Penn State Nittany Lions vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Match Player Stats On Nov 09, 2019

Defensive back Jordan Howden made a sliding interception in the end zone with 61 seconds remaining as the No. 17 Minnesota Golden Gophers knocked No. 4 Penn State from the ranks of the undefeated on Saturday, upsetting the Nittany Lions 31-26 in Minneapolis.

The walk-on's interception to end the Nittany Lions' late rally moved Minnesota to 9-0 (6-0 Big Ten West) for the first time since 1904.

Tanner Morgan completed 18 of 20 for 339 yards and three touchdowns against the No. 2 scoring defense in the nation. Wide receivers Rashod Bateman (7 catches, 203 yards, TD) and Tyler Johnson (7-104, TD) contributed big games.

Sean Clifford was 23 of 43 for 340 yards and a score but had three interceptions, and Journey Brown collected 124 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns. Receivers K.J. Hamler (7-119) and Pat Freiermuth (7-101) led Penn State (9-1, 5-1 Big Ten East).

Playing their biggest game in over half a century in front of an energetic TCF Bank Stadium crowd clad in maroon -- the first sellout since 2015 -- the Golden Gophers outscored Penn State 14-10 in a busy first quarter.

Minnesota capitalized after Antoine Winfield Jr.'s interception when Morgan found Bateman on a 66-yard score on a blitz to complete the longest play against PSU this season.

Brown broke out through the Minnesota defense and dashed 45 yards for a score at 10:51, but the home side regained the touchdown lead with a 21-yard screen pass to Chris Autman-Bell at 4:29.

Jake Pinegar's 33-yard field late in the quarter cut the Minnesota lead to 14-10.

Winfield grabbed his Big Ten-leading seventh interception to kill a second-quarter Penn State drive, and Minnesota scored again when Morgan lobbed his third TD, a 38-yarder to Tyler Johnson, at the 7:18 mark.

Brock Walker (26 yards) and the Nittany Lions' Pinegar (21) traded field goals as Minnesota led 24-13 at halftime.

Clifford tossed a 10-yard strike to Nick Bowers at 4:05 of the third, but the Lions' 2-point conversion attempt failed, with Minnesota leading 24-19.

Morgan drove Minnesota down the field on the next series, setting up first-and-goal with a 36-yard strike to Bateman at the Penn State 4-yard line on the quarter's final play.

Seth Green plunged in from the 1 two plays later as the Golden Gophers moved the lead to 31-19.

Minnesota made a stand when defensive back Chris Williamson broke up Clifford's fourth-and-goal pass in the end zone on the next series.

Brown rushed in for his second score at 3:49 to close the gap to 31-26, but Clifford injured his leg after the exchange. He returned for the final series, however, and threw the intercepted pass that sealed the win for the Golden Gophers.

--Field Level Media