Mitch Leidner starts at QB for Minnesota against Rutgers

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Fifth-year senior quarterback Mitch Leidner started for Minnesota on Saturday against Rutgers after missing last week's game with a

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Fifth-year senior quarterback Mitch Leidner started for Minnesota on Saturday against Rutgers after missing last week's game with a concussion.

Conor Rhoda started last week's win against Maryland and went 7 of 15 for 82 yards as the Golden Gophers ran for 229 yards.

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Leidner has completed 57.7 percent of his passes this season for 1,006 yards, five touchdown passes and four interceptions.

Minnesota is without six players, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune , which reports that they had a restraining order filed against them stemming from a Sept. 2 incident. KiAnte Hardin, Ray Buford, Dior Johnson, Carlton Djam, Tamarion Johnson and Kiondre Thomas are banned from TCF Bank Stadium.

Hardin, a starter, and Buford are key cornerbacks for the Gophers' secondary.