By Nick Jenkinson-SCINN Sports Director
For the second week in a row the #4 Indiana Hoosiers needed an extra period to get the win as the beat the Minnesota Golden Gophers 23-16 in overtime Saturday Afternoon before a sold-out crowd on Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium on Homecoming weekend on the Indiana University campus. Indiana is 8-1 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten and will have next Saturday off before hosting the USC Trojans on Saturday November 14. Minnesota is 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten and will host the league leading UCLA Bruins next Saturday in Minneapolis.
With 19 seconds left in regulation Minnesota took the lead when Luke Drzewiecki nailed a 60-yard field goal to make it 16-13 Golden Gophers. Indiana got down the field and with 2 seconds left on the clock Paddy McAteer kicked a 60-yard field goal to send the game to overtime tied 16-16. Minnesota won the toss in the extra period and went on defense, and Indiana took advantage with Grant Wilson throwing a 25-yard strike to Charlie Becker on the first play to give Indiana a 23-16 lead. Minnesota had a seven-play drive and on fourth down at the IU 4-yard line Minnesota Quarterback Drake Lindsey was sacked by Tobi Osunsanmi for a loss of five yards as the Hoosiers escape with the win and get a much needed week off.
Indiana backup quarterback Grant Wilson who replaced starting quarterback Josh Hoover to start the second half was 9-17 for 156 yards with a touchdown pass. Hoover was shaken up on the interception he threw with 11 seconds left in the second quarter as Minnesota lead 10-7 at halftime. Hoover was 8=19 passing for 119 yards with a touchdown pass and interception. Lee Bebee Jr had 15 carries for 84 yards and Turbo Richard had 7 carries for 34 yards as the Indiana rushing attack had 33 carries on 144 yards and no touchdowns. Khobie Martin made his return after a shoulder injury kept him out for several weeks had 3 carries for 7 yards.
Charlie Becker had 8 catches for 149 yards, and a touchdown and Nick Marsh had four catches for 59 yards and a touchdown. The Hoosiers outgained Minnesota 419-215. Indiana had 21 first downs to 10 for Minnesota. Indiana controlled the clock for 31 minutes and 23 seconds while the Golden Gophers had the ball for 28 minutes and 27 seconds. Indiana is now 35-3 under Head Coach Curt Cignetti who is now tied with James Sheldon for fourth all-time on the Indiana University Wins list. Cignetti is 22-2 in the Big Ten, and this was the first time he has faced Minnesota since arriving in Bloomington. Cignetti and complete the list of beating every Big Ten Opponent when he faces USC for the first time in two weeks.
Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey completed 20 of his 37 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown pass. TJ Thomas had 6 carries for 54 yards as the Golden Gophers finished the game with 96 yards rushing on 23 carries. Indianapolis native and Decatur Central graduate Javon Tracy had 7 receptions for 40 yards. Indiana had 4 sacks and Minnesota had 2 sacks. Drake Linsdey fumbled the ball, and Josh Burnham had the recovery for the Hoosiers.
Minnesota led 3-0 with a Luke Drzewiecki 37-yard field goal with 8:54 left in the first quarter. Indiana responded when Drake Linsdey was sacked by Byron Badlwin Jr. and fumbled the ball away as Josh Burnham recovers and two plays later Josh Hoover finds Nick Marsh for a nine-yard touchdown pass as Indiana lead Minnesota 7-3 with 6:42 left in the first quarter. Nico Radicic’s 52-yard field goal attempt was blocked and Minnesota got the ball at their own 46-yard line. 7-3 Indiana with 13:24 left in the second quarter. The Hoosiers gave the Golden Gophers good field position at the Indiana 39-yard line the Golden Gophers score on 39-yard touchdown pass from Drake Linsday to Roman Voss as Minnesota led Indiana 10-7 with 4:15 left in the second quarter.
Nico Radicic missed a 31-yard field goal with 1:40 left before halftime as Golden Gophers kept the lead and then got another stop when Hoover was intercepted. Nico Radidic redeemed himself hitting a 46-yard field goal with 2:13 left in the third quarter as the game was tied 10-10. Minnesota retook the lead 13-10 with 11:49 left in the fourth quarter with a Luke Drzewiecki 51-yard field goal. Indiana botched the snap on the field goal attempt as the Hoosiers turn it over on downs. Minnesota kept the lead Indiana 13-10 with 9:11 left in the fourth quarter. Nico Radicic kicked a 34-yard field goal as Indiana and Minnesota are tied 13-13 with 3:05 left in the fourth quarter. Before the teams exchanged back-to-back 60-yard field goals and Becker’s game winning touchdown in overtime.
The Golden Gophers lead the all-time series 40-27-3 and had won the last four matchups (2008, 2013, 2018 and 2021 before today’s game. It was the first time the programs have played since 2021 when Minnesota won 35-21 in Bloomington. This was 18th time in program history that Indiana has played on Halloween and just the third time since the turn of the century. Indiana’s last Halloween game was a 37-21 win at Rutgers in 2020. ESPN’s College Gameday was here in Bloomington for just the third time and the first since 2024. The entire crew took the Hoosiers to win the game as Indiana was a 20 and half point favorite but as they always say and win is a win and Indiana continues to win under Curt Cingetti whether it is close or a blowout and the last four out of five games its been close.