Washington finally gets a real measuring stick on Saturday night, and Minnesota is the one bringing it.
The Huskies have rolled into this Big Ten matchup unbeaten, but the early results haven’t exactly screamed dominance. Washington was laying huge numbers in its first three games and still failed to cover against Washington State, Utah State and Eastern Washington. That’s the backdrop as the Golden Gophers make their first road trip of the season and the first-ever meeting between these two programs gets underway in Seattle.
Minnesota, for its part, has been more convincing against the number in its wins. The Gophers covered comfortably as a big favorite twice, though that came with a rough swing in between: a 25-point loss as a 1.5-point underdog at Mississippi State. Now they leave home for the first time and step into a much tougher environment.
The biggest reason Washington has a shot to separate is Demond Williams Jr. The quarterback’s return was not a sure thing after he announced plans to enter the transfer portal in the offseason, but the two sides reached an agreement after two days and he’s back for another year. Last week, he looked every bit like the engine of this offense, going 27 of 33 for 373 yards and four touchdowns with one interception while adding seven carries for 33 yards.
That kind of production will be tested against a Minnesota defense that should make this feel a lot different from Washington’s recent games. The Huskies have already shown some vulnerability, too - they were pushed by Washington State in the opener and barely escaped Utah State despite being favored by four touchdowns.
Minnesota hasn’t exactly faced a road exam yet, but the Gophers have done enough in their first two wins to suggest they can hang around. The read here is simple: Washington may win this one, but Minnesota has the profile to keep it inside single digits on Saturday night.
In Other News...
Two Gophers Just Turned Breakout Games Into Major Recognition
Minnesotas win over Washington produced more than a good result on the scoreboard. It also gave the Gophers a pair of firsts, as linebacker Maverick Baranowski was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and kicker Luke Drzewiecki picked up Special Teams Player of the Week honors after standout performances that helped swing the game.
Baranowski filled the stat sheet with seven tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and the first interception of his career, while Drzewiecki stayed perfect on his field goal tries and drilled a career-long 51-yarder. For both players, the conference recognition is their first weekly Big Ten award, a sign that one strong afternoon can still carry real weight well beyond the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]
Minnesota Just Earned A Real Big Ten Chance To Climb
Week 4 gave the Big Ten the kind of shakeup that can change a race in a hurry, and Minnesota benefited from it in a major way. Iowa knocked off Michigan, Wisconsin rallied past Penn State, and the Gophers went on the road and beat Washington, a result that helped them gain real ground in the league picture while the conferences top tier kept jostling for position.
Minnesotas win now looks even better in the context of the updated rankings, because the Gophers are no longer just hanging around the discussion. With upsets piling up around them and Ohio State still showing its usual firepower behind Jeremiah Smiths four-touchdown day, Minnesota suddenly has a clearer path to climb if it keeps taking care of business from here. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Get A Rare Chance To Change This Michigan Rivalry
The Little Brown Jug is back on the line Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium, and this one comes with a little extra weight for Minnesota. Michigan has controlled the rivalry for years, with the Gophers last win over the Wolverines coming in 2014 and their last home victory in the series all the way back in 1977, which is why hosting this game feels like more than just another Big Ten date on the schedule.
FOXs Big Noon Kickoff will be in Minneapolis for the occasion, giving the matchup a national stage as P.J. Flecks team tries to make the most of a rare chance to shift the tone of an old rivalry. Fleck had praise this week for linebacker Maverick Baranowski after Minnesotas win over Washington, and the Gophers would love for that momentum to carry into a game that has been waiting a long time for a different kind of ending in Minneapolis. [Read more 🡒]