New Mexico in 2003.

JOE CHRISTENSEN