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Minnesota at Northwestern

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Northwestern beat Minnesota 39–⁠0. It was their 93rd meeting; after it, Minnesota led the series 53–⁠35–⁠5.

AwayMinnesota5–⁠7 in 2017
0
HomeNorthwestern10–⁠3 in 2017
39

Final at Ryan Field, EvanstonAttendance 30,014

At kickoff
38°F, light rain, wind 11 mph from the northWeather: NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database; Palwaukee Municipal Airport (KPWK), 19 km from the stadium, eight minutes before kickoff
Officials
Referee Don Willard; umpire Jeff Carr; head linesman Bruce Keeling; line judge Patrick Holt; side judge Don Swanson; field judge Ed Rohan; back judge Matthew Edwards; center judge Mike StumbergGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Minnesota00000
Northwestern0257739

Standouts

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.

Player stats

Minnesota

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Demry Croft2/114303
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Rodney Smith1896030
Kobe McCrary1069024
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Rashad Still136036
Rodney Smith1707
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Thomas Barber150.500
Jonathan Celestin6000
Jacob Huff6000
Duke McGhee6100
Carter Coughlin3210
Kamal Martin21.510

Northwestern

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Clayton Thorson9/138630
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Justin Jackson31166041
Jeremy Larkin936115
Corey Acker124124
John Moten IV213012
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Garrett Dickerson226218
Ben Skowronek223113
Flynn Nagel111011
Jeremy Larkin110010
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Nate Hall732.51
Paddy Fisher50.500
Warren Long4100
Tyler Lancaster31.50.50
Godwin Igwebuike3000
Joe Gaziano2110
Alex Miller2110
Kyle Queiro2001
Sam Miller1110
Montre Hartage1001

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

MinnesotaNorthwestern
182Total yards363
43Passing yards86
139Rushing yards277
3.9Yards per pass6.6
3.7Yards per rush5.0
7First downs22
1–⁠11Third downs6–⁠14
0–⁠0Fourth downs1–⁠2
5Turnovers0
2–⁠18Penalties3–⁠30
25:54Possession34:06
2Sacks (by defense)6

Efficiency

MinnesotaNorthwestern
29%Success rate50%
−0.61EPA per play0.24
1.20Explosiveness1.06
−0.16Rushing EPA0.24
−1.47Passing EPA0.23
14%Passing-down success38%
−0.88First-down EPA0.24
−0.11Second-down EPA0.29
−0.89Third-down EPA0.34
15%Havoc by its defense39%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

Northwestern 69% to win. Elo’s favorite won.

The line

Northwestern −7, over/under 40.5.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Before kickoff, the win chances were Northwestern 69%, Minnesota 31%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.

Every drive

Northwestern end zoneMinnesota end zoneQ1 NorthwesternPunt, 3 playsQ1 MinnesotaPunt, 4 playsQ1 NorthwesternTurnover on downs, 11 playsQ1 MinnesotaPunt, 5 playsQ1 NorthwesternTouchdown, 12 playsQ2 MinnesotaFumble, 2 playsQ2 NorthwesternTouchdown, 8 playsQ2 MinnesotaPunt, 3 playsQ2 NorthwesternPunt, 3 playsQ2 MinnesotaInterception, 3 playsQ2 NorthwesternTouchdown, 2 playsQ2 MinnesotaPunt, 3 playsQ2 NorthwesternTouchdown, 7 playsQ2 MinnesotaEnd of half, 1 playQ3 MinnesotaPunt, 3 playsQ3 NorthwesternPunt, 3 playsQ3 MinnesotaPunt, 5 playsQ3 NorthwesternPunt, 3 playsQ3 MinnesotaInterception, 1 playQ3 NorthwesternTouchdown, 3 playsQ3 MinnesotaInterception, 8 playsQ3 NorthwesternPunt, 3 playsQ4 MinnesotaFumble, 1 playQ4 NorthwesternTouchdown, 1 playQ4 MinnesotaPunt, 7 playsQ4 NorthwesternPunt, 7 playsQ4 MinnesotaPunt, 3 playsQ4 NorthwesternEnd of game, 2 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Northwestern drives left to right, Minnesota right to left.
  1. Q1 NorthwesternPunt, 3 plays, −1 yard
  2. Q1 MinnesotaPunt, 4 plays, 34 yards
  3. Q1 NorthwesternTurnover on downs, 11 plays, 73 yards
  4. Q1 MinnesotaPunt, 5 plays, 24 yards
  5. Q1 NorthwesternTouchdown, 12 plays, 80 yards
  6. Q2 MinnesotaFumble, 2 plays, 11 yards
  7. Q2 NorthwesternTouchdown, 8 plays, 36 yards
  8. Q2 MinnesotaPunt, 3 plays, 5 yards
  9. Q2 NorthwesternPunt, 3 plays, −3 yards
  10. Q2 MinnesotaInterception, 3 plays, 4 yards
  11. Q2 NorthwesternTouchdown, 2 plays, 15 yards
  12. Q2 MinnesotaPunt, 3 plays, 2 yards
  13. Q2 NorthwesternTouchdown, 7 plays, 51 yards
  14. Q2 MinnesotaEnd of half, 1 play, 8 yards
  15. Q3 MinnesotaPunt, 3 plays, −15 yards
  16. Q3 NorthwesternPunt, 3 plays, 8 yards
  17. Q3 MinnesotaPunt, 5 plays, 14 yards
  18. Q3 NorthwesternPunt, 3 plays, 9 yards
  19. Q3 MinnesotaInterception, 1 play, 0 yards
  20. Q3 NorthwesternTouchdown, 3 plays, 27 yards
  21. Q3 MinnesotaInterception, 8 plays, 51 yards
  22. Q3 NorthwesternPunt, 3 plays, 9 yards
  23. Q4 MinnesotaFumble, 1 play, 4 yards
  24. Q4 NorthwesternTouchdown, 1 play, 24 yards
  25. Q4 MinnesotaPunt, 7 plays, 40 yards
  26. Q4 NorthwesternPunt, 7 plays, 27 yards
  27. Q4 MinnesotaPunt, 3 plays, 5 yards
  28. Q4 NorthwesternEnd of game, 2 plays, 11 yards

Play by play

1st quarter5 drives, then Tied at 0
Northwestern Punt, 3 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Ryan Santoso kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
15:001st & 10 at own 25Clayton Thorson pass incomplete to Flynn Nagel
15:002nd & 10 at own 25Justin Jackson run for 7 yds to the Nwest 32
15:003rd & 3 at own 32Clayton Thorson sacked by Carter Coughlin for a loss of 8 yards to the Nwest 24
15:004th & 11 at own 24Hunter Niswander punt for 47 yds, downed at the Minn 29
Minnesota Punt, 4 plays
13:281st & 10 at own 29Demry Croft pass complete to Rashad Still for 36 yds to the Nwest 35 for a 1ST down
13:281st & 10 at opp 35Demry Croft pass complete to Rodney Smith for 7 yds to the Nwest 28
13:282nd & 3 at opp 28Rodney Smith run for a loss of 2 yards to the Nwest 30
13:283rd & 5 at opp 30Demry Croft sacked by Nate Hall for a loss of 7 yards to the Nwest 37
13:284th & 12 at opp 37Ryan Santoso punt for 35 yds, downed at the Nwest 2
Northwestern Turnover on downs, 11 plays
10:381st & 10 at own 2Justin Jackson run for 4 yds to the Nwest 6
10:382nd & 6 at own 6Justin Jackson run for 4 yds to the Nwest 10
10:383rd & 2 at own 10Justin Jackson run for 4 yds to the Nwest 14 for a 1ST down
10:381st & 10 at own 14Justin Jackson run for 41 yds to the Minn 45 for a 1ST down
10:381st & 10 at opp 45Clayton Thorson pass incomplete to Macan Wilson, broken up by Antonio Shenault
10:382nd & 10 at opp 45Jeremy Larkin run for a loss of 1 yard to the Minn 46
10:383rd & 11 at opp 46Clayton Thorson run for 15 yds to the Minn 31 for a 1ST down
10:381st & 10 at opp 31Justin Jackson run for 5 yds to the Minn 26
10:382nd & 5 at opp 26Justin Jackson run for a loss of 2 yards to the Minn 28
10:383rd & 7 at opp 28Clayton Thorson run for a loss of 2 yards to the Minn 30
10:384th & 9 at opp 30Clayton Thorson pass complete to Justin Jackson for 5 yds to the Minn 25
Minnesota Punt, 5 plays
5:371st & 10 at own 25Rodney Smith run for 6 yds to the Minn 31
5:372nd & 4 at own 31Rodney Smith run for 22 yds to the Nwest 47 for a 1ST down
5:371st & 10 at opp 47Demry Croft pass incomplete to Rashad Still
5:372nd & 10 at opp 47Rodney Smith run for 1 yd to the Nwest 46
5:373rd & 9 at opp 46Demry Croft sacked by Nate Hall for a loss of 5 yards to the Minn 49
5:374th & 14 at own 49Ryan Santoso punt for 51 yds for a touchback
Northwestern Touchdown, 12 plays
3:041st & 10 at own 20Justin Jackson run for 1 yd to the Nwest 21
3:042nd & 9 at own 21Clayton Thorson pass complete to Flynn Nagel for 11 yds to the Nwest 32 for a 1ST down MINNESOTA Penalty, offside defense ( Yards) declined for a 1ST down
3:041st & 10 at own 32Jeremy Larkin run for 15 yds to the Nwest 47 for a 1ST down
3:041st & 10 at own 47Clayton Thorson pass complete to Jeremy Larkin for 10 yds to the Minn 43 for a 1ST down
3:041st & 10 at opp 43Jeremy Larkin run for 1 yd to the Minn 42
3:042nd & 9 at opp 42Jackson, Justin rush for 5 yards to the MINN37 (Ayinde,Adekunle), PENALTY MINN offside defense (Umlor, Nate) 5 yards to the MINN37, NO PLAY.
0:452nd & 4 at opp 37Timeout MINNESOTA, clock 00:45
0:452nd & 4 at opp 37Justin Jackson run for 14 yds to the Minn 23 for a 1ST down
0:451st & 10 at opp 23Justin Jackson run for a loss of 2 yards to the Minn 25
Q2 15:002nd & 12 at opp 25Justin Jackson run for 7 yds to the Minn 18
Q2 15:003rd & 5 at opp 18Justin Jackson run for 4 yds to the Minn 14
Q2 15:004th & 1 at opp 14Justin Jackson run for 3 yds to the Minn 11 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 11Jeremy Larkin run for 6 yds to the Minn 5
Q2 12:362nd & 4 at opp 5Jeremy Larkin run for 5 yds for a TD, (Charlie Kuhbander KICK)Northwestern 7, Minnesota 0
2nd quarter9 drives, then Northwestern 25, Minnesota 0
Minnesota Fumble, 2 plays
12:361st & 0 at own 35Luke Otto kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
12:361st & 10 at own 25Rodney Smith run for 5 yds to the Minn 30
12:362nd & 5 at own 30Kobe McCrary run for 2 yds to the Minn 36 Kobe McCrary fumbled, forced by Ben Oxley, recovered by Nwest Montre Hartage
Northwestern Touchdown, 8 plays
11:591st & 10 at opp 36Justin Jackson run for 2 yds to the Minn 34
11:592nd & 8 at opp 34Clayton Thorson pass complete to Bennett Skowronek for 10 yds to the Minn 24 for a 1ST down
11:591st & 10 at opp 24Clayton Thorson pass incomplete to Bennett Skowronek
11:592nd & 10 at opp 24Justin Jackson run for 8 yds to the Minn 16
11:593rd & 2 at opp 16Justin Jackson run for 2 yds to the Minn 14 for a 1ST down
11:591st & 10 at opp 14Justin Jackson run for 5 yds to the Minn 9
11:592nd & 5 at opp 9Justin Jackson run for 1 yd to the Minn 8
8:343rd & 4 at opp 8Clayton Thorson pass complete to Garrett Dickerson for 8 yds for a TD, (Charlie Kuhbander PAT BLOCKED) NORTHWESTERN Penalty, illegal formation ( Yards) declinedNorthwestern 13, Minnesota 0
Minnesota Punt, 3 plays
8:341st & 0 at own 35Luke Otto kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
8:341st & 10 at own 25Demry Croft sacked by Sam Miller for a loss of 2 yards to the Minn 23
8:342nd & 12 at own 23Rodney Smith run for 2 yds to the Minn 25
8:343rd & 10 at own 25Kobe McCrary run for 5 yds to the Minn 30
8:344th & 5 at own 30Ryan Santoso punt for 19 yds, downed at the Minn 49
Northwestern Punt, 3 plays
6:321st & 10 at opp 49Jeremy Larkin run for 1 yd to the Minn 48
6:322nd & 9 at opp 48Clayton Thorson pass incomplete to Flynn Nagel, broken up by Andrew Stelter
6:323rd & 9 at opp 48Clayton Thorson sacked by Kamal Martin for a loss of 4 yards to the Nwest 48
6:324th & 13 at own 48Hunter Niswander punt for 48 yds, downed at the Minn 4
Minnesota Interception, 3 plays
5:041st & 10 at own 4Rodney Smith run for 5 yds to the Minn 9
5:042nd & 5 at own 9Rodney Smith run for a loss of 1 yard to the Minn 8
5:043rd & 6 at own 8Demry Croft pass intercepted Montre Hartage return for no gain to the Minn 15
Northwestern Touchdown, 2 plays
3:461st & 10 at opp 15Justin Jackson run for 3 yds to the Minn 12
3:092nd & 7 at opp 12Jelani Roberts run for 12 yds for a TD, (Two-Point Conversion failed )Northwestern 19, Minnesota 0
Minnesota Punt, 3 plays
3:091st & 0 at own 35Luke Otto kickoff for 65 yds , Rodney Smith return for 22 yds to the Minn 22
3:001st & 10 at own 22Rodney Smith run for no gain to the Minn 22
2:532nd & 10 at own 22Timeout NORTHWESTERN, clock 02:53
2:532nd & 10 at own 22Rodney Smith run for 2 yds to the Minn 24
2:483rd & 8 at own 24Timeout NORTHWESTERN, clock 02:48
2:483rd & 8 at own 24Demry Croft pass incomplete
2:484th & 8 at own 24Ryan Santoso punt for 27 yds, downed at the Nwest 49
Northwestern Touchdown, 7 plays
2:341st & 10 at own 49Justin Jackson run for 8 yds to the Minn 43
2:342nd & 2 at opp 43Justin Jackson run for 6 yds to the Minn 37 for a 1ST down
2:341st & 10 at opp 37Justin Jackson run for 4 yds to the Minn 33
2:342nd & 6 at opp 33Clayton Thorson pass complete to Macan Wilson for 8 yds to the Minn 25 for a 1ST down
2:341st & 10 at opp 25Justin Jackson run for 7 yds to the Minn 18
2:342nd & 3 at opp 18Justin Jackson run for 2 yds to the Minn 18 Justin Jackson fumbled, forced by Winston DeLattiboudere, recovered by Nwest Clayton Thorson
0:263rd & 3 at opp 18Clayton Thorson pass complete to Garrett Dickerson for 18 yds for a TD, (Two-Point Conversion failed )Northwestern 25, Minnesota 0
Minnesota End of half, 1 play
0:261st & 0 at own 35Luke Otto kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
0:261st & 10 at own 25Rodney Smith run for 8 yds to the Minn 33
3rd quarter8 drives, then Northwestern 32, Minnesota 0
Minnesota Punt, 3 plays
15:002nd & 2 at own 35Luke Otto kickoff for 43 yds , Rodney Smith return for 15 yds to the Minn 37
14:531st & 10 at own 37Mark Williams sacked by Tyler Lancaster and Nate Hall for a loss of 9 yards to the Minn 28
14:532nd & 19 at own 28Demry Croft pass incomplete to Rashad Still
14:533rd & 19 at own 28Demry Croft sacked by Joe Gaziano for a loss of 6 yards to the Minn 22
14:534th & 25 at own 22Ryan Santoso punt for 51 yds , Riley Lees returns for no gain to the Nwest 22 NORTHWESTERN Penalty, Offensive holding (10 Yards) to the Nwest 17
Northwestern Punt, 3 plays
13:161st & 10 at own 17Justin Jackson run for 3 yds to the Nwest 20
13:162nd & 7 at own 20Justin Jackson run for 2 yds to the Nwest 22
13:163rd & 5 at own 22Clayton Thorson pass complete to Justin Jackson for 3 yds to the Nwest 25
13:164th & 2 at own 25Hunter Niswander punt for 32 yds, fair catch by Antonio Shenault at the Minn 43
Minnesota Punt, 5 plays
10:561st & 10 at own 43Demry Croft pass incomplete to Phillip Howard, broken up by Godwin Igwebuike
10:562nd & 10 at own 43Rodney Smith run for 10 yds to the Nwest 47 for a 1ST down
10:561st & 10 at opp 47Smith, Rodney rush for 1 yard to the NU46 (Lancaster, T.), PENALTY NU offside defense (Gaziano, Joe) 5 yards to the NU42, NO PLAY.
10:561st & 5 at opp 42Demry Croft sacked by Alex Miller for a loss of 10 yards to the Minn 48
10:562nd & 15 at own 48Demry Croft pass incomplete
10:563rd & 15 at own 48Demry Croft run for 9 yds to the Nwest 43
10:564th & 6 at opp 43Ryan Santoso punt for 43 yds for a touchback
Northwestern Punt, 3 plays
8:131st & 10 at own 20Justin Jackson run for 7 yds to the Nwest 27
8:132nd & 3 at own 27Justin Jackson run for 1 yd to the Nwest 28
8:133rd & 2 at own 28Justin Jackson run for 1 yd to the Nwest 29
8:134th & 1 at own 29Hunter Niswander punt for 38 yds, downed at the Minn 33
Minnesota Interception, 1 play
5:541st & 10 at own 33Demry Croft pass intercepted Kyle Queiro return for 36 yds to the Minn 27
Northwestern Touchdown, 3 plays
5:401st & 10 at opp 27Jackson, Justin rush for 7 yards to the MINN20 (Coughlin, C), PENALTY NU tripping (Doles, Tommy) 15 yards to the MINN42, NO PLAY.
5:401st & 25 at opp 42Justin Jackson run for 17 yds to the Minn 25 for a 1ST down MINNESOTA Penalty, personal foul (Duke McGhee) to the Minn 12 for a 1ST down
5:401st & 10 at opp 12Justin Jackson run for a loss of 1 yard to the Minn 13
4:252nd & 11 at opp 13Clayton Thorson pass complete to Bennett Skowronek for 13 yds for a TD, (Charlie Kuhbander KICK)Northwestern 32, Minnesota 0
Minnesota Interception, 8 plays
4:251st & 0 at own 35Luke Otto kickoff for 37 yds , Rodney Smith return for 10 yds to the Minn 38
4:201st & 10 at own 38Rodney Smith run for 2 yds to the Minn 40
4:202nd & 8 at own 40Kobe McCrary run for 18 yds to the Nwest 42 for a 1ST down
4:201st & 10 at opp 42Kobe McCrary run for 4 yds to the Nwest 38
4:202nd & 6 at opp 38Rodney Smith run for a loss of 3 yards to the Nwest 41
1:413rd & 9 at opp 41Timeout MINNESOTA, clock 01:41
1:413rd & 9 at opp 41Rodney Smith run for 30 yds to the Nwest 11 for a 1ST down
1:411st & 10 at opp 11Rodney Smith run for no gain to the Nwest 11
1:412nd & 10 at opp 11Demry Croft pass incomplete to Mark Williams, broken up by Godwin Igwebuike
1:413rd & 10 at opp 11Demry Croft pass intercepted Nate Hall return for 18 yds to the Nwest 18
Northwestern Punt, 3 plays
0:051st & 10 at own 18Jeremy Larkin run for 6 yds to the Nwest 24
Q4 15:002nd & 4 at own 24Jeremy Larkin run for 3 yds to the Nwest 27
Q4 15:003rd & 1 at own 27Jeremy Larkin run for no gain to the Nwest 27
Q4 15:004th & 1 at own 27Hunter Niswander punt for 73 yds for a touchback
Q4 13:241st & 10 at own 20Rodney Smith run for 2 yds to the Minn 24 Rodney Smith fumbled, forced by Paddy Fisher, recovered by Nwest Nate Hall
4th quarter5 drives, then Northwestern 39, Minnesota 0
Northwestern Touchdown, 1 play
13:111st & 10 at opp 24Corey Acker run for 24 yds for a TD, (Makay Redd KICK)Northwestern 39, Minnesota 0
Minnesota Punt, 7 plays
13:111st & 0 at own 35Luke Otto kickoff for 61 yds , Rodney Smith return for no gain to the Minn 13 Rodney Smith fumbled, recovered by Minn Rodney Smith
13:071st & 10 at own 13Rodney Smith run for 5 yds to the Minn 18
13:072nd & 5 at own 18Demry Croft run for 7 yds to the Minn 25 for a 1ST down
13:071st & 10 at own 25Kobe McCrary run for 6 yds to the Minn 31
13:072nd & 4 at own 31Kobe McCrary run for 24 yds to the Nwest 45 for a 1ST down
13:071st & 10 at opp 45Demry Croft run for a loss of 6 yards to the Minn 49
13:072nd & 16 at own 49Kobe McCrary run for 1 yd to the 50 yard line
13:073rd & 15 at the 50Demry Croft run for 3 yds to the Nwest 47
13:074th & 12 at opp 47Ryan Santoso punt for 32 yds, downed at the Nwest 15
Northwestern Punt, 7 plays
8:511st & 10 at own 15Auston Anderson run for 4 yds to the Nwest 19
8:512nd & 6 at own 19Auston Anderson run for 5 yds to the Nwest 24
8:513rd & 1 at own 24Auston Anderson run for 2 yds to the Nwest 26 for a 1ST down
8:511st & 10 at own 26John Moten IV run for 12 yds to the Nwest 38 for a 1ST down
8:511st & 10 at own 38John Moten IV run for 1 yd to the Nwest 39
8:512nd & 9 at own 39Jesse Brown run for 2 yds to the Nwest 41
8:513rd & 7 at own 41Jesse Brown run for 1 yd to the Nwest 42
8:514th & 6 at own 42Hunter Niswander punt for 53 yds, fair catch by Antonio Shenault at the Minn 5
Minnesota Punt, 3 plays
3:261st & 10 at own 5Kobe McCrary run for a loss of 2 yards to the Minn 3
3:262nd & 12 at own 3Kobe McCrary run for 3 yds to the Minn 6
3:263rd & 9 at own 6Kobe McCrary run for 4 yds to the Minn 10
3:264th & 5 at own 10Ryan Santoso punt for 35 yds, downed at the Minn 45
Northwestern End of game, 2 plays
1:201st & 10 at opp 45Chad Hanaoka run for 5 yds to the Minn 40
1:202nd & 5 at opp 40Alex Bousky run for 6 yds to the Minn 34 for a 1ST down

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every Minnesota–Northwestern game

Minnesota leads 56–⁠38–⁠5 in 99 meetings, counting the six since this game.

Recent meetings
2025Northwestern 38, Minnesota 35
2023Northwestern 37, Minnesota 34
2022Minnesota 31, Northwestern 3
2021Minnesota 41, Northwestern 14
2019Minnesota 38, Northwestern 22
2018Northwestern 24, Minnesota 14

Around this game

Minnesota

Northwestern

Ranked games that day

Every game of Week 12