University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
2-1 , 0-0
Akron
1-2 , 0-0
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Minnesota | 10 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 41 |
Gophers Dispatch the Zips 41-7 in Non-Conference Finale
9/19/2026 2:57:00 PM | Football
Minnesota Travels to #24 Washington for Big Ten Opener Next Saturday
Lindsey completed 17 of 31 passes as Minnesota bounced back from a 38-13 loss to Mississippi State last week.
Two of Lindsey's touchdown passes were NFL caliber. In the second quarter, he hit Noah Jennings on a short post pattern, zipping the ball just past the fingertips of a defender for a 6-yard touchdown pass. Then in the third quarter, Jalen Smith hauled in an 18-yard scoring strike when Lindsey put the perfect touch on a fade route in the corner of the end zone.
Akron got on the board in the fourth quarter when Marcellus Williams scored on a 10-yard run, making it 41-7.
The Zips, who used a fan to call plays on its first drive last week as part of a promotion, didn't fare much better with their regular coaches running the show. Starting quarterback Cibastian Broughton injured his right leg on a run early in the second quarter and did not return. Backup Brayden Roggo moved the team to the Gophers 11 midway through the second, but personal fouls on consecutive plays set the Zips back 30 yards and they turned it over on downs.
The Takeaway
Akron: Penalties and turnovers killed the Zips. They committed seven infractions that cost them 74 yards. They also lost two fumbles and threw an interception.
Minnesota: Playing without leading rusher Darius Taylor, the Gophers ran the ball just nine times in the first half, compared to 23 passes by Lindsey. Minnesota ended up with 191 rushing yards on the day which included a 71-yard touchdown scamper by TJ Thomas.
Up Next
Akron hosts UNLV next Saturday.
Minnesota opens Big Ten play with a trip to Washington next Saturday.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
AKR 0, UMN 7
UMN - Voss,Roman 16 yd pass from Lindsey,Drake (Drzewiecki,Luke kick) 5 plays, 58 yards, TOP 02:39
AKR 0, UMN 10
UMN - Drzewiecki,Luke 24 yd field goal 6 plays, 69 yards, TOP 03:07
AKR 0, UMN 17
UMN - Jennings,Noah 6 yd pass from Lindsey,Drake (Drzewiecki,Luke kick) 3 plays, 7 yards, TOP 00:41
AKR 0, UMN 20
UMN - Drzewiecki,Luke 43 yd field goal 12 plays, 36 yards, TOP 04:42
AKR 0, UMN 27
UMN - Smith,Jalen 18 yd pass from Lindsey,Drake (Drzewiecki,Luke kick) 3 plays, 13 yards, TOP 01:04
AKR 0, UMN 34
UMN - Turner,A.J. 4 yd run (Drzewiecki,Luke kick), 11 plays, 90 yards, TOP 08:12
AKR 0, UMN 41
UMN - Thomas,TJ 71 yd run (Drzewiecki,Luke kick), 1 plays, 71 yards, TOP 00:11
AKR 7, UMN 41
AKR - Williams,Marquese 10 yd run (Schramm,Matthew kick), 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:54