In a closely contested season opener, the Minnesota Gophers fell to the North Carolina Tar Heels 19-17, with a key missed field goal by kicker Dragan Kesich sealing their fate. The game, which was delayed by severe thunderstorms, saw Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck emphasize that the loss was a collective team failure rather than the fault of a single player. North Carolina's Noah Burnette proved pivotal, making four field goals, including a decisive 45-yarder with just over a minute left, despite the injury of starting quarterback Max Johnson. Minnesota was without its leading rusher Darius Taylor and experienced safety Darius Green, impacting their performance on both offense and defense. The Gophers struggled offensively, with Kesich missing two field goals and the team only managing a few scoring opportunities. The Tar Heels' defense overwhelmed Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer, recording five sacks throughout the game.