Minnesota left no mystery in the final score Saturday night. The Gophers rolled past Akron 41-7 at misty Huntington Bank Stadium, and the win came with a little bit of everything: a defensive front that snapped back into form, a passing game that did the heavy lifting early, and a ground attack that finally found some juice after a sluggish start.
For Minnesota, the most encouraging part might have been the way the defense set the tone. One week after getting pushed around by an SEC opponent, the front seven looked much more like itself against a MAC team. Danny Collins’ group piled up eight tackles for loss and controlled the line of scrimmage from the opening drive.
Karter Menz got to the quarterback, but the bigger story was how often Minnesota’s front disrupted Akron before plays could develop. Anthony Smith was all over the field even if the box score didn’t fully show it, finishing with two total tackles, a half sack and a tackle for loss.
CJ Robbins’ defensive line kept the pressure on throughout the afternoon, and Akron managed only 3 of 13 on third down. The Zips’ lone touchdown came against Minnesota’s backups.
That kind of control up front was exactly the box Minnesota wanted to check.
Offensively, the Gophers leaned on the passing game early. Drake Lindsey finished 17 for 31 for 204 yards and three touchdowns, and he also threw his first interception since 2025. That interception ended a run of 232 consecutive passes without one, breaking Max Brosmer’s previous program mark of 206 from 2024.
Minnesota also showed some real downfield pop through the air. The Gophers had eight completions of more than 15 yards and four over 20. That mattered because explosive plays have been hard to come by in this offense in recent seasons.
The opening drive ended in a touchdown for the first time since the Northwestern State game in 2025, with Lindsey finding true freshman Roman Voss across the middle for the first score of his career.
Javon Tracy kept leading the receiving production, giving him 240 yards through three games. Noah Jennings, the Cincinnati transfer, caught his first touchdown as a Gopher and now has 217 receiving yards. Both have started to separate themselves as Lindsey’s go-to options, and each is averaging more than 14 yards per catch through the first quarter of the season.
The ground game, though, was a different story in the first half. Without Darius Taylor, who missed the Akron game with injury after warming up but not doing much with the trainers, Minnesota’s rushing attack looked stuck in neutral for a while. AJ Turner and TJ Thomas combined for seven carries and just 21 yards in the first 30 minutes.
Then the Gophers started leaning into gap schemes and counter looks, pulling blockers and putting Akron’s front in conflict. That adjustment changed the feel of the game. Minnesota went on a 90-yard touchdown drive that stayed on the ground every snap and ended with left guard Greg Johnson pulling into space and Turner walking in for the score.
Thomas added a 72-yard burst later, and the run game suddenly looked a lot more dangerous than it had early.
That split is the question hanging over Minnesota as Big Ten play approaches: which version of the rushing attack shows up next? And with Darius Taylor’s status for Washington still uncertain, that answer matters plenty. Availability reports begin again on Wednesday, and Taylor’s situation will be one of the key storylines heading into next week.
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Minnesota Faces One Big Washington Question Before Big Ten Opener
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The bigger question for Minnesota is how much of Washingtons preseason buzz still translates once the league games begin. The Huskies entered the fall with several players drawing preseason All-Big Ten attention, but there are injury concerns worth monitoring too, including center Landen Hatchett and defensive tackle Elinneus Davis, which could matter in a game where early conference positioning already adds a little extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
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Minnesotas First Big Ten Test Puts One Early Question Front And Center
A long travel week ends with Minnesotas first real checkpoint of the season, as the Golden Gophers open Big Ten play Saturday night against No. 23 Washington at Husky Stadium in Seattle. It is a late kickoff by Central time, a national-stage matchup on FOX 9, and a chance for Minnesota to see how its early progress holds up against a ranked opponent that has not stumbled yet.
The Gophers arrive at 2-1, while Washington is unbeaten at 3-0, which gives this one an early-season edge that should say plenty about where both teams stand. For Minnesota, the bigger question is not just whether it can compete in a tough road setting, but how it handles the jump in speed, physicality and scrutiny that comes with opening conference play against a team like the Huskies. [Read more 🡒]