University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, September 16
Chapel Hill, NC
2:30 PM
University of Minnesota
at
North Carolina
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
Photo by: CONNOR CUNNINGHAM
Game 3: Minnesota at North Carolina
9/12/2023 12:00:00 PM | Football
THE ESSENTIALS
Date/Time: Sept. 16, 2023 / 2:30 p.m. CT
Site: Chapel Hill, N.C.
Stadium: Kenan Stadium
Surface: Natural Grass
Capacity: 50,500
Series Overall: First meeting
Television: ESPN // Beth Mowins (PXP), Kirk Morrison (Analyst), Stormy Buonantony (Reporter)
Radio: KFAN | SiriusXM: 85; SXM App // Mike Grimm (PXP), Darrell Thompson (Analyst), Justin Gaard (Reporter), Tanner Hoops (Host), Dan Rowbotham (Engineer)
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. RV/RV Minnesota (2-0) heads out on the road for the first time this season as it visits No. 20/18 North Carolina (2-0) in the first ever meeting between the schools. Saturday's kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
2. Now 2-0 on the season, the Gophers are looking to start 3-0 for the fifth time in seven years under P.J. Fleck. The last instance came a year ago when they started 4-0. Dating back to last season, Minnesota has now won four games in a row. That's tied with Maryland for the second longest active winning streak in the Big Ten behind only Penn State (7).
3. Darius Taylor has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week after a dominant performance against Eastern Michigan. A true freshman, Taylor rushed 33 times for 193 yards and one touchdown in Minnesota's 25-6 win. He had one carry in the season-opener against Nebraska and then carried the ball 33 times against the Eagles. His 193 yards were second most in school history for a true freshman, behind only Darrell Thompson's 205 yards against Bowling Green in 1986. Taylor rushed eight times for 44 yards in the first half before logging 25 carries for 149 yards in the second half. His touchdown was a two-yard burst in the second quarter. He had six runs of 10 yards or more, including scampers of 22 yards and 21 yards in the third quarter. He added 13 receiving yards to finish the game with 206 all-purpose yards. Taylor's 193 rushing yards were the second most in the nation in Week 2 (and the most in a non-overtime game) as only North Carolina's Omarion Hampton had more yards with 234 in a double overtime win against Appalachian State. Taylor is Minnesota's first Big Ten Freshman of the Week since quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis received the honor on Nov. 28, 2022.
4. Saturday's trip to North Carolina marks the first road game of the season for Minnesota. It is 61-65-9 all-time in road openers, including a 4-2 mark under head coach P.J. Fleck. Minnesota has won each of its last two road openers: at Colorado in 2021 and last year at Michigan State. It's the first time since 2012-13 that the Gophers have won consecutive road openers. The 2008-10 seasons mark the last time the Maroon and Gold won three straight road openers.
5. The 2023 campaign is the seventh for head coach P.J. Fleck at Minnesota, where he holds a record of 46-27. He is already fifth in program history for overall wins and Big Ten wins (27) and sixth in games coached (73). Fleck's .630 win percentage is third best among the Minnesota coaches with at least 45 games under their helm behind only Henry L. Williams (.786, 1900-21) and Bernie Bierman (.716, 1932-41, '45-50). In his 11th season overall as a college head coach, Fleck is 76-49 (.608).
You can read Minnesota's complete game notes here.
Date/Time: Sept. 16, 2023 / 2:30 p.m. CT
Site: Chapel Hill, N.C.
Stadium: Kenan Stadium
Surface: Natural Grass
Capacity: 50,500
Series Overall: First meeting
Television: ESPN // Beth Mowins (PXP), Kirk Morrison (Analyst), Stormy Buonantony (Reporter)
Radio: KFAN | SiriusXM: 85; SXM App // Mike Grimm (PXP), Darrell Thompson (Analyst), Justin Gaard (Reporter), Tanner Hoops (Host), Dan Rowbotham (Engineer)
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. RV/RV Minnesota (2-0) heads out on the road for the first time this season as it visits No. 20/18 North Carolina (2-0) in the first ever meeting between the schools. Saturday's kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
2. Now 2-0 on the season, the Gophers are looking to start 3-0 for the fifth time in seven years under P.J. Fleck. The last instance came a year ago when they started 4-0. Dating back to last season, Minnesota has now won four games in a row. That's tied with Maryland for the second longest active winning streak in the Big Ten behind only Penn State (7).
3. Darius Taylor has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week after a dominant performance against Eastern Michigan. A true freshman, Taylor rushed 33 times for 193 yards and one touchdown in Minnesota's 25-6 win. He had one carry in the season-opener against Nebraska and then carried the ball 33 times against the Eagles. His 193 yards were second most in school history for a true freshman, behind only Darrell Thompson's 205 yards against Bowling Green in 1986. Taylor rushed eight times for 44 yards in the first half before logging 25 carries for 149 yards in the second half. His touchdown was a two-yard burst in the second quarter. He had six runs of 10 yards or more, including scampers of 22 yards and 21 yards in the third quarter. He added 13 receiving yards to finish the game with 206 all-purpose yards. Taylor's 193 rushing yards were the second most in the nation in Week 2 (and the most in a non-overtime game) as only North Carolina's Omarion Hampton had more yards with 234 in a double overtime win against Appalachian State. Taylor is Minnesota's first Big Ten Freshman of the Week since quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis received the honor on Nov. 28, 2022.
4. Saturday's trip to North Carolina marks the first road game of the season for Minnesota. It is 61-65-9 all-time in road openers, including a 4-2 mark under head coach P.J. Fleck. Minnesota has won each of its last two road openers: at Colorado in 2021 and last year at Michigan State. It's the first time since 2012-13 that the Gophers have won consecutive road openers. The 2008-10 seasons mark the last time the Maroon and Gold won three straight road openers.
5. The 2023 campaign is the seventh for head coach P.J. Fleck at Minnesota, where he holds a record of 46-27. He is already fifth in program history for overall wins and Big Ten wins (27) and sixth in games coached (73). Fleck's .630 win percentage is third best among the Minnesota coaches with at least 45 games under their helm behind only Henry L. Williams (.786, 1900-21) and Bernie Bierman (.716, 1932-41, '45-50). In his 11th season overall as a college head coach, Fleck is 76-49 (.608).
You can read Minnesota's complete game notes here.
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Wednesday, October 22
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Beat Huskers
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Monday, October 20