No. 18Wolverines face tough opener atno. 21 Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS » Michigan hasn’t left Minnesota with a loss since 1977.
This time, the only fans in the seats will be family members of the players, drastically reducing thedisadvantage for the visitors.
This is a much different Gophers team than most of those that wilted in the past against the Wolverines, though. This pivotal sixth season with coach Jim Harbaugh for the storied program will finally begin in difficult fashion at No. 21Minnesota on Saturday night.
Long before the 18thranked Wolverines can worry about that next swing at rival Ohio State, theymust contend with the Gophers, who won 11 games last season, a mark that Michigan hasn’t hit since 2011. The Wolverines will again boast a stout defensive line andadeep groupof running backs, but there’s plenty to prove in order to end their 16-year drought without a Big Ten title.
“I’ve never seenany team I’ve been a part of here come together as much as we have,” senior linebacker Josh Ross said. “I’m ready
to show everybody how good we actually are.”
The Gophers got a lot better when star wide receiver Rashod Bateman had his eligibility reinstated last month, after he initially opted out of the season due to health concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The connection between himand quarterback
Tannermorgan ought to be one of the best in the conference, if not the country.
“Tanner has just grown as a leader throughout this whole quarantine,” running back Mohamed Ibrahim said. “He has really good control of this whole team.”
First, the Big Ten canceled nonconference games. Then the whole season was
off, for about a month, until more stringent virus protocols fueled another revision and this late October start. Regardless of how the conference gothere, both teams are eager to get going.
“It really kind of surreal right now,” Michigan fifth-year senior defensive tackle Carlo Kemp said. “I’m thankful for this opportunity.
“They didn’t have to change their decision.”
This is the first time a ranked Minnesota team will open against an opponent also appearing in the AP poll since 1968, when the Gophers faced USC.
“We were all at home for months. We weren’t even able to be around each other. So to start the year off, to be able to play football, is something that we’re very grateful for,” Morgan said.
Minnesota’s matchup with rival Wisconsin for the Big Ten West Division title last season lured ESPN’S College Gameday to campus, the first time the Gophers hosted the weekly preview show since it began on-location broadcasts in 1993.
Now the network is returning on Saturday for a second straight home game, and this one is the 104th meeting between Michigan andminnesota with the Little Brown Jug at stake.
The virus precautions will take some luster off the scene, with fans notpermitted to attend the filming and thus eliminating the eye-catching cardboard sign holding tradition that clever students clamor to
take part in around the country.
“It’s an event. It’s a spectacle. It’s a chance for us to be able to put our program, our university, our state on display in front of the whole country,” Minnesota coach P. J. Fleck said.
Michigan junior quarterback Joemilton is expected tomake his first start, hoping four newstarting offensive linemen can give him enough time to throw to an inexperienced group of receivers.
“He’s made a lot of great strides,” Harbaugh said. “Really good command of the offense and savviness — and a lot of talent.”
Dylan Mccaffrey, the brother of Carolina Panthers All-pro running back Christian Mccaffrey, decided not to return for a fourth year after falling behind Milton on the depth chart.
The 6- foot- 5, strongarmed Milton played sparingly as a backup the previous two seasons behind Shea Patterson.