Michigan vs. Minnesota recap: The Little Brown Jug stays home

The Michigan Wolverines moved to 4-1 on the 20224 season with a 27-24 win over the visiting Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-3) on Saturday, retaining the storied Little Brown Jug trophy in its 99th time up for grabs.

Michigan was without a handful of standout contributors on Saturday, headlined by junior cornerback Will Johnson and senior edge Josaiah Stewart, replaced by graduate Aamir Hall and senior TJ Guy in the lineup, respectively. Sophomore wide receiver Semaj Morgan also missed the game with an undisclosed injury. However, junior tight end Colston Loveland returned to the lineup.

Here is the blow-by-blow recap from Ann Arbor.

First quarter

Michigan won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, starting the game on defense. Minnesota started its first drive on the 14-yard line after the opening kickoff. The Gophers went 9 yards in 6 plays before bombing a 56-yard punt down to the Michigan 21-yard line, where the hosts would take over on offense with 11:31 to go in the quarter. The Wolverines went 79 yards in 9 plays to open the game, capped off by a 27-yard touchdown run on 3rd and 1 from graduate back Kalel Mullings, his fifth of the season. After the extra point, U-M led 7-0 with 6:34 to go in the first.

KALEL MULLINGS TO THE HOUSE!#GoBluepic.twitter.com/AE87nVzcb8

— TheWolverine.com (@TheWolverineOn3) September 28, 2024

Minnesota went 43 yards in 8 plays on its next offensive possession, resulting in a missed 55-yard field goal at the 2:01 mark. Michigan took over on its 37-yard line but went three-and-out before a 41-yard punt down to the 13-yard line from Tommy Doman ended the first quarter.

MICHIGAN 7, MINNESOTA 0

Second quarter

Minnesota went three-and-out on its next drive, punting away to Michigan, which took over on its 39-yard line with 12:59 to go in the half. U-M would advance to its 49-yard line but punt the ball back to the Gophers with 11:34 remaining. Minnesota started on its 20-yard line after a touchback. Two plays later, Michigan defensive back Zeke Berry ripped the ball out of the arms of Minnesota wideout Daniel Jackson, setting up the Wolverines at the 16-yard line with a chance to add to their lead. Three plays later, Mullings barrelled through the Gophers from a yard out for his second touchdown of the day. After the extra point, Michigan extended its lead to 14-0 with 8:59 left in the second quarter.

The two squads would trade punts on the next two possessions. On the third, Minnesota dropped back to punt and had it blocked by edge Kechaun Bennett and recovered by linebacker Christian Boivin, setting up the Wolverines from 16 yards out with 3:57 left in the half. One play later, Alex Orji found WR Tyler Morris for an 11-yard score to put Michigan up 21-0 after the extra point (3:48).

Minnesota’s next offensive play saw sophomore cornerback Jyaire Hill haul in a highlight-reel interception, the first of his career, setting Michigan up at its 36-yard line with 3:41 to go.

This is “teach tape.” Find the football, good things happen. pic.twitter.com/QvEUhTDV65

— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) September 28, 2024

The offense went three-and-out, punting back to the Gophers at the 1:54 mark. Minnesota put together a nice drive that got into Michigan territory before a few setbacks set things up at third-and-23. Minnesota completed a Hail Mary pass down to the 1-yard line before the half and got a field goal off from 20 yards out as time expired.

MICHIGAN 21, MINNESOTA 3

Third quarter

Michigan opened the second half with the ball and took almost half the third quarter off the clock on its first drive, going 40 yards in 13 plays and taking 7:24 off the time to grab a 53-yard field goal from Dominic Zvada. The Wolverines pushed their lead to 24-3 with 7:36 to go in the quarter. The Wolverines forced a three-and-out on defense on the next Minnesota drive, taking the ball back over on their 28-yard line with 6:05 left on the clock. Four plays later, Orji threw his first interception of the season with Minnesota taking over on their 24-yard line. The quarter would end with the Gophers on the Michigan 26-yard line.

MICHIGAN 24, MINNESOTA 3

Fourth quarter

The Gophers would close out their drive with a touchdown, assisted by a questionable hands to the face penalty on Mason Graham, thanks to a 3-yard touchdown run from Michigan native Darius Taylor. After the extra point, the U-M lead would be cut to 24-10 with 14:01 to play. The Wolverines followed it up on offense with another three-and-out, leading to a punt that was returned by Minnesota’s Koi Perich down to the 17-yard line. The Gophers scored three plays later on a 4-yard run from Taylor, trimming the lead to 24-17 in favor of U-M.

Michigan started its next drive at the 25-yard line with 11:05 to go. The Wolverines went 58 yards in 14 plays, taking 6:32 off the clock and adding three points on the board. U-M’s lead would be pushed to 27-17 with 4:33 to go.

The Golden Gophers got down to the Michigan 22-yard line at the two-minute timeout, threatening to re-make it a one-score game late. The visitors scored their third touchdown of the quarter on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Brosmer to Daniel Jackson. After the extra point, the Michigan lead was cut to 27-24 with 1:37 to go.

Minnesota attempted an onside kick and appeared to have recovered, but was called offsides. On the second attempt, Michigan recovered at the Minnesota 38-yard line. U-M had a snap go awry on the drive, but was able to run out the clock to secure victory.

FINAL: MICHIGAN 27, MINNESOTA 24

Michigan vs. Minnesota final box score