Run the North | Golden Gophers football

[ShireNiner]

tbh, a home game in the CFP is still a great opportunity

We beat them last season. I am confident in this one but it's the playoffs so we will see.. about to start now

[ShireNiner]

12 Miami-Oh at 5 Geogria Fri, Dec 18 (8:00 PM) | 11 Clemson at 6 SMU Sat, Dec 19 (Noon, EST) | 9 UCLA at 8 Pitt Sat, Dec 19 (8:00 PM)
CFP First Round: #10 BYU at #7 Minnesota


Minnesota's first ever playoff game comes against a determined BYU side (ShireNiner PS5 images.)

By: Aiden “AJ” Wexler, Minnesota reporter
Dec 19, 2026 | College Football Playoffs Round 1
Time: 4:00 pm EST
Broadcast: ESPN
Where: Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN


INDIANAPOLIS — The College Football Playoff era officially arrives in the Twin Cities as the No. 7 Minnesota Golden Gophers host the No. 10 BYU Cougars. For Mick Smith and the Gophers, this is a chance to wash away the bitter taste of a narrow Big Ten Championship loss for the second straight season. For BYU, a win would set up a rematch with Texas Tech, who beat them in the Big 12 conference final just a week ago.

Both teams enter this historic matchup battered. The most significant news out of Minneapolis is that Heisman finalist AJ Turner will be on a "limited snaps" count. Turner, who sits at 1,969 rushing yards, is the engine of the Gopher offense, and his absence from the full-time rotation puts a massive spotlight on sophomore Fame Ijeboi.

Meanwhile, BYU faces a defensive crisis. The Cougars will be without three of their most impactful players: lockdown corner Marcus McKenzie, run-stopper Keanu Tanuvasa, and Mike linebacker Harrison Taggart.

With AJ Turner limited, Fame Ijeboi (849 yds, 5 TDs) becomes the most important player on the field. BYU's run defense is elite, allowing only 103 yards per game, but they are missing Tanuvasa (14 TFL) and Taggart. Minnesota will test the depth of the Cougar front early, aiming to control possession and wear down the defensive line, which is thin on depth.

Minnesota has the home-field advantage and the psychological edge of a 27-20 win over BYU last season. However, the health of AJ Turner is the ultimate X-factor. If Ijeboi can carry the load and the Gopher pass rush can rattle Jayden Davis, Minnesota should advance. But if BYU’s banged-up defense can hold the Gophers to field goals, the Cougars' superior ball security might just pull off the upset.

Team Leaders
Passing
AJ Brand, FR, QB - 217/350, 62%, 2,163 yds, 18 TDs, 9 INTs, sacked 18 times
Jayden Davis, SO, QB - 259/438, 59%, 3,145 yds, 20 TDs, 5 INTs, sacked 21 times

Rushing
Fame Ijeboi, SO, RB - 150 atts, 849 yds, 5.7 avg, 5 TDs, 5 20+ yd runs
AJ Turner, SR, RB - 302 atts, 1,969 yds, 6.5 avg, 21 TDs, 14 20+ yd runs
Sione Moa, JR, RB - 130 atts, 705 yds, 5.4 avg, 8 TDs, 7 20+ yd runs
Sesi Vailahi, JR, RB - 95 atts, 463 yds, 4.9 avg, 11 TDs, 6 20+ yd runs

Receiving
Kenric Lanier II, JR, WR - 48 rec, 540 yds, 6 TDs
Jalen Smith, FR, WR - 30 rec, 453 yds, 3 TDs
Tiger Bachmeier, SR, WR - 59 rec, 850 yds, 7 TDs
Deandre Moore Jr, SR, WR - 60 rec, 783 yds, 3 TDs

Defense
Aidan Gousby, SR, MIKE - 92 tkls, 18 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 3 INTs
Kerry Brown, JR, SS - 91 tkls, 11 TFL, 3 INTs
Emmanual Karmo, SO, LEDG - 39 tkls, 20 TFL, 12.5 sacks
Mitch Horan, FR, WILL - 72 tkls, 21 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 1 INT

Harrison Taggart, SR, MIKE - 65 tkls, 4 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INTs
Zabien Brown, JR, CB - 59 tkls, 3 TFL, 0.5 sack, 3 INTs
Mi'Quise Humphrey-Grace, SR, LEDG - 55 tkls, 25 TFL, 15 sacks
Keanu Tanuvasa, SR, DT - 42 tkls, 14 TFL, 7 sacks

What did you think of this story?

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Aiden “AJ” Wexler is a writer for ShireNiner Nation covering Minnesota Gophers Football. He previously covered local high schools in the Minneapolis area. He is based in Minneapolis, MN. Follow AJ on Twitter @AidensFake.

More from ShireNiner Nation:

• JMU shows up but falls just short at the Big House
• Look out CFB world, there is a new top dog in town and his name is Earl
• Another chise Miami is slapped in

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Comments

[redsox907]

time for them Mormon's to get their first fuckin

[Captain Canada]

Hopefully you can still bring that offensive productivity without getting a hefty workload from Turner. Crazy that he has almost as many rushing yards as your QB has passing yards.

[Count]

AJ Turner really gonna hit 2,000 yards. Man is on the Jeanty level

[ShireNiner]

time for them Mormon's to get their first fuckin

By a Gopher too. It's going to be ugly.

Hopefully you can still bring that offensive productivity without getting a hefty workload from Turner. Crazy that he has almost as many rushing yards as your QB has passing yards.

Halfway through the season, I knew Turner was dead but I wanted the Heisman so I ran him until he can't run. Now he can do 3-4 carries and he's out.

[ShireNiner]

AJ Turner really gonna hit 2,000 yards. Man is on the Jeanty level

He's not getting it at this rate..

AJ Turner really gonna hit 2,000 yards. Man is on the Jeanty level

He gave his future up for this season.

[ShireNiner]

Gunner Stockton throws for 4 touchdowns as Georgia beats Miami (OH) 42-16 | SMU win the rematch with Clemson, 38-23 behind Kevin Jennings 5 touchdown day | The Bruins were the only road team to win, 31-23 over Pitt to setup a game with USC in the next round |
Minnesota stifles BYU, 27-17, advances to CFP Quarterfinals


Gophers held BYU to -5 rushing yards, including four sacks in the win (ShireNiner PS5 images) Images

BYU Cougars (10-2, 8-2 Big 12, CFP No. 10) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (12-1, 9-1 Big Ten, CFP No. 7)
CFP Playoffs, Saturday, Dec 19, 2026

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#10 BYU | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17
#7 MINN | 3 | 17 | 0 | 7| 27

By:Aiden “AJ” Wexler, Minnesota reporter
Saturday, Dec 19, 2026 | CFP Playoff Round 1


MINNAPOLIS — It wasn’t the high-flying offensive clinic the College Football Playoff committee has come to expect from the nation’s elite, but for Mick Smith and the Minnesota Golden Gophers, it was exactly what December football requires.

Behind a gutty performance from freshman quarterback AJ Brand and a historic milestone for star running back AJ Turner, No. 7 Minnesota ground out a 27-20 victory over No. 10 BYU on Saturday. The win secures the Gophers a spot in the CFP Quarterfinals and a high-stakes date with undefeated Texas Tech and Heisman winner Conner Weigman.

The afternoon began with a roar that had nothing to do with the score. Entering the game on a limited snap count due to injury, senior running back AJ Turner needed 31 yards to reach the elusive 2,000-yard mark for the season.

On just five carries, Turner cut through the BYU front for 36 yards, eclipsing the milestone and cementing his status as one of the greatest to ever wear the maroon and gold. With his mission accomplished and the coaching staff eyeing next week’s quarterfinal, Turner spent the remainder of the game on the sideline watching his team grind out the win.

"AJ is our heartbeat," Gophers coach Mick Smith said. "To see him get that 2,000 in front of this crowd, in this weather, it sets the tone for everything we’re trying to build here."

With Turner sidelined, the offensive weight fell squarely on the shoulders of AJ Brand. The freshman didn't dazzle with his arm, but his legs proved to be the difference-maker against a BYU defense missing three key starters.

Brand accounted for both of Minnesota's offensive touchdowns on the ground, including a 6-yard scramble with 1:13 left in the fourth quarter to put the score out of reach, 27-17. He finished 18-of-27 passing for 185 yards, leaning heavily on senior tight end Jerry Cross, who hauled in 9 catches for 111 yards and converted four critical third downs.

In a game where yards were hard to come by, Jalen Smith provided the game's biggest jolt. In the second quarter, the freshman wideout fielded a punt and gashed the BYU coverage for a 50-yard touchdown.

"Jalen has improved a lot this season, both as a receiver and special teams player. Finishing third in the Jet award voting, he was close to breaking a big one a few times this season. I'm happy he was able to get one today, especially in our last home game."

The win was the 11th of the year for Minnesota, finishing the season a perfect 6-0 at home and now 12-0 at home under Smith. "Our goal was to make this place our fortress. That is what we have done. In two years, not losing at home is a credit to the fans and our players."

Minnesota will face number two Texas Tech next week in the Peach Bowl.

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Scoring Summary
1st quarter
Matthias Dunn, 54 yd FG, 8:26
Manual Valles, 44 yd FG. 3:13

2nd quarter
AJ Brand, 8 yd run, 11:43
Jalen Smith, returned punt 50 yards, 9:54
Tiger Bachmeier, 21 yd pass from Jadyn Davis, 1:18
Manual Valles, 36yd FG. 0:05

3rd quarter
DeAndre Moore Jr, 56 yd pass from Jadyn Davis, 7:17

4th quarter
AJ Brand, 6 yd run, 1:13

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Soapys' Box Score

Passing
AJ Brand, FR, QB - 18/27, 66%, 185 yds, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 45 rush yards, 2 rush TDs
Jayden Davis, SO, QB - 32/40, 80 %, 363 yds, 2 TD

Rushing
Fame Ijeboi, SO, RB - 24 atts, 80 yds, 3.3 avg, 1 fumble lost
AJ Turner, SR, RB - 5 atts, 36 yds, 7.2 avg
Sione Moa, JR, RB - 5 atts, 0 yds, 48 rec yards

Receiving
Jerry Cross, SR, TE - 9 rec, 111 yds, 4 - 3rd down conversions
Jalen Smith, FR, WR - 3 rec, 38 yds, punt return TD
Tiger Bachmeier, SR, WR - 7 rec, 93 yds, 1 TD
Deandre Moore Jr, SR, WR - 5 rec, 91 yds, 1 TD

Defense
Aidan Gousby, SR, MIKE - 7 tkls, 2 TFL, .5 sacks
Kerry Brown, JR, SS - 3 tkls, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 3 DEFL
Jaxon Howard, JR, REDG - 4 tkls, 2 TFL, 1.5 sacks
Mitch Horan, FR, WILL - 7 tkls, 4 TFL, 1 sacks
Raider Damuni, SR, SS - 11 tkls, 2 TFL, 1 INT
Zabien Brown, JR, CB - 8 tkls, 1 TFL
Sialle Esera, JR, MIKE - 13 tkls, 1 TFL
Ace Kaufusi, JR, WILL - 3 tkls, 1 TFL, 1 sack

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Aiden “AJ” Wexler is a writer for ShireNiner Nation covering Minnesota Gophers Football. He previously covered local high schools in the Minneapolis area. He is based in Minneapolis, MN. Follow AJ on Twitter @AidensFake.

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Comments

[Caesar]

Ugly performance from the offense, but it's about surviving and advancing in the playoffs so we move!

[Deuce2223]

Congrats on the win.. Having Turner hurt for the playoffs is a big blow but hopefully the team can continue to rally around him.. Need to keep getting those big plays on special teams.