Northwestern will be playing for a bowl berth next week against Illinois.
With a chance to get it sixth win on the line, the Northwestern Wildcats got completely outplayed by the Minnesota Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium, losing 22-6 in an ugly showing.
Minnesota got the ball to start the game and quickly got to work. The Gophers drove right down the field on the back behind Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith, who combined for 58 yards on the first drive. Smith punched it in from five yards out and the Golden Gophers missed the extra point so Minnesota had a 6-0 lead just 2:42 into the game.