Max Brosmer threw a go-ahead, 1-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Geers with 5:14 left in the fourth quarter, then visiting Minnesota held on for a 25-17 upset win over No. 24 Illinois on Saturday afternoon in Champaign, Ill.
Brosmer completed 22 of 37 passes for 213 yards and for Minnesota (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten), which earned its fourth straight win and became bowl eligible. Darius Taylor had 22 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown.
Luke Altmyer completed 20 of 33 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown for Illinois (6-3, 3-3), which has lost back-to-back games. Josh McCray had 72 rushing yards and a touchdown and Zakhari Franklin had five catches for 71 yards and a score.
Illinois seized a 17-16 lead with 9:03 to go in the game. Altmyer looked left and fired a strike to Franklin in the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown.
The Golden Gophers answered on the next drive to grab a 22-17 lead. Brosmer rolled right and lobbed a pass to Geers in the right flat for a score.
Minnesota’s Dragan Kesich added a 46-yard field goal to make it 25-17 with 1:52 to play.
Illinois had a chance at a game-winning drive in the final minute. The Fighting Illini had the ball at the Minnesota 16-yard line, but Jah Joyner stripped the ball loose from Altmyer. Danny Striggow pounced on the fumble with 29 seconds left to secure the victory.
The Golden Gophers scored first to grab a 3-0 lead. Kesich made a 20-yard field goal midway through the opening quarter.
Illinois pulled even at 3-3 on a 25-yard field goal by David Olano with 10:08 remaining in the first half.
Minnesota made it 10-3 on the following possession when Taylor broke free for a 29-yard rushing touchdown.
The Fighting Illini fought back. McCray looked as if he might be stopped for a short gain, but he stayed on his feet and burst forward for a 42-yard score.
Kesich made a 45-yard field goal to give Minnesota a 13-10 lead before halftime.
The Golden Gophers increased their lead to 16-10 on Kesich’s third field goal, this time from 38 yards, with 4:36 remaining in the third quarter.
Illinois safety Miles Scott was ejected with 6:11 left in the game. He drew a targeting penalty after delivering a helmet-to-helmet hit against Minnesota wideout Elijah Spence.
