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Indiana survives Minnesota scare with second straight overtime win to keep national title defense alive

Grant Wilson replaced starter Josh Hoover at halftime and threw a touchdown on the first play of OT

The fourth-ranked Indiana Hoosiers escaped again on Saturday.

The defending national champions were able to breathe a collective sigh of relief after a 23-16 overtime victory over unranked Minnesota in its second consecutive overtime game. Last week, the Hoosiers won 13-6 at Michigan.

This week, backup quarterback Grant Wilson found Charlie Becker for a 25-yard touchdown on the first play of the extra period. The Hoosiers then stopped Minnesota on its ensuing possession.

The Golden Gophers took a 16-13 lead with 19 seconds to go on Luke Drzewiecki’s career-long 60-yard field goal. But Charlie Becker’s 33-yard catch set up Paddy McAteer for a career-long 60-yarder to tie it as time expired.

Shazz Preston and Charlie Becker celebrating after a touchdown
Shazz Preston and Charlie Becker of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrate after the game-winning touchdown in overtime against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 31, 2026, in Bloomington, Indiana. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Minnesota fell to 0-13 against defending national champs and still has not beaten Top 25 opponents in back-to-back weeks since 1956.

Indiana pulled struggling starting quarterback Josh Hoover at halftime after he took a big hit on his second interception of the season. Two late replay reviews then overturned potential game-changing plays: one erased a go-ahead touchdown pass, while the other nullified an interception that would have put Indiana deep in Minnesota territory in the final minutes.

Jacob Savage celebrates his stop during a college football game.
Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Jacob Savage celebrates his stop during a college football game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Oct. 31, 2026, at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana. (Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Wilson finished with 156 passing yards and a touchdown after Hoover recorded 119 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Becker caught eight passes for 149 yards and the game-winning touchdown.

Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey completed 20 passes for 120 yards and one touchdown. Javon Tracy had seven receptions for 40 yards.

Drake Lindsey throwing a pass during a college football game
Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey throws a pass in the second half of a college football game against the Indiana Hoosiers on Oct. 31, 2026, at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana. (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Minnesota will host No. 7 UCLA next Saturday, while Indiana will have a bye before hosting Southern California on Nov. 14.

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