LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Mohamed Ibrahim ran for 2 touchdowns following Nebraska turnovers, and a Minnesota group lacking almost three dozen gamers to COVID-19 protocols or accidents left Memorial Stadium with a shocking 24-17 win on Saturday after being idle three weeks.

Ibrahim scored on fourth-and-goal from the 1 to present Minnesota a 10-point lead early within the fourth quarter after Adrian Martinez fumbled on the Nebraska 39.

Connor Culp’s 30-yard discipline objective reduce it to 24-17 with 4:42 left. The Gophers then known as on Ibrahim to complete off the sport, having him carry six straight instances for 59 yards earlier than they went into victory formation on the Nebraska 6.

The Gophers (3-3, 3-3 Huge Ten) had their final two video games canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak on the group, and most of their lacking 33 gamers have been within the convention’s 21-day return to play protocol.

It additionally was Minnesota’s first sport with out star broad receiver Rashod Bateman, who opted out Nov. 25.

Nebraska (2-5, 2-5), which beat Purdue on the street final week, hasn’t received back-to-back Huge Ten video games since 2018.

Ibrahim completed with 108 yards on 20 carries and Tanner Morgan was 17 of 30 for 181 yards.

The Gophers, who got here to Lincoln as 10-point underdogs, took a 17-14 lead into the ultimate quarter. They’d gone forward late within the first half after a concentrating on penalty on cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt stored alive a 75-yard scoring drive that began with Cam Wiley sprinting 61 yards down the sideline.

Taylor-Britt went helmet-to-helmet with Morgan whereas stopping him brief on a third-down run. That arrange Minnesota inside the ten, and Morgan threw to tight finish Brevyn Spann-Ford at the back of the tip zone for a 4-yard landing.

The Gophers opened the scoring after Tyler Nubin intercepted a tipped cross on the Huskers’ 35 in the midst of the primary quarter. On fourth-and-1, Seth Inexperienced changed Morgan and lined up in wildcat formation. He stepped to the facet as a direct snap went to Ibrahim, who broke via the center for a 26-yard landing.

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Luke McCaffrey threw the interception two performs after changing starter Adrian Martinez, who appeared to get his left (non-throwing) hand dinged. Martinez returned for the following collection.

Nebraska managed just one.9 yards per play on its first three possessions towards the statistically worst protection within the Huge Ten.

The Huskers broke via early within the second quarter, with Wan’Dale Robinson getting unfastened 47 yards earlier than Martinez handed 8 yards to Austin Allen for his or her first landing.

Minnesota did not convert a fourt-and-8 on its subsequent collection, and Martinez led the Huskers on a 13-play, 73-yard drive he completed with a run from the 7 for a 14-10 lead.

THE TAKEAWAY

Minnesota: This ranks as one of many guttiest wins in latest reminiscence for a group ravaged by the virus. Ibrahim has been the bell cow for the Gophers, however they found younger operating again expertise in Wiley and a receiver in Chris Autman-Bell to fill the void created by Bateman.

Nebraska: No matter can go fallacious for the Huskers does. The 2 turnovers have been expensive, and the protection misplaced Taylor-Britt to a concentrating on name for the second time this season and playmaking linebacker Luke Reimer to damage within the first quarter.

UP NEXT

Each groups are to play Dec. 19 towards opponents to be introduced by the Huge Ten on Sunday.

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