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5 things that stood out in Gophers’ blowout loss to Michigan

The Gophers threw for zero yards in the second half.

Joe Nelson

5 things that stood out in Gophers’ blowout loss to Michigan
5 things that stood out in Gophers’ blowout loss to Michigan /

The No. 2 Michigan Wolverines overpowered Minnesota 52-10 and it was ugly from start to finish for the now 3-3 Golden Gophers. Here are five things that stood out, from the struggles of Athan Kaliakmanis to questions about game management, urgency and some history of the Gophers giving up 50+ points. Let's dive in.... 

1. Athan Kaliakmanis struggles again

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Oct 7, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (8) lines up for a play against the Michigan Wolverines during the second quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

The redshirt sophomore quarterback flashed big-time potential in Minnesota's Week 1 win over Nebraska, but since then he's been below average to flat out bad at times, including the second play of the game against Michigan when he threw a pick-six to Michigan cornerback Will Johnson. 

Kaliakmanis threw another pick-six late in the third quarter and finished 5 of 15 for 52 yards. He had zero passing yards in the second half and 35 of his 52 yards were on his touchdown pass to Daniel Jackson before halftime. 

2. Big play bails out game management disaster?

Trailing 24-3 with with 1 minute left in the first half, the Gophers faced 4th-and-2 and head coach P.J. Fleck decided to let the clock run all the way down to 22 seconds before calling a timeout. It had everyone, including the NBC announcers, baffled. 

The Gophers then ran for a first down on 4th-and-2 and spiked the ball to stop the clock with 13 seconds left. Kaliakmanis then lobbed a deep ball to Daniel Jackson for a 35-yard touchdown. 

If that touchdown doesn't connect, it would've appeared that Fleck was content settling for a field goal attempt despite being down by 21 points at home to a national championship contender. If the Gophers don't hit on that touchdown, the decision to bleed clock would've been a much bigger talking point after the game. 

3. Jim Harbaugh joins the touchdown celebration

After Will Johnson's pick-six on the second play of the game the Michigan defense celebrated in the end zone and head coach Jim Harbaugh decided to join them for the photo-op. 

4. Where’s the urgency?

Down 38-10 late in the third quarter, the Gophers got the ball and ran it for three yards on first down and then for no gain on second down. On third down, Kaliakmanis threw his second pick-six of the game.

After the pick-six, Minnesota came back and ran the ball for one yard on first down and they ran it for another yard on second down. On 3rd-and-8, Kaliakmanis overthrew Brevyn Spann-Ford and on came the punting unit. 

Minnesotan fans are left to wonder why there wasn’t a more aggressive approach when trailing by 28-35 points in the second half. 

5. Third time a Fleck team has allowed 50+

It’s the first time the Gophers have allowed 50+ points since doing it twice in 2018 in losses to Illinois (55 points) and Nebraska (53). Both of those games in 2018 were coached by Fleck, meaning he's had three games in his seven seasons giving up at least 50 points. 

Going back to 1997, which was Glen Mason's first season coaching at Minnesota, the Gophers have surrendered 50+ points 11 times, including the last three coach by Fleck. It happened to Jerry Kill once, to Tim Brewster twice and to Mason five times. 

  • 58-0 to Michigan in 2011 (Kill) 
  • 52-10 to Ohio State in 2010 (Brewster)
  • 55-0 to Iowa in 2008 (Brewster)
  • 52-25 to Iowa in 2005 (Mason)
  • 51-17 to Michigan State in 2004 (Mason)
  • 51-43 to Indiana in 2000 (Mason)
  • 56-21 to Purdue in 1998 (Mason)
  • 59-43 to Purdue in 1997 (Mason)
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Joe Nelson
JOE NELSON

Title: Bring Me The Sports co-owner, editor Email: joe@bringmethenews.com Twitter: @JoeBMTN Education: Southwest Minnesota State University Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Expertise: All things Minnesota sports Nelson has covered Minnesota sports for two decades, starting his media career in sports radio. He worked at small market Minnesota stations in Marshall and St. Cloud before joining one of the nation's highest-rated sports stations, KFAN-FM 100.3 in the Twin Cities. There, he was the producer of the top-rated mid-morning sports show with Minnesota Vikings announcer Paul Allen.  His radio experience helped blossom a career as a sports writer, joining Minneapolis-based Bring Me The News in 2011.  Nelson and Adam Uren became co-owners of Bring Me The News in 2018 and have since more than tripled the site's traffic and launched Bring Me The Sports in cooperation with the Sports Illustrated/FanNation umbrella. Nelson has covered the Super Bowl and numerous training camps, NFL combines, the MLB All-Star Game and Minnesota playoff games, in addition to the day-to-day happenings on and off the field of play.  Nelson also has extensive knowledge of non-sports subjects, including news and weather. He works closely with Bring Me The News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard to produce a bevy of weather and climate information for Minnesota readers.  Nelson helped launch and manage the Bring Me The News Radio Network, which provided more than 50 radio stations around Minnesota with daily news, sports and weather reports from 2011-17. 

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