Minnesota Gophers take down No. 15 Iowa 13-10 on Drzewiecki's game-winning field goal

Minnesota Gophers take down No. 15 Iowa 13-10 on Drzewiecki’s game-winning field goal

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Luke Drzewiecki kicked a 46-yard field goal as time expired to give Minnesota a 13-10 victory over No. 15 Iowa on Saturday in Minneapolis. The win secured the Floyd of Rosedale trophy for the Gophers for the first time since 2023.

Quarterback Drake Lindsey and Jalen Smith connected on a 39-yard pass play from the Minnesota 33-yard line with just 39 seconds remaining. That strike pushed the Gophers into field goal range and set up the game-winning kick.

Luke Drzewiecki Drills 46-YD GAME-WINNING Field Goal to Upset Iowa | Minnesota Football

Minnesota improved to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in Big Ten play. The triumph also gave the program possession of its three primary rivalry trophies—the Floyd of Rosedale, the Little Brown Jug, and Paul Bunyan’s Axe—at the same time for the first time since 1978.

Hawkeyes Fall After Quarterback Changes

Iowa entered the matchup ranked No. 15 in the country, but their College Football Playoff hopes took a hit after the last-second defeat. The Hawkeyes fell to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in conference action.

The offense struggled to sustain momentum through the first half. Jeremy Hecklinski made his second start at quarterback for Iowa, completing 9 of 16 passes for 62 yards with an interception before being replaced late in the second quarter.

Hank Brown stepped in off the bench. Brown had started the first five games of the season before spraining his shoulder during a 31-14 loss to Ohio State on Oct. 3. Against Minnesota, Brown finished 11-for-21 for 136 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

fans, Floyd of Rosedale
Photo: Gophersports

Turnovers Hinder Iowa Against Minnesota

Despite outgaining Minnesota 288 to 209 in total offense, Iowa hurt its own cause with ball security issues. The Hawkeyes fumbled four times—losing one—and threw three interceptions. They entered the afternoon having committed just three turnovers all season.

Kamari Moulton, who entered the weekend as the Big Ten’s leading rusher averaging 103.8 yards per game, managed just 22 yards before exiting in the second quarter with an undisclosed injury. As a team, Iowa was held to 90 rushing yards.

Minnesota capitalized on the defensive front despite being held to a season-low 209 yards of total offense. The Gophers broke a scoreless tie in the third quarter when running back Darius Taylor scored on a direct snap out of the wildcat formation, capping a 71-yard drive that ate up 6:46 of clock.

Teams Prepare for October 31 Matchups

Iowa returns home to host Wisconsin on Oct. 31.

Gophers beat Iowa: Fans, players celebrate on field

Minnesota hits the road to face No. 6 Indiana on Oct. 31, marking the second contest in a grueling three-game stretch against ranked opponents.

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