Keanon Cooper News

There's no question that a win at Minnesota on Saturday would have helped South Dakota State in its playoff pursuit.

Minnesota coach Tim Brewster's postgame commentary predictably started with the positive: After an ugly win, the Gophers qualified for a bowl game.

Gophers coach Tim Brewster has always praised fullback Jon Hoese for his strong lead blocking and special teams play.

FBCIllinois-Minnesota,0153 Defensive TD sparks Illinois past Minnesota 35-32 Eds: APNewsNow.

Michigan State's bowl drive went from hitting a speed bump against Iowa a week earlier to running into a roadblock with a 42-34 loss against Minnesota in TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday night.

Tim Brewster's offenses and defenses have been inconsistent amid changes in style and coordinators.

Lee Campbell and Simoni Lawrence, a couple of senior linebackers, drew attention to themselves at the University of Minnesota's football practice Tuesday, hopping around, bobbing their heads and shouting, "Linebacker U, Linebacker U, Linebacker U." That traditionally has been a nickname for Penn State , ranked No.

The entire Minnesota football team dedicated Saturday's 35-20 victory over Purdue to Jeff Tow-Arnett, who is out for the season after fracturing his leg a week earlier against Wisconsin.

In a key home game before a tough road stretch at Penn State and Ohio State on back-to-back weekends, the University of Minnesota football team turned three Purdue mistakes in the third quarter into touchdowns to break away in a 35-20 victory Saturday in front of a sellout crowd of 50,805 fans at TCF Bank Stadium.

Minnesota's move to a new stadium failed to shift the momentum in the longest-running rivalry in major college football.

The fact that the University of Minnesota has improved speed and athleticism on defense this year made Cal tailback Jahvid Best's explosive runs against the Gophers on Saturday even more impressive.

In his first three years playing for Minnesota, Nate Triplett established himself as one of the best special teams players in the Big Ten.

Yes, Adam Weber remains the Gophers' starter, but most Minnesota fans can't wait to see Gray finally hit the field.