MINNEAPOLIS — – Minnesota has had a frustrating and uneven start to the season, losing all three games to Power Conference teams in painful fashion.
Despite all the setbacks and struggles, the Gophers were at their best defending the pass – as in the best in the country. They are the only team in the FBS that has allowed less than 100 passing yards per game, which is precisely the type of characteristic a group would want before entering a game. game against Southern California on Saturday evening.
THE Trojan horseswho are ranked 11th in the last Associated Press pollI started again with the quarterback Miller Moss where they left off with their predecessor Caleb Williamswho was the first overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears and 2022 Heisman Trophy winner at USC. Moss is 11th in the FBS averaging nearly 300 passing yards per game to lead USC’s new conference, the Big Ten.
“It’s one thing to be a gunslinger, but it’s another thing to be an accurate gunslinger,” Gophers coach PJ Fleck said.
Last week against WisconsinMoss passed for 308 yards to nine different receivers with three touchdowns to lead a second half after a flat first half by the Trojans (3-1, 1-1 Big Ten) on the way to a 38-21 victory. Ja’Kobi Lane had 10 catches for 105 yards, both career highs, with two scores.
“They have explosive athletes all over the field. It’s pretty obvious,” the Gophers safety assures. Coleman Bryson said. “Their passing game is dynamic. Their running game is dynamic. But I think we’re just worried about doing our best to the best of our abilities.”
In their third season under head coach Lincoln Riley, the Trojans have been busy maintaining the program’s proud heritage of skilled players.
“One thing that Lincoln has really done a great job of over the course of his career is he handles the ball more effectively than ever, and he doesn’t do it just to break up throw streaks. He handles it with effectiveness in running the football,” Fleck said. “I’ve studied him for many years and just watching what he did at Oklahoma and at USC, I think he’s part of that generation that kind of reinvented the game.”
Despite losing safety Tyler Nubin to the NFL draft — he was a second-round pick of the New York Giants — the Gophers (2-3, 0-2) under first-year defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman have relatively merged their rushing and coverage. good for a productive start against the pass.
The teams they lost to (North Carolina, Iowa and Michigan) each had success on the ground with a 100-yard run — and more in the case of the Hawkeyes star. Kaleb Johnson and his 206-yard game. But the Gophers didn’t just keep the passing total against them (96.8 yards per game) low because of a lack of action. They are tied with Maryland for the Big Ten lead with eight interceptions, and their opponent’s passer rating is the second lowest in the FBS behind Iowa State.
“It’s a really veteran group, and a group that has really embraced a new defensive system really well,” Moss said. “There aren’t a lot of broken covers. For a group that’s in the first year of the system, they execute very well. I think you see that everywhere on tape.”
The art of bouncing
Minnesota lost in Michigannow ranked 10th in the AP poll, by the same score (27-24) last week as USC did the game before. The Gophers outscored the Wolverines 21-6 in the second half and even recovered an onside kick with 1:37 left, only to be flagged for a questionable offside penalty the Big Ten later admitted it was called in error.
“We finished in a way that allowed us to gain confidence in the way we played in the second half, on both sides of the ball,” the quarterback said Max Brosmer said.
Perich the prodigious punt returner
Koi Perich set up one of Minnesota’s fourth-quarter touchdowns at Michigan with a 60-yard punt return to highlight what has been a promising start for the dynamic freshman, who plays safety on defense.
“I don’t know if he realizes it yet, but those are the plays that energize a team,” Brosmer said.
Wounded Trojans
USC’s vastly improved defense could be without one of its best players. Linebacker Eric Gentry is questionable due to an injury he suffered in the second half against Wisconsin. The senior leads the team in tackles (30), tackles for loss (6 1/2) and sacks (two). On the other hand, security Akili Arnolda transfer from Oregon State, is trending back after missing the Wisconsin game due to injury.
Folded flags
The Pac-12 was known for its aggressive and sometimes confusing officiating. The Trojans have turned to officiating in the Big Ten so far, with fewer penalties called overall.
“It’s good, right? We have to let the players play and see where it goes from there,” center Jonas Monheim said.
USC has been reported for averaging 40.5 yards per game, which ranks 24th in the FBS. That includes 13 flags for 85 yards in conference games against Michigan and Wisconsin. The Trojans ranked 123rd in 2023 with 64.9 penalty yards per game and 90th in 2022 with 58.
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Freelance writer Dan Greenspan contributed from Los Angeles.
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