Tracy Claeys's first game as a non-interim head coach was peak Gopher. It was exciting for long stretches as Minnesota threw caution to the wind and ran deep bomb and deep bomb. Minnesota received both gifts and sorrow. While clock management at the end doomed the team, Michigan should have picked off Leidner twice. Both times would have prevented touchdowns.
Playing for the upset requires a high variance strategy. With Michigan's stout run defense, Minnesota was going to have to air the ball out, which it did throughout the game. Mitch Leidner played another solid game.