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University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, September 9
Huntington Bank Stadium
6:30 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Eastern Michigan
Players Mentioned
K
/ Football
DB
/ Football
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Game 2: Minnesota vs. Eastern Michigan
9/5/2023 2:32:00 PM | Football
THE ESSENTIALS
Date/Time: Sept. 9, 2023 / 6:30 p.m. CT
Site: Minneapolis
Stadium: Huntington Bank Stadium
Surface: FieldTurf
Capacity: 50,805
Series Overall: First meeting
Television: BTN // Connor Onion (PXP), Tommy Olson (Analyst), Audrey Dahlgren (Reporter)
Radio: KFAN | SiriusXM: 113 or 205; 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 looks to improve to 2-0 as it hosts Eastern Michigan for the first time ever Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
2. Minnesota is coming off of a dramatic 13-10 win over Nebraska in the team's season opener on Aug. 31 as Dragan Kesich hit a 47-yard field goal as time expired. It was the first game-ending field goal for Minnesota since Ryan Santoso made an 18-yard field goal to beat Colorado State in the first overtime in 2015, while the last walk-off field goal in regulation for the Gophers came in 2003 when Rhys Llyod made a 35-yarder as time expired to defeat Wisconsin. Trailing 10-3 with 12:42 to play, it was Minnesota's biggest fourth quarter comeback since also coming back from seven down (three separate times) in a double-overtime win at Fresno State in 2019. It was the biggest home comeback since rallying from a 21-10 deficit against Iowa with 13:51 to play in a 22-21 win in 2011.
3. Dragan Kesich has been named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, while Tyler Nubin is Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. This is the first Big Ten player of the week recognition for each player. Kesich kicked the game-winning 47-yard field goal with zero time remaining on the clock to break a 10-10 tie and lift Minnesota to a three-point victory. It was his second field goal of the game, as he opened the scoring for the Gophers with a 34-yard field goal in the second quarter. Nubin recorded two interceptions, one in each half. His second interception came with less than a minute left in the game and was returned 14 yards. A few plays later, Kesich kicked the winning field goal. Nubin also added three tackles in the win.
4. All the preseason love that Tyler Nubin received, which included watch list appearances for the Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy and Thorpe Award, and preseason All-America honors by The Athletic, Sporting News and Phil Steele, was backed up by his performance Thursday. In addition to his stats as noted above, Nubin was graded by Pro Football Focus at 91.5 overall on defense. That ranked 16th out of over 3,600 FBS players, second overall in the Big Ten, and No. 3 among all safeties. His coverage grade of 92.5 was the best among safeties in the country, tops of any player in the Big Ten, the second best for defensive backs and fourth overall in the nation.
5. The 2023 campaign is the seventh for head coach P.J. Fleck at Minnesota, where he holds a record of 45-27. He is already fifth in program history for overall wins and Big Ten wins (27) and sixth in games coached (72). Fleck's .625 win percentage is third best among the 11 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 75-49 (.605).
You can read Minnesota's complete game notes here.
Date/Time: Sept. 9, 2023 / 6:30 p.m. CT
Site: Minneapolis
Stadium: Huntington Bank Stadium
Surface: FieldTurf
Capacity: 50,805
Series Overall: First meeting
Television: BTN // Connor Onion (PXP), Tommy Olson (Analyst), Audrey Dahlgren (Reporter)
Radio: KFAN | SiriusXM: 113 or 205; 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 looks to improve to 2-0 as it hosts Eastern Michigan for the first time ever Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
2. Minnesota is coming off of a dramatic 13-10 win over Nebraska in the team's season opener on Aug. 31 as Dragan Kesich hit a 47-yard field goal as time expired. It was the first game-ending field goal for Minnesota since Ryan Santoso made an 18-yard field goal to beat Colorado State in the first overtime in 2015, while the last walk-off field goal in regulation for the Gophers came in 2003 when Rhys Llyod made a 35-yarder as time expired to defeat Wisconsin. Trailing 10-3 with 12:42 to play, it was Minnesota's biggest fourth quarter comeback since also coming back from seven down (three separate times) in a double-overtime win at Fresno State in 2019. It was the biggest home comeback since rallying from a 21-10 deficit against Iowa with 13:51 to play in a 22-21 win in 2011.
3. Dragan Kesich has been named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, while Tyler Nubin is Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. This is the first Big Ten player of the week recognition for each player. Kesich kicked the game-winning 47-yard field goal with zero time remaining on the clock to break a 10-10 tie and lift Minnesota to a three-point victory. It was his second field goal of the game, as he opened the scoring for the Gophers with a 34-yard field goal in the second quarter. Nubin recorded two interceptions, one in each half. His second interception came with less than a minute left in the game and was returned 14 yards. A few plays later, Kesich kicked the winning field goal. Nubin also added three tackles in the win.
4. All the preseason love that Tyler Nubin received, which included watch list appearances for the Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy and Thorpe Award, and preseason All-America honors by The Athletic, Sporting News and Phil Steele, was backed up by his performance Thursday. In addition to his stats as noted above, Nubin was graded by Pro Football Focus at 91.5 overall on defense. That ranked 16th out of over 3,600 FBS players, second overall in the Big Ten, and No. 3 among all safeties. His coverage grade of 92.5 was the best among safeties in the country, tops of any player in the Big Ten, the second best for defensive backs and fourth overall in the nation.
5. The 2023 campaign is the seventh for head coach P.J. Fleck at Minnesota, where he holds a record of 45-27. He is already fifth in program history for overall wins and Big Ten wins (27) and sixth in games coached (72). Fleck's .625 win percentage is third best among the 11 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 75-49 (.605).
You can read Minnesota's complete game notes here.
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Monday, December 29