Minnesota rallies late to beat Nebraska, ruin Ruhle’s debut

Tyler Nubin had two of Minnesota’s three interceptions of Nebraska newcomer Jeff Sims, including a leaping grab in the final minute that gave the Gophers the ball at their 49.

Athan Kaliakmanis completed three passes and Sean Tyler had a first-down run to get them in range for Kesich, who made two of three field goals in his first game as the primary kicker. Kaliakmanis went 24 for 44 for 196 yards and one interception plus the tying score to Jackson.

Sims, who transferred from Georgia Tech, rushed 19 times for 91 yards. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 114 yards and a broken-play touchdown that gave the Huskers the lead early in the third quarter.

The Gophers set up the tying touchdown with a turnover, too, when Justin Walley whacked the ball out of Gabe Ervin’s arm to give them the ball at their 47. Bryce Williams converted a fourth-and-1 run, and a facemask penalty on Cameron Lenhardt pushed the ball to the Huskers 28.

After three straight incompletions from the 13, Kaliakmanis and the Gophers had one more shot. The sophomore slid to his left and threw off balance toward the streaking Jackson, who managed to complete one of the most difficult and dramatic catches in program history.

He grabbed the pass in stride at the edge of the end zone, somehow managing to tap his right toes on the turf and flip his left heel up high enough to keep his lead foot from hitting out of bounds first.

The Gophers, in front of their first sellout at Huntington Bank Stadium in two years, a red-tinged crowd that got a healthy boost from traveling Huskers fans, stretched their winning streak over the Huskers to five straight games.

The Gophers have announced sellouts for three other games since coach P.J. Fleck took over in 2017, against Penn State and Wisconsin in 2019 and the season opener against Ohio State in 2021.