The Minnesota Golden Gophers lost their home opener against the North Carolina Tar Heels 19-17 after a missed 47-yard field goal attempt by Dragan Kesich in the final seconds. Despite the loss, the stadium crew mistakenly set off fireworks, causing confusion among spectators. The Gophers struggled throughout the game with costly penalties, missed field goals, and mistakes, but managed to hold a lead at halftime. North Carolina, dealing with their own quarterback injuries, dominated the third quarter and secured the win with multiple field goals. The game also marked a challenging debut for Minnesota's new transfer quarterback Max Brosmer and highlighted the impact of missing key players like running back Darius Taylor. This loss sets a difficult tone for Minnesota's non-conference schedule, which includes facing strong teams like North Carolina.