So far this season, the Big Ten East has largely played to form, with preseason favorites Michigan State and Ohio State running roughshod over the opposition. The West? Not so much. As we approach the halfway point in conference play, the Big Ten West frontrunner might well be Minnesota. The Gophers will attempt to run their conference record to 4-0 Saturday in a trip to Illinois. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET, with television coverage on ESPN U.
How to Watch Minnesota vs. Illinois: Game time, TV schedule, online streaming and more
The Gophers are chasing a division title and a program feat not seen in 47 years Saturday. Here’s how to see it.
Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
The Golden Gophers have found success through a run-heavy offensive attack and solid defense. Minnesota is averaging more than 220 rushing yards per game behind the running of David Cobb. The senior halfback already has 1,013 rushing yards this season, and has broken 180 yards rushing in four of Minnesota's seven games.
Illinois is winless in conference play, with double-digit losses to Nebraska, Purdue and Wisconsin already on the books. The Fighting Illini have not won a Big Ten home game since October 2011, and head coach Tim Beckman is squarely on the hot seat.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: Saturday, October 25, noon ET
TV: ESPN U
Radio: Minnesota radio affiliates from the Golden Gopher Radio Network; Illinois affiliates on the Fighting Illini Radio Network.
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Our blogs on these teams
The numbers
Rankings and records: Minnesota (6-1, 3-0) snuck into the USA Today coaches’ poll at No. 24 this week. The Gophers are just outside the AP poll. Illinois (3-4, 0-3) is unranked.
Weather forecast: Clear and unseasonably warm, with highs in the low 70s.
Two things at stake
With a win, Minnesota will go to 4-0 in the Big Ten for the first time since 1967, a season that ended with the Gophers holding a share of the Big Ten title.
Illinois will be attempting to break that three-year conference home losing streak and build some momentum before a November 1 trip to Columbus.
One big matchup
David Cobb vs. History: Laurence Maroney set the Minnesota single-season rushing record with 1,464 yards in 2005. Cobb, who is ranked fourth nationally (and fourth in the conference) in rushing, is just 451 yards from matching Maroney with five games left to play. With Minnesota obviously uninterested in throwing the ball and Illinois’ defense last in the conference in rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense, he could get close to the record Saturday.
Further reading
The Daily Gopher follows Minnesota, and The Champaign Room covers Illinois.
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