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Broadcast Info:
- Date: Sat., Sept. 9
- TV channel: BTN
- Time of kickoff: 6:30 p.m. (CST)
- Betting line: Minnesota (-19.5) v Eastern Michigan, o/u: (47.5 points)
Opponent Information (Eastern Michigan):
- 2023 record: 1-0
- V. Howard (FCS) 33-23 W
- 2022 record: 9-4
- (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl): 41-27 W vs. San Jose State
- V. Eastern Kentucky (FCS) 42-34 W
- @ Louisiana 21-49 L
- @ Arizona State 30-21 W
- V. Buffalo 31-50 L
- V. Massachusetts 20-13 W
- V. Western Michigan 45-23 W
- @ Northern Illinois 10-39 L
- V. Ball State 20-16 W
- V. Toledo 24-27 L
- @ Akron 34-28 W
- @ Kent State 31-24 W
- V. Central Michigan 38-19 W
- (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl): 41-27 W vs. San Jose State
- Head Coach: Chris Creighton (10th year)
- Players to watch: Samson Evans (RB), Jaylon Jackson (RB/KR), Joe Sparacio (LB), Austin Smith (QB), Tim Grant-Randall (OLB)
Coming off the heels of a thrilling 13-10 week one victory over Nebraska, the Gophers will welcome Eastern Michigan to Huntington Bank Stadium in a rare G5 night-time kickoff in week two. Saturday will be Minnesota’s first all-time matchup vs. Eastern Michigan. The Eagles are coming off a 9-4 season, which was their most wins in over 35 years (1987). With two Special Teams touchdowns in their week one victory over Howard, EMU will provide the Gophers with an interesting non-conference test.
Eastern Michigan Season Storylines:
- Chris Creighton longest tenured HC in the MAC:
Entering his 10th season at the helm in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Eastern Michigan head coach Chris Creighton is tied for the longest-tenured head coach in the MAC, and tied for the 10th-longest in all of the FBS. His 47-61 record is less than stellar, but he has pulled EMU out from the dumpster of the MAC into one of the most consistent programs in the conference. Before Creighton arrived, EMU had THREE WINNING SEASONS and only one bowl game appearance in their FBS history. They’ve had five bowl game appearances in nine full seasons under Creighton. He is arguably the best head coach in the history of the modern Eastern Michigan football program.
- Is Samson Evans the best RB in the MAC?:
Last season, Eastern Michigan RB Samson Evans was 25th in FBS football in total rushing yards, accumulating 1,166 (8th best in program history), and his 15 rushing touchdowns were tied for 14th-best in the country. His 29 career rushing touchdowns already rank No. 1 in EMU program history. His most notable performance in 2022 was when he had a whopping 36 carries for 258 yards and 1 touchdown in EMU’s 30-21 upset on the road at Arizona State. In 2022 Evans was named second-team All-MAC alongside current Gophers RB Sean Tyler. In Week One of this season, Samson Evans led the Eagles with 52 rushing yards on 16 carries, to go along with 1 TD.
- Gophers history vs. the MACtion:
The University of Minnesota football program has had a tumultuous history against the Mid-American Conference. The Gophers have an all-time record of 32-5-1 vs. the MAC, most recently falling 10-14 to Bowling Green in 2021. Outside of that, they have lost to Northern Illinois (2010), Bowling Green (2007), Toledo (2001) and Ohio (200). Outside of the shocking 2021 loss to Bowling Green, this Minnesota team is much better than any roster constructed in previous losses to the conference. The MAC will always provide tricky games for Big Ten foes because their programs will always be viewed as inferior. I don’t expect week two vs. Eastern Michigan to be any different and it should provide a fair test for a young Gophers team still with a lot of question marks.
Gophers’ path to victory:
Once again, the No. 1 key for a Gophers’ victory this week will be stopping the run. Last week against Nebraska they struggled mightily with containing QB Jeff Sims on the ground as he ran for 91 yards on 19 carries. As a team, the Cornhuskers had 37 carries for 181 rushing yards. Much like Big Red, Eastern Michigan will be a team that wants to run the football. The Eagles have a dominant RB and a dual-threat QB that will get the bulk of the work.
Junior QB Austin Smith made his first career start last week, but he was used in running situations in 2022. His 65 career rushing attempts have resulted in 282 yards and 2 touchdowns. If Minnesota is able to limit Smith’s ability to extend plays along with talented RB Samson Evans’ long runs, I don’t think EMU will have the offensive firepower to keep up with the Gophers.
The No. 2 key for this week will be Special Teams. The Eagles had two kick returns in week one averaging 44.8 yards per return on five different opportunities. Minnesota had its special teams struggles of its own in week one allowing 39.0 yards per return on Nebraska’s two opportunities. Special teams are something that has been an Achilles heel of the Gophers in recent memory, so keeping the Eastern Michigan kick return unit in check should definitely be something worth noting.
Overall, Eastern Michigan allowed Howard, a team that was 5-6 last season playing in the MEAC to score 23 points at home in week one. Therefore I think the Gophers’ offense will have a little easier time moving the football, and if they’re able to limit EMU’s running game and force a QB to throw who had 1 INT last week, they should have no problem in this game. With that being said, with EMU’s special team prowess and running game potential, they do have a path to competing in the ball game. I do think the Gophers will be able to get by Saturday night in a sloppy 24-13 win.