Fresh off their bye week and with momentum at their backs after two consecutive Big Ten victories, the Minnesota Gophers Football team comes home today to play the Maryland Terrapins for their homecoming game. With the victories against USC and UCLA fresh in their minds, they face a Maryland team that also got a lift last week due to their upset home victory against USC.
Minnesota will look to extend its win streak after a disappointing start to the Big Ten season. Maryland also started slowly in conference play until its improbable win against the Trojans last weekend. Here’s how the teams match up.
Gophers Offense vs. Trojans Defense
Once again, the key to the Gophers’ offense will be reducing their errors, particularly in penalties assessed and dropped passes. The offensive line has been flagged for 16 penalties this season, and Max Brosmer’s receivers have dropped 11 passes. In addition, other than the USC game, the vaulted Minnesota running game has not yet made an appearance this year. Penalties have been an issue, but the interior of the line has also gone through several personnel changes in their quest to find a combo that can open holes for Darius Taylor and Marcus Major.
Standing in their way is a Terrapins’ defense that has been rock solid against the run in 2024. They have only allowed 3.31 yards per carry on the ground during the Big Ten season and 108 yards per game. Maryland’s defensive tackles, Jordan Phillips, Tommy Akingbesote, and linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II, have consistently stuffed opponents’ run games. Minnesota needs to put some juice back into their running attack.
Where the Gophers have been moving the ball is through the air. They have a confident, cool, efficient passer in Brosmer who has helped open up Minnesota’s offense. He has established an excellent rapport with receivers Daniel Jackson (42 receptions) and Elijah Spencer, tight end Jamison Geers, and Taylor, who already has 29 receptions this season. And Brosmer added three touchdowns on the ground against USC, demonstrating his dual-threat capability.
This is an area where the Gophers should exploit a Terrapin weakness. Maryland’s defense ranks 119th in the nation against the pass, surrendering 269 yards per game. Linebackers Kellan Wyatt and Cleb Wheatland lead the team with three sacks each and must apply pressure to Brosmer to prevent him from getting settled in the pocket. Versatile Glendon Miller leads the Terps with three interceptions, and he’ll be counted on to shut down Jackson. And the return of their top pass defender, safety Dante Trader Jr., would be a huge lift for their defense. He has missed the last two games and is questionable for today’s game.
Gophers Defense vs. Trojans Offense
Against Maryland, the Gophers face a hot, lethal quarterback. Billy Edwards Jr. has completed 70% of his passes, throwing for 2,113 yards and 13 touchdowns. His favorite receiver is senior Tai Felton, whose stat line for the season is 64 receptions for 803 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Kaden Prather has also made some noise (43 receptions), and both he and Felton are dangerous deep threats.
They’ll be facing a Minnesota pass defense ranked fourth in the nation at 139 yards allowed per game. It’s also an opportunistic bunch, who rank second in the FBS with 13 interceptions. Defensive end Jah Joyner is the player who stirs the Gophers’ pass rush, and he will be counted on to apply consistent pressure on Edwards. The secondary is led by cornerbacks Justin Walley, Ethan Robinson, and safety Koi Perich. Their main task will be taking the long ball away from Edwards and crew.
Maryland has not enjoyed the same kind of success with its running attack this season. Roman Hemby is a talented back but only averages 11 carries per game. Edwards has only 41 rushing yards for the season but has added four touchdowns. Gophers middle linebacker Cody Lindenberg and defensive end Danny Striggow will lead the Minnesota charge and hopefully make it another rough game on the ground for the Terps.
It seems like this space is reserved for Perich every week. And with good reason. The do-everything freshman safety and the return man has four interceptions already, two being clutch game sealers, while also rejuvenating a very lackluster Gophers’ punt return unit. The hope is that he does the same for an ineffective kick return game that needs a boost. And Minnesota would be thrilled to see All-American candidate kicker Dragan Kesich boot his funk away. His field goal percentage is just over 50%, and the Gophers will need more from him as they continue to march toward bowl eligibility.
The Gophers’ homecoming game kickoff time is 2:30 pm at Huntington Bank Stadium.
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