In a tightly contested matchup, Minnesota struck first with a 1-yard touchdown run by Fame Ijeboi late in the opening quarter. The Golden Gophers extended their lead with a 30-yard field goal from Brady Denaburg in the second, heading into halftime up 10-0. Michigan State responded in the third quarter when quarterback Alessio Milivojevic connected with Rodney Bullard Jr. for a 71-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the gap to 10-7.
The game intensified in the fourth quarter. Minnesota made it 13-7 with a Martin Connington 34-yard field goal, but Michigan State seized momentum with a 1-yard touchdown run by Brandon Tullis, taking their first lead at 17-13. Minnesota answered swiftly; quarterback Drake Lindsey capped a late drive with a 2-yard rushing score, tying the game at 17 with only 29 seconds left in regulation.
In overtime, Michigan State managed a field goal, but Minnesota responded with Connington’s 36-yard kick to knot the score at 20. On their next possession, Lindsey ran it in from three yards out, clinching the 23-20 win for the Golden Gophers. The overtime finish was not without controversy—replay showed Lindsey may have stepped out of bounds before scoring, but the call stood, sealing Michigan State’s defeat.
Milivojevic impressed in his first start for the Spartans, throwing for 311 yards and a touchdown, while Elijah Tau-Tolliver led the ground game with 127 rushing yards. For Minnesota, Lindsey accounted for 197 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns, with Ijeboi adding 108 yards on the ground.
The Spartans’ defense, led by standout performances from Jordan Hall and Nick Martinez, kept them in contention, but missed opportunities—including a crucial late-game field goal—proved costly. Michigan State now enters a bye week before facing Penn State, with pressure mounting on head coach Jonathan Smith to turn the season around.
This overtime thriller adds another chapter to the historic rivalry between the two programs. Michigan State still leads the all-time series 30-20, but Minnesota has now won the last three meetings, including a 27-12 result in 2023 (see series history).
For more on the game, see the full box score on ESPN and official recaps from the University of Minnesota Athletics and Detroit News.