The Gophers are heading into Big Ten play with a statement win, a 3-1 record, and a celebration that took on a life of its own.
Minnesota walked out of No. 23 Washington with a 27-24 upset Saturday night, then gave the internet something to chew on when P.J.
Fleck and Maverick Baranowski shared a bloodied postgame moment on the field. It happened around 1:30 a.m.
Sunday local time, after Fleck was making his usual victory lap and found the linebacker who had turned in a huge night.
Baranowski finished with seven tackles, two tackles for loss and an interception, and the scene between coach and player got instantly memorable. The two embraced, Baranowski had blood on his face, and Fleck swiped some with his hand and smeared it across his own face.
Fleck didn’t exactly hold back when asked about Baranowski afterward.
"That’s my blood brother," Fleck said. "When NFL scouts ask me about Mav, I say if you could take Blake Cashman, Robert Spillane and have a baby, you’d produce Maverick.
The kid loves the game, plays the game the right way. He is the heartbeat of our defense.
Back in the day I’m sure that’s what they did, frontiersmen out west, just throw a little blood on there I guess."
Baranowski liked the moment just fine, too.
"It’s a great moment. Winning is hard in the Big Ten.
When you get to win at a place like this, it’s just so exciting. My head coach having my back for the last five years, I love that guy.
Such an awesome opportunity to share that moment, he’s a crazy man."
The win itself was built on Minnesota’s defense. The Gophers sacked Washington quarterback Demond Williams seven times, kept heat on him all night and picked him off twice. Washington finished with just 279 total yards and went 1-of-10 on third down.
Minnesota also got a big first half from Drake Lindsey, who threw for 204 yards and three touchdowns before halftime. That helped the Gophers build a 21-10 lead by the break.
Special teams played a major role as well. Tom Weston pinned four punts inside the 10-yard line, including one that landed at the 1 with three seconds left to help seal the win. Luke Drzewiecki stayed perfect, hitting three extra points and two field goals, including a 51-yarder with 7:28 remaining that pushed Minnesota ahead 27-17.
Next up is Michigan, and the setting is as big as the matchup. The Gophers host the Wolverines at 11 a.m.
Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium in the Little Brown Jug game. FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff pregame show will be on campus, and Michigan is coming off a walk-off loss to Iowa.
In Other News...
Browns Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Crowded QB Room
The Browns are taking a clear line on their quarterback depth chart, and for now it does not include shopping either of their young passers. Even with Deshaun Watson still established as the starter, Cleveland is choosing to keep Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel in house, a sign the team still values having multiple options available behind its top quarterback.
In a league where injuries can turn a room upside down in a hurry, that approach makes sense from a roster-building standpoint. The Browns have watched other teams scramble for help at the position, but they are not treating that market as a reason to move either Sanders or Gabriel, preferring to keep both around as depth while the season takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Denzel Ward Is Finally Being Used Like Browns Fans Always Wanted
Under new defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg, Denzel Ward is being deployed the way Browns fans have long wanted, with more freedom to shadow opponents top wideouts instead of staying locked into a more rigid assignment. It has given Clevelands best corner a chance to lean into the part of his game that has always stood out most, and it showed in the Browns 21-18 win, where he drew a major share of the coverage work against Tetairoa McMillan.
McMillan finished with just one catch for 12 yards, another reminder of how disruptive Ward can be when hes allowed to travel with a No. 1 target. He has often been underrated in past seasons, but his coverage ability and pass breakup production have consistently placed him among the leagues best corners, and this new approach only adds to the sense that Cleveland is finally maximizing a key piece of its defense. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Monken May Already Be Changing Something In Cleveland
The Browns got a win over Carolina in Week 3, but it came with plenty of the usual reminders that this offense still has work to do. The home crowd saw a low-output performance and a handful of penalties, while the individual evaluations from the game painted a mixed picture for both rookies and established starters. Even in a victory, the sense around the building is that the margin for error remains thin.
What has drawn attention is the early coaching imprint Todd Monken appears to be leaving on the group. The article points to a possible shift in how Cleveland is being shaped offensively, even as the team turns quickly to the next challenge in Week 4. For a Browns team trying to stabilize its identity, the bigger question may be whether the changes already showing up can hold up once the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]