Minnesota capped the scoring drive with Dan Nystrom's 32-yard field goal with no time remaining, upsetting No. 2 Penn State 24-23 Saturday in what became a solemn Beaver Stadium.

The two teams battled back and forth throughout the game, and by the fourth quarter, the Nittany Lions clung to a precarious 23-21 lead. Facing a fourth and 10 on Minnesota's 33-yard line, Penn State coach Joe Paterno chose to punt rather than try for a field goal.

"I thought it was a tough field goal, and if we missed it, we'd give them good field position," Paterno said. "Sometimes you're right, sometimes you're wrong. I'd probably still do it."

Pat Pidgeon's punt sailed into the end zone, placing the Gophers at their own 20-yard line with 1:50 on the clock. Minnesota quarterback Billy Cockerham led his team on a quick drive into field-goal range, despite a LaVar Arrington sack for lost yardage and a David Fleischhauer tackle for a loss.

A miraculous catch by wide receiver Arland Bruce placed the Gophers at Penn State's 13-yard line. Three downs later, Minnesota had stolen the game from the Lions and possibly the team's chance to play for the national championship in January at the Sugar Bowl.

Some Penn State players cried. Others lay face down on the field in disbelief. Most wondered what happened to the early 7-0 lead.

"It's like a nightmare," Lions fullback Mike Cerimele said. "We have to wake up, snap out of it. It's reality. We lost. It's tough right now."

The first quarter, however, was a different story for Cerimele and the Lions. He rushed five yards for the game's first score, giving Penn State a 7-0 advantage.

But Minnesota never allowed the Lions' lead to grow. A 25-yard pass from Cockerham to wideout Ron Johnson put the Gophers ahead, 9-7.

Penn State went into the locker room at halftime leading 14-9, thanks to Kevin Thompson's 17-yard touchdown strike to Bryant Johnson. A 20-yard Travis Forney field goal in the third quarter gave the Lions their largest lead of the game, 17-9.

The Gophers attempted to even the score, but their two-point conversion attempt failed after a three-yard touchdown rush by Cockerham. In the fourth, Cockerham completed a 49-yard pass to running back Thomas Hamner to give Minnesota the 21-20 edge.

Forney nailed a 44-yard field goal with 9:12 remaining, giving Penn State a tenuous 23-21 lead before the last-minute drama unfolded.

After possibly watching their national championship hopes disappear, the Lions are hoping to salvage the remainder of the season when they host Michigan Saturday.

"We know right now it's tough, and even though it was quiet in there, we know we have to keep our heads up for next week," Lions quarterback Rashard Casey said. "We have to get rid of this feeling."