Gophers fans have longed for years for head coach P.J. Fleck to be aggressive and play to win the game.

Well, he did in an a huge moment Saturday and it paid off as Minnesota upset 11th-ranked Trojans 24-17 on Saturday in front of an announced crowd of 50,913 at Huntington Bank Stadium.

Instead of kicking a go-ahead field goal with 56 seconds remaining, Fleck opted to run a quarterback sneak on fourth down from the 1/2-yard line. It was marked short of the goal line, but quarterback Max Brosmer crossed the plane upon review.

The U needed it as USC drove to Minnesota’s 28-yard line, but U true freshman safety Kio Perich intercepted Miller Moss to end the game.

The Gophers (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) beat a Top 25 team for the first time since No. 24 Iowa last November.

Fans stormed the field and fireworks exploded.

Minnesota had first half problems against Michigan in a 27-24 loss last week and second-half woes in losses to Iowa and North Carolina at toward the beginning of the year.

Minnesota got the ball to start Saturday’s second half, but its offense was ushered off the field after four plays. Then USC marched 91 yards across 12 plays to take a 17-10 lead.

The Trojans looked like it would put the game away at the start of the fourth quarter, but Jah Joyner’s speed rush got to Miller Moss as he threw and the fluttering pass was intercepted by Devon Williams.

Minnesota answered with a 5-yard touchdown run from Max Brosmer to tie the game, 17-17, with seven minutes left.

The Gophers were the more aggressive team to start the game and took a 3-0 lead through the first quarter. Minnesota established the run with 59 yards on the ground, most coming on a nine-play, 49-yard drive.

The U’s success on the ground didn’t lead to head coach P.J. Fleck to decide to go for it on fourth and 2 from the Trojans’ 14, and Dragan Kesich gave the U an early lead 32-yard field goal.

The Trojans responded with its own running game, adding up 45 yards on a 15-play, 75-yard drive capped by Duce Robinson’s 3-yard catch in front of U safety Darius Green. USC took a 7-3 lead with seven minutes left in the half.

Minnesota came right back with another touchdown drive as Max Brosmer plunged in from 1-yard out.

Perich’s helmet forced Quinten Joyner to fumble and Ethan Robinson recovered it. But the U gave it right back with running back Darius Taylor being stripped five plays later.

Former Gophers kicker Michael Lantz then hit a 54-yarder to make it 10-10 at the half.