Minnesota lost a heartbreaker to Michigan due in part to awful clock management

Just after it looked like Minnesota would win an inspiring game against Michigan, just days after coach Jerry Kill announced he was retiring due to health concerns. Initially, it looked like Minnesota — down three to the Wolverines — had won on a touchdown catch, but that play was brought back to the1-yard-line after a review, with the clock winding with 16 seconds left.

Minnesota inexplicably took its time snapping the ball, running the clock all the way down to seven seconds, and threw an incomplete pass with two seconds left, only giving the Gophers one more play.

Then, rather than kick the field goal to go to overtime, interim coach Tracy Claeys chose to go for the win, and Minnesota was stuffed at the 1.

Michigan might not have had the lead were it not for another strange decision from Claeys. The Wolverines had not been able to move the ball well, but they had great field position after a 29-yard punt from Minnesota’s kicker. Claeys chose to punt with his kicker after appearing to bench All-American candidate punter Peter Mortell due to a bad punt earlier in the game.