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University of Minnesota Athletics
Game 6: Northwestern at Minnesota
10/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
| Minnesota (4-1, 1-0) vs. Northwestern (3-2, 2-0) | |
| Date | Saturday, October 4 |
| Time | 11 a.m. Central |
| Tickets | Game Day Central |
| Location | TCF Bank Stadium |
| Parking | Game Day Central |
| Metro Transit | Get to the Game |
| Television | BTN / BTN2Go |
| Radio | KFAN 100.3 / Gopher Radio Network |
| Internet | Listen Live / I Heart Radio App |
| Live Blog | Gophersports.com |
| Live Stats | |
| Game Notes | Minnesota | Northwestern |
| Social Media | @GopherFootball | Facebook |
Five Things You Need To Know
1. Minnesota welcomes Northwestern to TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday for an 11 a.m. game (Gophers were 5-1 in 11 a.m. games last year). Minnesota leads the oveall series 51-33-5, which includes a 20-17 road win last year. The Wildcats have found success in Minneapolis recently, as they have won three straight on the road against Minnesota and are 2-0 against the Gophers in TCF Bank Stadium, posting a 21-13 win in 2012 and a 29-28 victory in 2010. The last time the Gophers beat Northwestern in Minneapolis was 2004, when they topped the Wildcats 43-17 on Sept. 25, at the Metrodome.
2. The Gophers are 5-2 in their last seven Big Ten games (Oct. 19, 2013 - Sept. 27, 2014), as they have posted home wins against Nebraska and Penn State and road wins at Northwestern, Indiana and Michigan. Minnesota's two defeats came at home to No. 16 Wisconsin (20-7) and on the road to No. 11 Michigan State (14-3). The 5-2 mark is the best record for the Gophers in a seven-game conference stretch since it also went 5-2 from Oct. 25, 2003 - Oct. 9, 2004. Minnesota beat Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Northwestern and Penn State during the run, while it lost at Iowa and at Michigan.
3. Minnesota has been victorious in its most recent games against Michigan (30-14 in 2014), Nebraska (34-23 in 2013) and Penn State (24-10 in 2013). Nebraska is the winningest-college football program in the last 50 years, while Michigan is the winningest program of all-time. Minnesota has played the three schools a combined 168 times (Michigan 101 times, Nebraska 54 times and Penn State 13 times), but this is the first time in school history that the Gophers have won the most recent game against each school.
4. A win on Saturday would give Minnesota a 5-1 record to start the season. The last time the Gophers started the season 5-1 was 2008, when they began the year 7-1. More importantly a win would give the Gophers a 2-0 record to start Big Ten play. The last time the Gophers started 2-0 in the Big Ten was 2004. That year, Minnesota beat Northwestern (43-17) and Penn State (16-7) to begin league play. Minnesota also began the 2003 season 2-0 in the Big Ten, again beating Northwestern and Penn State. Prior to that the most recent year was 1990 (Gophers started 3-0 in the Big Ten), as Minnesota beat Purdue, Northwestern and Indiana in league play.
5. The Gophers are allowing 19.0 points-per-game through five games this year. However, Minnesota's defense has been particularly staunch in its last 2.5 games (10 quarters), as it has allowed only 27 points during that time (Gophers allowed 68 points in first 10 quarters this year). Minnesota has played 20 quarters this season and has held opponents scoreless in 11 of those quarters. Minnesota has played 12 quarters at home and opponents have scored in only four of those quarters. The Gophers are allowing 17.0 points at home this year.
