Minnesota closed out its non-conference slate with a comfortable 41-7 win over Akron on Saturday, getting 204 passing yards and three touchdowns from Lindsey in Minneapolis.
Lindsey completed 17 of 31 throws and helped the Gophers shake off last week’s 38-13 loss to Mississippi State. His best work came on a pair of touchdown throws that looked a lot sharper than your average college scoring plays.
In the second quarter, he found Noah Jennings on a short post and slipped the ball just beyond a defender’s fingertips for a 6-yard touchdown. Later, in the third quarter, he dropped an 18-yard fade into the corner for Jalen Smith, who finished the route with a touchdown grab.
Minnesota also got a big ground play from TJ Thomas, who broke loose for a 71-yard touchdown run as part of a 191-yard rushing day for the Gophers.
Akron didn’t find much traction until the fourth quarter, when Marcellus Williams scored on a 10-yard run to make it 41-7. By then, the game had long gotten away from the Zips.
The problems started early and never really stopped for Akron. Starting quarterback Cibastian Broughton injured his right leg on a run early in the second quarter and did not return. Backup Brayden Roggo did move the Zips to the Minnesota 11 midway through the second, but consecutive personal fouls pushed them back 30 yards and the drive ended on downs.
Penalties and turnovers were the other killers. Akron was flagged seven times for 74 yards, lost two fumbles and threw an interception.
Minnesota had to manage the game without leading rusher Darius Taylor, and that meant a heavier load through the air early. The Gophers ran the ball only nine times in the first half while Lindsey attempted 23 passes, but the offense still finished with enough balance to put the game away.
In Other News...
Gophers May Have Found A Different Way To Win Without Darius Taylor
Minnesota found a different formula Saturday in a 41-7 win over Akron, one that leaned far less on the ground game than usual and far more on Drake Lindseys arm. With top running back Darius Taylor sidelined by injury, the Gophers spread the ball around and let Lindsey take charge, and he responded with 204 passing yards and three touchdowns in a performance that gave the offense a cleaner rhythm than the setting might have suggested.
The passing game was only part of the story. Minnesota also got a lift from special teams, which helped tilt field position with key returns and a fumble recovery, while Akron lost starting quarterback Sebastian Broughton to a knee injury along the way. For the Gophers, the broader question now is whether this was just a one-game adjustment or a glimpse at another way to win if Taylor is unavailable again. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Suddenly Face A Darius Taylor Concern They Can't Ignore
Minnesotas backfield took an immediate hit this week, with Darius Taylor ruled out for the Akron game because of a lower-body injury he dealt with before and during the Mississippi State matchup. Taylor was limited in that game, and head coach P.J. Fleck has described him as day-to-day, which leaves the Gophers juggling workload and health at a spot they would rather keep steady early in the season.
With Taylor and freshman Ryan Estrada unavailable, A.J. Turner and T.J. Thomas are in line to handle the running back duties against Akron. For Minnesota, the bigger concern is less about one game than about how quickly Taylor can get back to being the kind of reliable option the offense has leaned on, because the depth chart already looks thinner than the Gophers would like. [Read more 🡒]
Tori McKinney Just Gave Gophers Fans Another Reason To Believe
Tori McKinney spent the week in international play doing what Minnesota fans have come to appreciate about her game: showing up on both ends and helping steady her team when the margin for error was thin. Team USA entered the 2026 Womens Under-23 3x3 FIBA World Cup as the fourth seed, worked through pool play and the bracket, and finished the job by beating Canada 15-10 to take gold.
For the Gophers, that kind of run matters well beyond the medal count. McKinneys value was evident throughout the tournament as a defensive presence and an offensive contributor, a combination that can translate well back home when Minnesota needs poise, versatility and a player willing to take on pressure moments. It is the sort of performance that gives a fan base another reason to keep believing in what comes next. [Read more 🡒]