For the third straight year, the Gophers’ offense mustered a slow start in a season opener at Huntington Bank Stadium.

Minnesota was a 17-point favorite against Buffalo, but its inability to finish long drives allowed the Mid-American Conference opponent to hang around in an eventual 23-10 win.

The Gophers had six drives go inside the 25-yard line, but only one ended in a touchdown. They got over that hurdle by scoring before reaching the red zone.

Early in the fourth quarter, Drake Lindsey rolled right and found a wide open Jalen Smith for a 60-yard touchdown. It was the Gophers’ first 60-plus yard touchdown toss since October 2022.

After the one-play touchdown drive, Minnesota stacked up a 16-play drive that consumed more than nine minutes to put the game away.

The U’s start was all too familiar. They edged Nebraska 13-10 to start 2023 and fell late in a 19-17 loss to North Carolina to begin last year. The last comfortable win in Game 1? A 38-0 blowout of New Mexico State and Jerry Kill in 2022.

In his first career start, Lindsey completed 19 of 35 passes (54%) for 290 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. A handful of dropped passes stymied drives, and a weird interception ended another.

Up 13-3 in the third quarter, Gophers gave up a 40-yard touchdown pass from Ta’Quan Roberson to Victor Snow, whose double move beat U safety Kerry Brown. Given the struggles on offense, any miscue on defense loomed larger.

The Gophers’ offense had four first-half drives reach inside the Buffalo 25-yard line, but two ended in turnovers (downs and interception), while the other two ended in points (touchdown and field goal).

The Gophers were thwarted on a fourth-down, tush-push by Jameson Geers, a tight end under center, being stopped at the line of scrimmage.

But on the next drive, Geers made a leaping grab on a jump ball from Lindsey for a 9-yard touchdown.

The following drive, Lindsey was docked an interception, but it was one of the flukiest turnovers possible. Geers was popped when running a shallow crossing route and was on the ground when Lindsey’s pass hit his foot. It ricocheted up, and linebacker  Michell Gonser returned it 54 yards.

Darius Taylor’s shoestring tackle saved a Bulls touchdown and kept four points off the scoreboard once the Bulls made a 36-yard field goal.

Minnesota’s defense had six tackles for lost yards in the first half — the most in a half for the U since 2020 — and Buffalo managed only 66 yards on 26 plays in the first half.

On the final drive of the half, Lindsey nearly threw another interception and took a sack on third down, and Minnesota had to settle for a 38-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead at the half.

Minnesota wide receiver Jalen Smith (8) catches a 60 yard touchdown pass against Buffalo during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2025 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
Minnesota defensive lineman Jalen Logan-Redding (97) sacks Buffalo quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson (2) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2025 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

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