P.J. Fleck gave Minnesota fans a moment they won’t forget Sunday night, and it had nothing to do with the final score alone.
After the Golden Gophers’ 27-24 win over Washington, Fleck embraced linebacker Maverick Baranowski, who was bleeding from his mouth after taking a cleat to the face on the final play. Fleck wiped the blood from Baranowski’s mouth and smeared it across his own cheeks, and the clip quickly spread across social media as Minnesota celebrated the road win at Husky Stadium.
The scene capped a gritty night for the Gophers, who improved to 3-1 in the 2026 campaign and held off a late Washington rally to escape with the victory. Fleck has now been Minnesota’s head coach since 2017, entering his 10th year with the program. During that stretch, he has led the Gophers through multiple seasons with eight or more wins, with the high point coming in 2019 when Minnesota finished 11-2 and won the Big Ten’s West Division title.
Minnesota also got a strong showing from Drake Lindsey, who completed 21 of 29 passes for 204 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. TJ Thomas paced the ground game with 11 carries for 78 yards, while Darius Taylor added 36 rushing yards on 19 attempts and also caught four passes for 36 yards.
Through the air, Noah Jennings led the team with 58 receiving yards on four catches. Javon Tracy finished with seven receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown, and Jalen Smith and Quayd Hendryx also hauled in touchdown passes.
Next up, Minnesota returns home for a Week 5 matchup against No. 18 Michigan.
Kickoff is set for Oct. 3 at 12 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
USC Heads To Washington With One Huge Concern After Oregon Loss
USC left Eugene with a 41-27 loss to Oregon in a top-20 matchup, but the Trojans still got a few useful offensive signs heading into their trip to Washington. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt was the most productive pass catcher, finishing with seven catches for 114 yards and a touchdown, while King Miller chipped in 74 rushing yards to help keep the offense moving at times.
The bigger issue came on the other side of the ball, where Jahkeem Stewart returned to the lineup but the Trojans also lost Desman Stephens II after he was ejected for targeting on a hit to Oregon quarterback Dante Moore. With Washington next on the schedule, USC will have to sort through both the emotional and competitive fallout from a physical game that ended with Moore injured and taken to the hospital. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Just Exposed A Bigger Problem Than One Bad Loss
Washingtons loss to Minnesota landed as more than a bad night in September. The Huskies went in as double-digit favorites and came out with a 27-24 defeat that raised real questions about where this offense is headed, especially with Demond Williams still trying to settle in and Jedd Fischs playcalling suddenly under the microscope.
The deeper concern is how many pieces were already working against Washington before the result ever became a headline. Injuries have thinned the backfield, the run game has not offered much help, and the protection problems have left the offense too vulnerable when drives stall. For a team with bigger goals, the issue now is not just one upset, but whether this version of the Huskies has enough answers to keep winning the games left on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Jedd Fisch Just Put Washingtons Biggest USC Concern Into Focus
Jedd Fisch spent part of his postgame assessment of Washingtons 27-24 loss to Minnesota circling the same theme that has followed the Huskies at different points this season: execution, especially on third downs. He touched on the offensive and defensive lapses that helped turn a winnable game into a setback, while also noting quarterback Drake Lindseys play, the protection in front of him and the continued growth of young tailbacks Brian Bonner and Trey Cooley.
For a Washington team heading into a tougher stretch, the bigger concern may be what the roster looks like when the Huskies try to clean it up. Fisch also updated several injury and eligibility situations, including Landen Hatchett, Christian Moss, Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei and Rahshawn Clark, leaving a few key pieces in varying states of limbo. Those answers matter even more with the line and skill positions already under scrutiny, and theyll be worth watching closely as the USC week conversation starts to sharpen. [Read more 🡒]