Daily Californian: Minnesota to pose ‘big challenge’ for Cal in primetime

BleedGopher

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Per Ruiz:

Cal (2-0) must shake off its ugly 35-3 home-opening win against Texas Southern to go toe-to-toe with the Big Ten’s Minnesota (2-0) during Saturday night’s 7:30 p.m. “Gold Out” matchup at Memorial Stadium.

The Bears expect a physical game and a ground-and-pound scheme out of the Gophers, who have averaged 47.5 points per game through two leisurely wins behind 4.6 yards per carry, 27 rushing first downs and five rushing touchdowns.

A two-headed monster of Darius Taylor and Grant Washington has led Minnesota’s backfield so far, with a combined 53 carries for 287 of the team’s 411 yards on the ground.

“I feel like when you play a team like this — a big team that’s going to run the ball — you’ve got to be very disciplined,” said Cal edge rusher TJ Bush Jr. “That’s been a big emphasis this week, just doing your job … so that’ll be a big part of our game.”

Taylor’s status for Saturday is unknown after he exited Minnesota’s win against Northwestern State with a right leg injury. Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck told local media that the team received a “good” prognosis and hinted at Taylor’s availability being a game-time decision.

Despite prioritizing the run, the Bears must respect redshirt freshman Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey, who has completed 27 of 44 passes in 2025 for 429 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception.

“He’s a really good player; he can throw down the field,” said Cal head coach Justin Wilcox. “He’s big and tough to get down.”


Go Gophers!!
 


Jeopardy style:

"Two headed monster of Darius Taylor and Grant Washington"

Who are two players who won't play on Saturday?
Grant has to be getting a kick out of this....sure the RB room is as well. :)
 

Most of us Cal fans understand that Minnesota is ahead of us right now. Your program is where we should be. We suspect you guys have an advantage in the battle of the trenches, and that traditionally matters a lot. But ... Wilcox teams have traditionally fared well in non-conference P4 home games with these weird start times. We have won most of them and when we haven't its been due to horrible special teams, which so far is not an issue this season. So...the normal stuff points to a Minnesota W but the other stuff gives us a punchers chance. I see it as a tossup game for those reasons.

Some predictions / things to look for:
- Which team stops the other team's running game?
- Do the young QBs get tricked into INTs by very good opposing D minded HC's / DCs?
- Effect of the late start time
- Special teams will probably matter
 
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