MINNEAPOLIS — After a month of less-than stellar nonconference opponents, Northwestern opens up its Big Ten schedule today at Minnesota.

NU (4-0) looks to continue its road winning streak, which stands at four dating back to Iowa in 2009. The Golden Gophers (1-3) have yet to win at home this season, losing their first three home games to South Dakota, USC and Northern Illinois.

Read up on Minnesota’s struggles so far and their leader in quarterback Adam Weber, and check out our liveblog and updates after each quarter for more from TCF Bank Stadium.

First quarter update from Jonah Rosenblum:

With the exception of two turnovers and a defensive breakdown, Northwestern dominated the first quarter of play, taking a 14-7 lead over Minnesota.

Junior quarterback Dan Persa got off to a hot start completing his first nine passes, finishing the quarter 9-for-10 with 141 yards and a touchdown.

NU jumped to a quick 7-0 lead on a four-play 67-yard drive, capped off by a long touchdown pass from Persa to freshman wide receiver Tony Jones. The touchdown marked the fourth time in five games that the Cats scored on the game’s opening possession.

The Cats started its second drive in good field position, but freshman wide receiver Venric Mark fumbled the ball away. The Golden Gophers immediately capitalized with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Adam Weber to Duane Bennett, who was wide open down the left sideline after a play-action call.

NU answered quickly with a five-play touchdown drive, ending in a 12-yard touchdown run by Mike Trumpy to regain the lead. But a fumble by Persa in the red zone on NU’s next drive gave Minnesota new life, and the Gophers ended the quarter driving down the field.

Second quarter update:

Any momentum gained by NU in the first quarter was quickly lost in the second, as Minnesota went into the half with a 21-14 lead.

This is the first time the Cats have trailed all season.

Penalties took their toll on the Cats early in the second quarter as a facemask penalty offset the yards Minnesota lost on a clipping penalty the previous play. The Golden Gophers offense got into a groove, as quarterback Adam Weber passed to tight end Eric Lair for 42 yards, followed by an eight-yard touchdown pass from running back Duane Bennett to Lair.

On NU’s next drive, an 18-yard scramble by Persa on a third-and-17 put the Cats in Minnesota territory, but they were unable to convert on a fourth-and-six, giving the Gophers solid field position at their own 33-yard-line.

Minnesota took advantage, marching 67 yards down the field to take the lead with less than a minute remaining. Running back DeLeon Eskridge capped off the drive with a four-yard touchdown run.

The referees made themselves known in the second quarter, calling eight penalties, six of which went against NU.

Third quarter update:

Much like the first quarter, NU dominated the third quarter, but a huge turnover in the red zone undermined its hard work, and as a result, Minnesota enters the fourth with a 21-20 lead.

NU regained its offensive mojo coming out of the locker room, converting two third downs to launch an 80-yard drive down the field. Jacob Scmidt’s one-yard touchdown run, his third in two games, put the Cats within one. NU was unable to tie, however, after Stefan Demos missed his third PAT of the season.

On NU’s next drive, the team once again converted a couple early third-down opportunities, and caught a huge break when the referees called a 15-yard pass interference on third-and-seven to move the Cats into Minnesota territory.

But NU could not take advantage, as Persa made another costly turnover in the red zone, this time tossing an interception on a rollout play.

The Gophers ended the quarter at midfield, running the ball with ease against the Cats front seven.