The Gophers travel to Texas on Saturday for their first road game of the year, and a big test at that. Minnesota takes its 2-0 record into Fort Worth and will take on the Horned Frogs, in a game that sports software services all over the country are eagerly anticipating.
Both the Gophers and the Frogs are knocking on the door of the Top 25, and a Gopher road win could be enough to make a jump into the rankings.
The Gophers are now 2-0 after they were able to properly handle Eastern Illinois and Middle Tennessee in two games early in the season. David Cobb has put up some big numbers and is the current Co-Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after his dominating game against Middle Tennessee.
TCU is 1-0 after they took out the Samford Bulldogs 48-14 two weeks ago. The Horned Frogs have an average of 233 rushing yards per game while 70% of the passes made by the team’s very talented QB Trevone Boykin are completed.
IDSca.com sportsbook software agents can’t wait to see the Gophers take on the Horned Frogs on Saturday at 3:00pm. Here are additional storylines, courtesy of Gopher Sports:
Five Things You Need To Know
1. The Gophers and TCU have met only once on the gridiron, as the two schools faced one another on Sept. 28, 1974 in Minneapolis. Minnesota prevailed 9-7 in front of 32,822 fans at Memorial Stadium. The temperature at kickoff was 47 degrees and the game was played under overcast conditions. The Gophers used three quarterbacks that day in Tony Dungy (coached the Colts to a Super Bowl XLI title), Marc Trestman (current Chicago Bears head coach) and Steve Olsen. Dungy, who had an aggravated shoulder, started the game before being replaced by freshmen Trestman and Olsen. It was Olsen who scored Minnesota’s lone touchdown of the game, as he plunged into the end zone from the 1-yard line in the third quarter. Kicker Steve Goldberg’s point-after attempt hit the upright leaving Minnesota with a 6-0 lead. TCU took a 7-6 lead shortly after the Gophers scored, but Goldberg redeemed himself by banging home a 34-yard field goal with 1:34 left in the third quater. Both of Minnesota’s scores were set up by interceptions, as freshman Tommie Ash had two and senior Greg Engebos had one.
2. The Gophers have played eight true freshmen (seven on defense, one of offense) through the first two games of the season: linebackers Jonathan Celestin, Everett Williams; defensive linemen Gaelin Elmore, Gary Moore, Steve Richardson, Andrew Stelter; defensive back Craig James and tight end Brandon Lingen. There have been instances this year where the Gophers have played three true freshmen on the defensive line at the same time. In addition Minnesota has played nine redshirt freshmen this year, as De’Niro Laster and Daletavious McGee have played on defense and Ryan Santoso has handled the kicking duties. On offense Minnesota has played quarterback Chris Streveler, running back Berkley Edwards, tight ends Nick Hart and Nate Wozniak and receivers Jeff Borchardt and Eric Carter.
3. In 2013, the Gophers reached eight wins for the first time under Kill and for only the seventh time since 1960 and 18th time overall. Since 2012, Minnesota has played 28 games and is 16-12 in those games. In their previous 28 games, the Gophers were 7-21. Last year, Kill and his staff led Minnesota to four straight Big Ten wins for the first time since 1973 and ended a 16-game losing streak to Nebraska.
4. The Gophers will play their first game on natural grass this season on Saturday at TCU. Minnesota is 2-6 under Kill on natural grass, but both of those wins came last season, as the Gophers won at New Mexico State and Northwestern.
5. Minnesota was leading Middle Tennessee 28-0 at halftime last Saturday and is now 16-0 under Coach Kill when leading at halftime (Gophers were up 14-0 vs. Eastern Illinois at the half). Minnesota is 17-1 under Kill when leading after the third quarter (up 21-0 on Eastern Illinois and 35-17 against Middle Tennessee)