5 things you can count on: Gophers vs. Michigan
One of college football's oldest rivalries will be revisited when the Minnesota Golden Gophers host the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines at Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday night.
A primetime matchup against a top-five team is always sure to fire up a fan base but so is the quest for the Little Brown Jug, a trophy that P.J. Fleck has never won and the Gophers haven't held since a 30-14 victory in Ann Arbor on Sept. 27, 2014.
With the Gophers and Wolverines meeting for the first time since 2020, here's a look at five things you can count on.
1. A renewal of a historic rivalry
The Gophers and Michigan have had a rivalry dating back to 1903 after the Wolverines forgot their Little Brown Jug in Minneapolis but it has been contentious only by name as Michigan has dominated the series with a 71-23-3 record.
While the Wolverines have held the jug since 2014, the two teams haven't played as much due to the Big Ten's divisional system that was implemented in 2011. Minnesota and Michigan continued to play each other on an annual basis until 2015 but they have just two meetings since the Wolverines escaped Minneapolis with a 29-26 victory on Oct. 31, 2015.
Even with the elimination of divisions beginning next season, the Gophers will only play Michigan three times in the next six years with the next meeting set to go down in Ann Arbor in 2024.
Some would argue this is a good thing as the Gophers have been out-scored 82-34 in their last two meetings with Michigan but The Little Brown Jug will remain the prize on Saturday night.
2. A real test for the Gophers' running game
The Gophers are already in a bind in the backfield as ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that Darrius Taylor is a game-time decision. Even if Zach Evans steps up for the second straight week, the Gophers have a difficult matchup against a dominant Michigan defense.
Michigan ranks 13th in the nation with 85.2 rushing yards per game but their defense has been dominant in all phases leading the nation with six points allowed per game and ranking 11th with 160.6 passing yards allowed per game.
The good news is that Minnesota ranks 32nd in the nation with 193.2 rushing yards per game but they'll need a superb effort up front to replicate that success against the Wolverines defense.
3. Athan Kaliakmanis and the passing game stepping up
There were plenty of expectations heaped upon Kaliakmanis entering the season but through five games, the Gophers quarterback has struggled, completing just 58.7 percent of his passes for 745 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions.
Kaliakmanis's role has even been covered up after playing "the worst game he's ever played" against North Carolina with just 33 attempts over his past two games.
The good news is that Kalikamanis has been more efficient, completing 78 percent of his passes with four touchdowns and just one interception in his past two games but the Gophers will need more from the passing game to stay on schedule against a dominant Michigan defense.
4. An up-close look at J.J. McCarthy
Even casual Gopher fans might want to tune into Saturday's game as it could give them a look at the Vikings' next quarterback. Pro Football Focus's Trevor Sikkema mocked McCarthy to the Vikings in his latest mock draft and his full skill set could be on display on Saturday night.
Michigan is a run-first offense under Jim Harbaugh and has been anchored by Blake Corum (425 yards, 9 TD) and Donovan Edwards (157 yards). But McCarthy has been dominant on the ground as well, running for 116 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries this season.
Then there's McCarthy's arm which has been insanely efficient with 1,071 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 79 percent of his passes. With top weapon Roman Wilson (19 catches, 326 yards, 8 TD) a threat to line up from anywhere in the formation, containing McCarthy and the Wolverines' offense will be another difficult task.
5. A primetime beating by the Wolverines
Let's try to stay positive for a minute. The Gophers have gotten their running game going over the past four games and they have a pair of dynamic freshmen that could provide a tougher challenge than any opponent Michigan has faced this season.
Unfortunately, the Gophers might not have enough firepower to pull this off. Kaliakmanis and the passing game haven't looked great to start the year and Fleck's game-time management – which helped blow a 31-10 lead at Northwestern – could be further exposed against the No. 2 ranked team in the country.
A primetime crowd will be ready to Huntington Bank Stadium but it won't be enough to avoid a beating from the Wolverines.
Prediction: Michigan 34, Gophers 17
