Kalel Mullings rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns in his first start as a running back as No. 12 Michigan retained the Little Brown Jug with a rain-affected 27-24 victory over Minnesota on Saturday.
“Coach told me I’d start today, but it hasn’t changed much for me,” said Mullings, who leads the Wolverines with 540 yards and six touchdowns in five games. “I always prepare like I’m going to (be) on the field every game.”
Michigan led 24-3 early in the fourth quarter, but Minnesota scored three touchdowns to pull within 27-24 with 1:37 left.
The Gophers recovered the onside kick but were flagged for offside. Mullings grabbed the second kick, allowing the Wolverines to run out the clock.
“We practiced this,” he said. “They lined up the same way, so I thought he was going to try the same kick, so I chased him before he got 10 yards.”
The Wolverines (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) extended their school-record conference winning streak to 27 games. They haven’t lost a Big Ten game since Michigan State beat them in 2021.
Minnesota (2-3, 0-2) hoped to win the Little Brown Jug for the first time in a decade and only the third time in the 21st century.
“We’re way past the point where moral victories matter for this program,” Minnesota coach PJ Fleck said. “Everyone on the field thought we were going to win this game.”
Mullings made up for another weak performance in the passing game. Alex Orji completed 10 of 18 passes for 86 yards. He threw a touchdown pass, but his interception helped Minnesota come back in the fourth quarter.
“I had Donovan (Edwards) open on the other side of the field,” he said. “I have to stick to my training and get him the ball.”
Mullings ended Michigan’s first drive with an untouched 27-yard touchdown run, but both offenses bogged down in wet conditions.
The Wolverines’ defense, however, forced a fumble early in the second quarter, giving them the ball at the Gophers 16. Mullings chased down the next three plays, forcing his way into the end zone from the 1 for a lead of 14-0.
Kechaun Bennett blocked a Minnesota punt later in the quarter. Orji hit Tyler Morris on the next play for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 21-0.
Minnesota got on the board on the final play of the half. Brosmer hit Nick Kallerup 44 yards to the Michigan 1 and the field goal unit got on the field in time for Dragan Kesich to launch a 20-yard field goal.
Dominic Zvada’s 53-yard field goal restored Michigan’s 21-point lead midway through the third quarter, but Orji’s interception on the next drive led to a 3-yard touchdown run by Darius Taylor.
After the Wolverines made it three points, freshman Koi Perich returned a punt 60 yards to the Michigan 17, and Taylor got his second touchdown to make it 24-17 with 11:05 to go. play.
“When you give field position to a Big Ten team, that’s what’s going to happen,” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said. “Every team in the Big Ten is a tough opponent. We don’t look at them any differently.”
Michigan ran with 6:32 left on the clock to set up Zvada’s second field goal and take a 27-17 lead with 4:33 left, but Brosmer hit Daniel Jackson for a 12-yard score to make it a game to three points.
“Our quarterback played hard, Darius Taylor played hard, our defense played hard,” Fleck said. “Certain plays hurt us on special teams.”
Zvada’s 53-yard field goal was his fourth kick of 50+ yards this season, setting a school record.
“When we got him here and he started hitting for 60 yards, it didn’t take long to realize we had something here,” Moore said.
It’s not uncommon for a governor to attend a Big Ten game, but things get a little different when he’s running for vice president. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz had a large Secret Service contingent when he took the field during warmups, and postgame news conferences were delayed 30 minutes to expedite his departure.
Minnesota: Hosts No. 13 USC next Saturday.
Michigan: travels to Washington next Saturday for its first away game.
