Gophers fans have longed for years for coach P.J. Fleck to be aggressive and play to win the game.

Well, he did in an a huge moment Saturday and it paid off as Minnesota upset 11th-ranked Trojans 24-17 on Saturday in front of an announced crowd of 50,913 at Huntington Bank Stadium.

Instead of kicking a go-ahead field goal with 56 seconds remaining, Fleck opted to run a quarterback sneak for a second straight time on fourth down from the 1/2-yard line. It was initially marked short of the goal line, but upon review, quarterback Max Brosmer crossed the plane.

When confirmed by the referee, Fleck shot his arms up in the air in celebration.

It looked like the U would need the touchdown as USC drove to Minnesota’s 28-yard line, but U true freshman safety Kio Perich intercepted Miller Moss with 14 seconds left.

The Gophers (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) beat a Top-25 team for the first time since No. 24 Iowa last November.

Fans stormed the field and fireworks exploded.

It was a sweet reward after a tough start to the season. Minnesota had first-half problems against Michigan in a 27-24 loss last week after second-half woes came in early season losses to North Carolina and rival Iowa.

Minnesota got the ball to start Saturday’s second half, but its offense was ushered off the field after four plays. Then USC marched 91 yards across 12 plays to take a 17-10 lead.

The Trojans looked like it would put the game away at the start of the fourth quarter, but Jah Joyner’s speed rush got to Moss as he threw and the fluttering pass was intercepted by Devon Williams.

Minnesota answered with a 5-yard touchdown run from Brosmer to tie the game, 17-17, with seven minutes left.

The Gophers were the more aggressive team to start the game and took a 3-0 lead through the first quarter. Minnesota established the run with 59 yards on the ground, most coming on a nine-play, 49-yard drive.

The U’s success on the ground didn’t lead to Fleck to go for it on fourth and 2 from the Trojans’ 14, and Dragan Kesich gave the U an early lead 32-yard field goal.

The Trojans responded with its own running game, adding up 45 yards on a 15-play, 75-yard drive capped by Duce Robinson’s 3-yard catch in front of U safety Darius Green. USC took a 7-3 lead with seven minutes left in the half.

Minnesota came right back with another touchdown drive as Brosmer plunged in from 1-yard out.

Perich’s helmet forced Quinten Joyner to fumble and Ethan Robinson recovered it. But the U gave it right back with running back Darius Taylor being stripped five plays later.

Former Gophers kicker Michael Lantz then hit a 54-yarder to make it 10-10 at the half.

Brosmer finished 15-of-19 passing for 169 yards.

Taylor had 144 yards rushing on 25 carries and was the team’s leading receiver as well with five catches for 56 yards. Daniel Jackson added four catches for 26 yards.

Minnesota rushed 40 times for 193 yards.

The Gophers were able to hold Trojans quarterback Miller Moss. Moss was 23 of 38 for 200 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice.

Woody Marks had 134 rushing yards for USC.