Minnesota got exactly what it wanted out of Thursday’s opener: a one-sided win, clean enough execution, and a night that ended with the Gophers largely able to protect themselves from unnecessary wear and tear.
The result was a 59-7 rout of Eastern Illinois at Huntington Bank Stadium, a game the 42-point favorites handled like a tune-up before the real work begins against Mississippi State on Sept. 12. In all three phases, the Gophers looked far better than their FCS opponent, and they exited with the kind of confidence boost and low injury risk they were chasing.
Darius Taylor set the tone early, scoring three first-half touchdowns before sitting down for the night. He finished with 14 carries for 56 yards and added three catches for 31 yards before resting after halftime. Taylor, who was limited by injuries and missed three games last season, also moved into a notable place in program history by becoming the second Gophers running back to eclipse 100 receptions, joining Chuck Rios’ 132 from 1990-94.
“(Taylor is) one of the best players in the country when healthy,” head coach P.J. Fleck said at halftime on Peacock.
If Taylor provided the steady hammer, Javon Tracy supplied the fireworks. He took two punts back for touchdowns, going 87 yards in the first half and then 67 yards to open the second half.
That made him the first Gopher and the fifth player in Big Ten history to record multiple punt return touchdowns in the same game. Tracy also added 98 receiving yards on five catches, and he was never touched on either return.
The two return scores gave new special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato a debut worth remembering.
Minnesota’s defense did its part too, holding the Panthers to just 113 total yards. But the performance wasn’t spotless.
The offense opened with a punt, a familiar issue after slow starts last season, and the defense had some shaky moments with blown coverages. Linebacker Matt Kingsbury also dropped two interceptions on Eastern Illinois’ only scoring drive of the first half.
There was one more hiccup when Elon transfer running back TJ Thomas Jr. fumbled in the second half, though he returned for the next series.
Fleck was able to pull in second-stringers by the end of the third quarter, another sign that the Gophers were able to get out of the game without piling up extra risk.
Minnesota is now 1-0 and gets an extra day to prepare for Mississippi State, which opens its season Friday against Louisiana-Monroe. The Gophers haven’t hosted an SEC team since Vanderbilt in 1959.
In Other News...
Gophers Kicking Battle Just Took An Unexpected Turn
Minnesotas kicking competition has already taken on a little more intrigue, even before the Gophers have needed to sort out who will handle the job in games. Luke Drzewiecki, the new arrival in the room, had his eligibility for a fifth year affirmed by a Louisiana court, a development that keeps him in the mix as Minnesota works through its options at a position where reliability can shape a season.
Judge William Jorden granted an injunction for Drzewiecki and more than 40 other players in the class of 2022, removing one immediate question about his status. Drzewiecki was in uniform for Minnesotas season opener, though he was not expected to play, so the next step is less about whether he can stay available and more about how the Gophers choose to use him once the kicking battle settles in. [Read more 🡒]
P.J. Fleck Moments That Still Define Minnesota In The NIL Era
P.J. Flecks time at Minnesota has always been defined by the blend of recruiting, development and adjustment that has kept the program relevant in a changing college football landscape. He arrived in early 2017 and quickly put together a class that included names Minnesota fans still know well, like Mohamed Ibrahim and Tanner Morgan, giving the Gophers a foundation that helped shape the programs rise under his watch.
The bigger lesson came after a tough 2018 season, when defensive problems forced Fleck to make a major staff change and turn to Joe Rossi. Rossi simplified things on that side of the ball, Minnesota played better because of it, and the season ended with a Quick Lane Bowl win. In the NIL era, moments like those still matter because they show how Fleck has kept Minnesota moving by identifying what works, then being willing to change what does not. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Delivered The Start Fans Wanted Before A Bigger Test Arrives
Minnesota got the kind of season-opening start fans had been waiting to see, rolling past Eastern Illinois 59-7 with a balanced burst of offense and a special teams spark that quickly put the game out of reach. Drake Lindsey connected with Pierce Walsh for a touchdown pass, and the Gophers were in control long before the final margin reflected how one-sided the afternoon had become.
Javon Tracy gave the return game a jolt and Darius Taylor was just as effective on the ground, helping Minnesota build confidence before the schedule stiffens. Eastern Illinois did find the end zone once on a Cole LaCrue touchdown pass to Tyren Buggs, but the bigger question now is how much of this performance carries over when the Gophers face a far tougher test next. [Read more 🡒]