The Golden Gophers are traveling to Champaign, Illinois this weekend to take on the No. 24 Fighting Illini. Minnesota will look to defeat head coach Bret Bielema for the first team after nine consecutive losses against his Wisconsin and Illinois teams.

Minnesota's quarterback, who’s been operating at 75% efficiency as of late, was at a pedestrian 56.3% late in the fourth quarter. Their defense, which had kept opponents’ big plays to a minimum, gave up seven runs of 10 yards or longer and six completions of 15 yards or longer.

Gophers players Dragan Kesich, Max Brosmer, Darius Taylor, Danny Striggow and Anthony Smith react after a 25-17 win at Illinois to improve to 6-3 on the season and 4-2 in Big Ten play.

Max Brosmer threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Geers and Dragan Kesich kicked his fourth field goal of the game in the final five minutes, rallying Minnesota to a 25-17 victory over No. 24 Illinois on Saturday.