No. 12 Michigan football managed to hold off a late surge from Minnesota, securing a 27-24 victory at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday. The game was marked by a dramatic and contentious ending that left many questioning the officiating.
Michigan took an early lead, going up 21-0 in the first half, thanks in part to a blocked punt by Kechaun Bennett and a subsequent touchdown by Tyler Morris. However, the Golden Gophers refused to give up, mounting a significant comeback in the second half. Minnesota scored on its final three drives, cutting the deficit to just three points with less than two minutes remaining.
Controversial Onside Kick Call
The pivotal moment came with 1:36 left in the game when Minnesota attempted an onside kick. The Golden Gophers successfully recovered the kick at Michigan's 38-yard line, but the play was nullified due to an offsides penalty called against Minnesota linebacker Matt Kingsbury. This call was widely disputed, with Fox analysts Chris Petersen and Mike Pereira expressing strong disagreement.
Petersen, the former head coach at Boise State and Washington, was particularly vocal about his dissatisfaction. 'I'm sick to my stomach right now, I really am,' Petersen said. 'I just hate to see this when the officials are making something up. Like I don't know why they would throw that flag.' Pereira also weighed in, stating, 'I don't think he's offside. ... I don't think he's breaking the plane.' The play, which is not reviewable, denied Minnesota a chance to tie or win the game.
Post-Game Reactions
Michigan coach Sherrone Moore was not pleased with his team's performance despite the win. 'I'm not very happy with the performance,' Moore said. 'We've got a lot to clean up. The kids worked so hard and as coaches, players we've got a lot to do as a team, as a group, to get better.' Moore highlighted the need for improvement, particularly in the passing game, where quarterback Alex Orji completed just 10 of 18 passes for 86 yards.
The game also underscored Michigan's defensive struggles, as the Wolverines allowed Minnesota to convert 6 of 15 third-down opportunities and both fourth-down attempts. This performance has raised concerns about Michigan's title defense and the overall trajectory of the Sherrone Moore era.
Despite the close call, Michigan remains undefeated in Big Ten play with a 2-0 record. However, the narrow victory over Minnesota has left many wondering about the team's ability to close out games and perform consistently at a high level.
