Michigan Wolverines vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Match Player Stats On Oct 24, 2020

Hassan Haskins led a punishing rushing attack with 82 yards and two touchdowns and No. 18 Michigan rolled past No. 21 Minnesota 49-24 at Minneapolis in the season opener for both teams as the Big Ten returned to the football field Saturday.

Making his first career start, Wolverines quarterback Joe Milton completed 15 of 22 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 52 yards and another score. Michigan gained 253 yards on 31 carries -- an 8.3 average -- and scored five rushing touchdowns.

For the Golden Gophers, Mohamed Ibrahim rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Tanner Morgan threw for 197 yards and a touchdown and was picked off once.

The Wolverines led 21-10 after a wild first quarter, getting big plays from their offense, defense, and special teams.

Minnesota struck early when Preston Jelen blocked a Michigan punt, setting up the Gophers at the Michigan 17-yard line. Two plays later, tight end Ko Kieft scored on a 14-yard pass from Morgan.

The Wolverines answered on their next play from scrimmage as Zach Charbonnet broke right through the middle and free on a 70-yard scoring run.

Following a Minnesota three-and-out, the Wolverines missed a field goal, but they immediately got a big play from their defense. Michael Barrett sacked Morgan and forced a fumble -- the ball popping into the hands of Donovan Jeter, who raced 15 yards for a Michigan touchdown.

The Gophers' Brock Walker made a 29-yard field goal in the final minute of the first quarter, but the Wolverines scored 24 seconds later. Barrett's 66-yard kickoff return set up Milton's 8-yard scoring pass to Ben Mason.

Minnesota cut Michigan's lead to 21-17 with a 75-yard drive, finished off by Ibrahim's 16-yard run.

Before the half ended, though, Michigan scored two more touchdowns, both by Haskins, expanding the lead to 35-17. Haskins rushed for the last four yards of both drives.

Ibrahim scored on a 5-yard run early in the third quarter, cutting the Wolverines' lead to 35-24, but that would be all the Gophers would get.

Milton's 2-yard touchdown run with 5:20 left in the quarter made it 42-24, and the Wolverines extended the lead to 25 points on Chris Evans' 5-yard run early in the fourth quarter.

Next up, Minnesota visits Maryland for a Friday night game, while Michigan faces Michigan State on Saturday.

--Field Level Media