The Gophers faced little adversity during their 4-0 start to the season, outscoring opponents by a combined 183-24 and looking every bit like the favorite to win the Big Ten's West Division.
Saturday, however, adversity appeared in many forms for the No. 21-ranked Gophers, and much of it was self-inflicted in a 20-10 loss to Purdue on Homecoming at Huntington Bank Stadium.
Mitchell Fineran's 25-yard field goal with 4:57 left in the fourth quarter broke a 10-10 tie, and Devin Mockobee's 68-yard gain that set up a TD with 3:13 to play stunned the crowd of 48,288. Purdue (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) ended the Gophers' seven-game winning streak.
"We didn't play well enough to win,'' Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said. "We didn't deserve to win tonight. And I believe in life you get what you deserve.''
From the start, Minnesota's problems spelled trouble.
- Running back Mohamed Ibrahim warmed up but did not play because of an ankle injury he suffered and played through last week at Michigan State. His loss was glaring. Minus the nation's leader in yards after contact — 388 of his 573 rushing total — Minnesota rushed for only 47 yards. Fleck said Ibrahim was close to playing but not quite ready.
"We didn't block very well up front,'' Fleck said. "They dominated the line of scrimmage, and that's pretty much our M.O. If they do that, then it's a game like that.''
- Fleck's gamble to go for the first down on fourth-and-1 from the Gophers 29 in the first quarter backfired, with Cole Kramer stuffed for no gain. That led to a field goal for the Boilermakers.
- Previously perfect Gophers kicker Matthew Trickett missed a 28-yard field goal in the second quarter. That's three points lost, and it wasted a 66-yard pass play from Tanner Morgan to Daniel Jackson.
- Wide receiver Mike Brown-Stephens, wide open in the end zone, had a would-be touchdown pass in the second quarter go through his hands, bounce off his chest and land into the arms of Purdue defensive back Cam Allen for an interception. That's seven points lost.
"We drop a touchdown that hits us in the chest," Fleck said. "That is not how we played the last month, but it's how we played tonight."
Morgan, who entered the game second nationally in completion percentage (77.2%) and fourth in quarterback rating (198.14), completed 18 of 33 passes for 257 yards and no touchdowns with three interceptions for the Gophers (4-1, 1-1). Jackson caught six passes for 110 yards.
