After Minnesota went three-and-out, UNC marched 49 yards in 12 plays to make it 14-13. A third Burnette field goal, after a Gophers three-and-out, gave UNC a 16-14 lead with 9:05 left in the fourth.

Hampton rushed 30 times for 129 yards, including 11 times for 74 yards in the second half.

“Omarion is a really good tailback,” Fleck said. “I think when we’re going back through the film, we’ll see we missed a lot of tackles.’’

In the end, the Gophers had a couple of chances to pull out a win.

Before taking a 17-16 lead on Kesich’s 30-yarder with 3:40 left, the Gophers got a key play when Brosmer found Le’Meke Brockington for an 18-yard gain, but Brockington fumbled and the ball popped into the hands of Major, who raced another 20 yards to the North Carolina 10. Minnesota couldn’t punch it in, missing a chance.

And after Minnesota’s defense gave up a 13-yard run to Hampton and a 32-yard hookup from backup QB Conner Harrell to J.J. Jones that led to the go-ahead kick for the Tar Heels, Brosmer drove the Gophers for a shot to win.