LINCOLN, NEBRASKA -- The Gophers will play for the Big Ten West Division title next week at Wisconsin.
They put themselves in that position because they delivered a gut-check second-half performance to upset Nebraska 28-24 at Memorial Stadium.
The Gophers trailed 21-7 at halftime, but made a number of critical plays in the comeback.
Mitch Leidner, who has struggled with his accuracy, led the Gophers on a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown that he capped with a 3-yard run for the final points. Huge drive for Leidner's confidence and development.
The key play was Leidner's perfectly placed 38-yard deep ball to KJ Maye along the sideline on third-and-6. That put the Gophers in at least field goal position.
The Gophers defense had to make a stop, which they got after awful roughing-the-passer call against defensive tackle Cameron Botticelli.
But Brien Boddy-Calhoun made a game-saving strip on a completion near the goal line by De'Mornay Pierson-El. The Gophers were able to run out the clock.
