Shannon Brooks and a much-needed bend but don't break performance from the Gopher defense helped Minnesota overcome a brutal second half on offense to beat the Illinois Fighting Illini 32-23 and improve to 5-6 heading into a showdown for Paul Bunyan's Axe with the Wisconsin Badgers next Saturday to end(?) the season.
Minnesota clung to a 1-point lead late in the fourth quarter, needing one first down to ice the game and escape with a narrow win, until Brooks did what Brooks has being doing all season:
Just remember: This is a true freshman. The Gophers are set at the running back position for the foreseeable future.