It's been an up-and-down season for the Gophers so far. Saturday for Homecoming, they'll face a team that can relate. Both Minnesota and Maryland come into Saturday's games after getting their seasons back on track by beating USC. The Gophers added a come-from-behind win over UCLA before their bye week too.
Now, the teams will push to get closer to bowl eligibility against each other at Huntington Bank Stadium in what should be a close matchup. So, are the Gophers a good team? That's not easy to answer. At times, yes. But at other times?
"It depends on the quarter, depends on the half, sometimes depends on the drive," Pioneer Press reporter Andy Greder explained to WCCO's Henry Lake. "Sometimes they look really good and can move the ball, or create quick stops. Other times they can't tackle anybody and are off the field in a three-and-out. It's hard to pinpoint who they are because they're so wildly inconsistent."
They did nothing in the first half against UCLA in the Rose Bowl two weeks ago. They were down 10-0 but then were much better in the second half, put a drive together at the end and came out with a sweep over the LA teams.
"They've been doing it for seven games, so I would imagine this is who they are," says Greder. "And I think it's going to be pretty close to what we'll see the rest of the way as well."
A win over Maryland might be key. The Gopher schedule beyond Maryland and an upcoming game against Rutgers gets much harder, with ranked Illinois, top five Penn State, and of course the rivalry game against Wisconsin coming up.
Expect plenty of scoring in this one. Since Maryland joined the Big Ten, the winner of this game has averaged over 40 points a game.
PREVIEW
Maryland (4-3, 1-3 Big Ten) at Minnesota (4-3, 2-2), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Minnesota by 4½.
Series record: Maryland leads 4-3.
What’s at stake?
The Terrapins rallied for a 29-28 homecoming win over slumping USC last week to restore their bid for bowl eligibility, but with road games next month against Oregon and Penn State there’s little margin for error left. Maryland has won a bowl game in each of the last three seasons, the longest run in program history.
The Gophers also got their bowl push back on track with a win over USC three weeks ago. They’re coming off a bye week and seeking to maintain their October momentum in front of a homecoming crowd before entering a daunting November schedule themselves.
Key matchup
Maryland WR Tai Felton vs. Minnesota DBs. Felton leads the Big Ten in receptions (64) and receiving yards (803) and has logged five games for the Terrapins with nine or more catches for the most in the FBS this season. He’ll go against a deep secondary that has helped the Gophers rank second in the FBS with 13 interceptions, fourth with an average allowance of 139.6 passing yards per game and fifth with an opponent pass efficiency rating of 95.15.
Players to watch
Maryland: DB Glendon Miller, who has taken snaps at both safety and nickel cornerback, has three interceptions, 27 tackles and a fumble recovery in his breakout fifth season. He’s third on the team in interceptions and tackles.
Minnesota: WR Daniel Jackson, who leads the team in targets (61), receptions (42) and receiving yards (451), has climbed to seventh in program history for career receiving yards. He needs 122 yards to pass Rashod Bateman, who’s now in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens, for sixth place.
Facts & figures
Maryland’s comeback from a 14-point deficit was its biggest in a fourth quarter since a 17-point rally to beat Minnesota on Oct. 30, 2020. ... The Terrapins again have the most passing yards per game (313.3) in the Big Ten (and are ninth in the FBS) after leading the league last year. ... Minnesota’s Koi Perich leads the Big Ten with four interceptions, which is already a single-season program record for a freshman. ... Gophers QB Max Brosmer is on pace to set the single-season program record for completion percentage (68.1) currently held by Tanner Morgan (66.9 in 2022).
The Associated Press contributed to this story.