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University of Minnesota Athletics
Game 8: Minnesota at Iowa
10/23/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
| Minnesota (4-3, 1-3) at Iowa (4-3, 1-3) | |
| Date | Saturday, Oct. 28 |
| Time | 5:30 p.m. Central |
| Location | Iowa City, Iowa | Kinnick Stadium |
| Television | FS1 | Fox Sports Go |
| Radio | KFAN 100.3 | Gopher Radio Network |
| Internet | Listen Live | I Heart Radio App |
| Live Stats | |
| Game Notes | Minnesota Notes // Fleck Press Conference | Iowa Notes |
| Social Media | @GopherFootball | Facebook | Instagram |
FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO ROW
1. Minnesota heads to Iowa for a Saturday evening matchup with the Hawkeyes. The game will be the 111th all-time meeting between the border rivals. Minnesota leads the series 62-46-2, but is 23-29-1 in Iowa City. Since 1935, the schools have played for the coveted Floyd of Rosedale trophy. This game will be Minnesota's first of three trophy games this year. The Gophers last beat the Hawkeyes in 2014 when they won 51-14 at home. Minnesota dropped a 40-35 decision on the road in 2015 and a 14-7 contest at home in 2016. Minnesota has lost seven straight games at Iowa, with its last win being a 25-21 triumph in 1999. The Gophers are 28-7-1 all-time against the Hawkeyes in October and are 3-0 on Oct. 28 (wins in 1911, 1916 and 1933).
2. Forty-nine of Minnesota's 110 players (44.5%) are freshmen or redshirt freshmen and 76 (69%) are underclassmen. Minnesota's lack of depth is perhaps most evident on the offensive line. Minnesota started the same line against Buffalo and Oregon State but had to mix things up the past five games because of injuries. Donnell Greene is the only lineman who has started at the same position all seven games although Conner Olson and Garrison Wright have played in all seven games. Wright has started 20 career games, while Greene has started 15 and Jared Weyler 12. Redshirt freshman Conner Olson and Sam Schlueter both saw the first action of their career this year. Greene and Wright joined the team last year after junior college, so the line has not been together long. Minnesota often practiced with only four linemen in the spring because of injuries. However, the line has allowed only four sacks this year (fifth in nation, first in B1G) and 20 tackles for loss (first in nation and B1G).
3. Tyler Johnson is having one of the best seasons ever for a sophomore receiver at Minnesota. Johnson has seven touchdowns and one more will tie him with former tight end Maxx Williams (2014) for the school record for touchdown receptions for a sophomore. Through seven games, Johnson has 27 receptions this year for 499 yards. He needs 14 catches to break into the top five for receptions by a sophomore, as Aaron Osterman (1992) and Dwayne McMullen (1982) are fifth in program receptions for a sophomore with 41 (Eric Decker is first with 67 in 2007). Johnson needs 141 yards to tie McMullen (1982) for fifth in yards by a sophomore with 640 (Decker, 2007 and Jared Ellerson, 2003 are tied for first with 909 yards).
4. Minnesota is no stranger to the Barber name. Marion Barber played running back at Minnesota from 1977-80 and ranks sixth all-time in program history with 3,094 rushing yards. Marion Barber III played running back at Minnesota from 2001-04 and ranks fourth all-time in program history with 3,276 rushing yards. Dom Barber lettered at Minnesota as a defensive back from 2004-07 and notched 187 career tackles. Now. Thomas Barber is etching his name into Gopher history with a breakout sophomore season. Barber leads the Gophers with 63 tackles (44 solo) including 7.5 for a loss and also has one interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He leads the Big Ten and is sixth in the country in solo tackles. He has had double-figure tackles in all four Big Ten games.
5. Minnesota is 23rd in the NCAA in passing yards allowed at 183.1 yards. They have done this despite significant injuries that have left them extremely thin in the secondary. Starters Antonio Shenault (one game), Kiondre Thomas (one game), Duke McGhee (two games) and Antoine Winfield (three games) have all missed time this year, forcing the Gophers to move Adekunle Ayinde from safety to corner and to play true freshmen Ken Handy-Holly and Justus Harris. The Gophers have played 11 defensive backs this year and seven of them (4 freshmen, 3 sophomores) are underclassmen.
You can read Minnesota's complete game notes here.
