It took until the penultimate week of the 2025 college football season, but Northwestern fans finally got the offensive performance they'd been waiting for.

The Wildcats exploded for 525 total yards to defeat Minnesota in a shootout, 38-35, and clinch bowl eligibility for the second time in three years. NU is now 6-5 (4-4 B1G) after winning its first game at Wrigley Field in modern history. The Gophers dropped to 6-5 (4-4 B1G) with the loss.

Northwestern kicker Jack Olsen was 3-for-3 and drilled the game-winning 33-yard field goal with 53 seconds remaining. Minnesota kicker Brady Denaburg missed both of his field goal attempts, including a 40-yarder as time expired.

Several members of the Wildcats' offense posted their best performances in purple. Preston Stone completed 83.3% of his passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns, frequently targeting Griffin Wilde (11 receptions, 111 yards, one touchdown) and Hayden Eligon II (seven receptions for 127 yards). Caleb Komolafe ran for 129 yards and had two total touchdowns. Joseph Himon II added 47 yards and a score on seven carries.

Minnesota's redshirt freshman quarterback, Drake Lindsey, threw for 264 yards and four touchdowns. Three of those scores went to wide receiver Javon Tracy, who finished with 87 yards on four catches.

It took Northwestern just six plays to find the end zone to begin the game, marking just the Wildcats' second opening-drive touchdown of Big Ten play this season. Stone and Wilde established their connection with a pair of first-down completions, then Komolafe took off through a gigantic hole with nothing but green grass in front of him. A week after totaling just 31 rushing yards against the Wolverines, Komolafe scampered for 46 on his early touchdown run.

The Wildcats owned the time of possession in the first quarter, forcing a Gophers three-and-out and ending the long ensuing drive with a field goal. But Koi Perich gave Minnesota a shot in the arm with a 93-yard kickoff return, and Darius Taylor took the score in on fourth down from the one.

Northwestern's Stone-Wilde duo continued its success to lead the 'Cats on their third consecutive scoring drive. A holding penalty stalled NU in the red zone, though, bringing Olsen out to make it a 13-7 game.

Lindsey finally got the Minnesota offense rolling midway through the second quarter. Facing a third-and-15 from near midfield, the redshirt freshman quarterback completed three consecutive passes for 44 yards to move the Gophers into the red zone. The 'Cats appeared to force a stop on third down, but a defensive holding call on Josh Fussell set Lindsey up for an easy five-yard touchdown pass to Tracy.

Once the Golden Gopher scoring machine was in motion, the Wildcats had a difficult time slowing it down. Lindsey marched Minnesota on a two-minute drive to score before the half, dotting a perfectly placed pass to Tracy for a 24-yard touchdown. To start the third quarter, Lindsey capitalized on a muffed punt by Northwestern return man Chase Farrell with yet another touchdown to Tracy, this one from 28 yards out.

The Wildcats finally struck back after 21 consecutive Minnesota points. Stone completed all five of his passes on the following drive for 85 yards and found Wilde for a four-yard score to cap off an efficient Northwestern possession. The 'Cats lined up in their unorthodox "swinging gate" trick play on the PAT, but instead of shifting back to their regular extra point formation backup kicker Henry Helms flipped the ball forward to fullback Robby Preckel. The two-point conversion brought NU within seven.

Northwestern's defense bent, but didn't break, forcing the Gophers into a 48-yard field goal. Denaburg's boot hooked wide right, and the Wildcats took advantage. Joseph Himon took an outside handoff 20 yards for his first touchdown of the year and evened the score at 28 apiece.

The momentum continued swinging in the Wildcats' favor, and after a Gopher punt, Northwestern rattled off an eight-play, 70 yard touchdown drive to regain the lead. Backup quarterback Ryan Boe used a pair of physical runs to advance the 'Cats inside the five, then Stone tossed a two-yard touchdown to a wide-open Komolafe. Behind 22 straight points, Northwestern pulled ahead, 35-28.

However, Lindsey refused to let the game get out of hand. The first-year passer launched a 52-yard bomb to Malachi Coleman and finished off the drive with an eight-yard touchdown to Le'Meke Brockington.

The Wildcats milked the clock and ran the ball down the field, using a 15-yard Hunter Welcing catch on third-and-10 to get into field goal range. Olsen connected on a 33-yarder to take the lead with 53 seconds remaining.

Lindsey found Tracy for a 30-yard completion, but Denaburg missed a 40-yard field goal as time expired that would've sent it to overtime.

Northwestern will close out its regular season next Saturday at Illinois.

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