Final score: Minnesota 40 Illinois 17

Brief recap: For the first time this season, Minnesota wasn’t involved in a one-score game. The Gophers actually built a big second-half lead and were able to close the deal late. Illinois struck first, taking an early 7-3 lead into the second quarter. But an outstanding catch by Tyler Johnson early in the second quarter gave Minnesota a 10-7 lead, and the Gophers never looked back. The Gophers owned a 16-10 lead at halftime, and a heavy dose of Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks helped Minnesota increase the lead to three scores and close out the contest. It’s the first time all season the Gophers’ weren’t pushed to the wire.

Key moment: Immediately after Tanner Morgan fumbled the ball and Illinois scooped and scored to make it 30-17, the Gophers put together an eight-play 75-yard touchdown drive to increase the lead to 20 points again. Any potential momentum the Illini could’ve had was taken away quickly.

Key stat: Last year, Illinois’ offense actually ran all over Minnesota’s defense. That wasn’t the case this time. Illinois totaled just 91 yards on 27 carries. The Illini needed to be more productive on the ground to have a chance in this one.

Key player: We have a tie. Both Smith and Brooks gashed the Illini defense, combining for  322 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Smith had 211 yards while Brooks added 111.

What it means for Illinois: Part of Illinois’ struggles offensively come from Brandon Peters leaving the game early due to injury. But the Illini should’ve been more competitive in this one, especially after a bye week. The run offense was bad and the run defense was even worse. It’s just more of the same from the Illini. The number of winnable games continues to diminish.

What it means for Minnesota: This is the first time since 2004 the Gophers have started 5-0. They also showed that they’re capable of building a big lead and putting a team away, unlike the previous four weeks. That’s another great sign. Tanner Morgan had some trouble hanging onto the football, but wet conditions were a factor. If Brooks can stay healthy — which has been an issue in his career — Minnesota’s rushing game may be pretty tough to stop moving forward.