Takeaways: Gophers turn stern against No. 25 Nebraska, rolling to victory at home

The Gophers were averaging 44.3 rushing yards in Big Ten play, the least in the conference. They were giving up 174.7 rushing yards in league play, 16th among conference teams.

Not surprisingly, confidence wasn’t in abundance with many followers of the team entering Friday night’s game against No. 25 Nebraska, a team averaging 41 points per game.

Instead, the Gophers crumpled those statistics, threw them away and went out and dominated the Cornhuskers 24-6 in front of an announced 48,549 at Huntington Bank Stadium. Fans stormed the field as the victory became final.

Behind a defense that sacked Huskers quarterback Dylan Raiola a program single-game record nine times, Darius Taylor’s 148 rushing yards and quarterback Drake Lindsey’s efficient 16-for-20, 153-yard passing night, the Gophers improved to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten with their most complete effort of the season.

The Gophers have beaten Nebraska six consecutive times, and they are 7-1 vs. the Cornhuskers under coach P.J. Fleck.

“Our players were relentless,” Fleck said. “They set the tone from the beginning.”

Nebraska (5-2, 2-2) never got its offense going because Anthony Smith and Karter Menz (2½ sacks each), Jaxon Howard (two sacks) and Deven Eastern and Matt Kingsbury (one sack each) harassed Raiola all night. Raiola finished 17-for-25 for 177 yards with 63 yards lost to sacks. Nebraska’s offensive output consisted of two short field goals by Kyle Cunanan.

The Gophers entered the game as seven-point underdogs against a ranked team but showed they can be dominant if firing on all cylinders. They certainly will take confidence into next week’s game at Iowa. The victory also pulled them within a win of earning bowl eligibility.

It was especially impressive in the second half, when Minnesota outgained Nebraska 185-66 after leading 7-6 at the break.

The Gophers outgained Nebraska 339-213 overall and held the ball for 18 minutes, 8 seconds in the second half, outscoring the Huskers 17-0. Minnesota outrushed the Huskers 84-2 in the second half.

“I’m really proud of everybody up front,” Fleck said. “And Drake Lindsey had a phenomenal game.”

With the Gophers trailing 3-0 in the first quarter, Taylor swept to the right, found a seam and raced down the sideline. Nebraska’s Andrew Marshall tripped him up at the Huskers 1-yard line before Lindsey scored on a tush-push for a 7-3 Minnesota lead.

“That’s Gophers football right there,” Fleck said. “Vicarious joy. … Nothing makes me more proud than that drive."

BOXSCORE: Gophers 24, No. 25 Nebraska 6

4 Consecutive Nebraska possessions — the Huskers’ last of the first half and their first three of the second half — that were ended by Gophers sacks. On three of those, Nebraska punted. On the other, they let the first-half clock expire.

Anthony Smith, Gophers The defensive end and leader on the line set the tone, getting Minnesota’s first sack and finishing with 2½ sacks and six tackles.

Gophers at Iowa, 11 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. Oct. 25, Kinnick Stadium, TV TBD, 100.3-FM