The Minnesota Gophers Football team blows into Champagne, Illinois, on a headwind of three straight victories. After upsetting USC a month ago, they rattled off wins against UCLA and Maryland. And the Maryland game constituted their best 60-minute effort of the season. They face an Illinois Fighting Illini team that got spanked by #1 ranked Oregon 38-9 a week ago. The Illini will be unhospitable hosts as they look to rebound from last week’s debacle in Eugene.
The Gophers have gotten back on track this season due to a stingy pass defense and a dynamic passing attack. This week, these strengths will be tested as Illinois employs a multitalented quarterback and an opportunistic secondary. Let’s dive deeper.
Gophers Offense vs. Illini Defense
After last Saturday, it is clear to everyone that this is Max Brosmer’s offense. The talented sixth-year quarterback threw for 320 passing yards and 4 touchdowns through the air. He sprayed the ball around to seven different receivers and continually found holes in the Terrapin’s coverage. Wide receivers Daniel Jackson and Elijah Spencer were on the receiving end of two touchdown receptions apiece last week as they are fast becoming one of the most dangerous receiving tandems in the league.
Brosmer has continued to use his backs liberally in the Gophers passing game, as Darius Taylor and Marcus Major were on the receiving end of seven total passes against Maryland. Although it has been tough sledding on the ground for Minnesota backs this season, Taylor broke a 51-yard touchdown run on his way to 97-yard rushing yards for the game.
Outside linebacker Gabe Jacas brings the heat for the Illini pass rush. He leads the Big Ten in forced fumbles (3) and is tied for second in sacks (6.5). The Illinois secondary gives up yards through the air, but they are a ball-hawking bunch. Defensive back Xavier Scott is one of the semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, which honors the best defensive back in the nation. Scott is tied for third in the Big Ten with three interceptions, also racking up 29 tackles and a forced fumble. Fellow defensive backs Miles Scott and Torrie Cox have intercepted two passes apiece.
The Fighting Illini deploys a bend but doesn’t break philosophy in their run defense. Inside linebacker Dylan Rosiek is their principal run-stopper, leading the team in tackles (59). He is aided in his task by hard-hitting defensive back Matthew Bailey, who is second on the team in tackles (53) and the leader in passes broken up (3).
Gophers Defense vs. Illini Offense
Multi-threat quarterback Luke Altmyer leads Illinois’ offense. For the season, he is 137-217 through the air with 1667 passing yards and is fourth in the Big 10 with 15 touchdown passes. He has also rushed 67 times for 604 yards and two scores. His favorite receivers are Zakhari Franklin and Pat Bryant, who have a combined 70 catches. Bryant is fourth in the Big Ten with seven touchdown receptions and tight end Tanner Arkin has added three receiving scores.
Illinois leading rusher, 2023 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention back Kaden Fegin, is out for the season due to a hip injury suffered during the practice week prior to the Purdue game. In his stead, the Illini has been going with the tandem of sophomore Aidan Laughery and junior Josh McCray, with some help recently from freshman Ca’Lil Valentine. This trio has filled in nicely in the past three games, rushing for 177, 187, and 130 yards. And Altmyer has also helped fill the void left by Fegin’s injury.
The Gophers pass defense is currently ranked seventh-best in the FBS, allowing just 162.5 passing yards per game. The steady play of cornerbacks Justin Walley and Ethan Robinson anchors this unit. Not to mention the standout play of safeties Aidan Gousby, Kerry Brown, hard-hitting Jack Henderson, and one of the best freshman players in the country, true freshman Koi Perich. They have combined for nine interceptions, led by Perich, who leads the Big Ten in this category with five.
Minnesota’s pass rush is deceiving. While they don’t roll up big sack totals, they have been very effective at putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, as evidenced by their six quarterback-back hurries against Maryland. They also were a big part of the Gophers tallying nine blocked passes against the Terrapins. This veteran unit is led by seniors Jah Joyner and Danny Striggow.
The Gopher’s defense against the run has been more of a work in progress. They got torched early in the season but have rebounded quite well in the last two games. Inside linebackers Cory Lindenberg and Maverick Baranowski spearhead this effort with ample help from Brown and Striggow. Minnesota’s defense must shut down Illinois’ trio of running backs and force them into third and long situations.
Tease
Perich lined up at running back for one play in last week’s game. Gophers’ coach, P.J. Fleck, has hinted that we might see more of this as the season progresses.
The Gophers/Illini game kickoff time is 11:oo am CST at Memorial Stadium.
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