MINNESOTA at OREGON
When: 8 p.m. CT Saturday
Where: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Ore.
TV: FOX / KSMP-Channel 9
Radio: 100.3 FM, KFAN
Weather: 50 degrees, 30% chance of rain, 3 mph north wind
Betting spread: Oregon, minus-22.5
Records: Minnesota (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) was off last week after a 23-20 overtime win over Michigan State on Nov. 1. No. 8 Oregon (8-1, 5-1) won in the rain at No. 21 Iowa, 18-16, last weekend. The Hawkeyes trounced Minnesota 41-3 in Iowa City on Oct. 25.
History: Minnesota is 3-1 all-time against Oregon, most recently a 31-30 win in the 2003 Sun Bowl. This is their first time facing off as Big Ten rivals.
Stat: The Gophers lead the Big Ten with 3.56 sacks per game, but it’s less impressive against the best teams. Minnesota had zero against No. 1 Ohio State and two versus Iowa.
Big question: Can the Gophers make it a competitive game? Minnesota was outscored by a combined score of 83-6 against the Buckeyes and Hawkeyes. It’s hard to find a weakness for the Ducks.
Context: The Athletic this week ranked its top 50 prospects for 2026 NFL draft. Oregon had six players, Minnesota none.
Milestone: Gophers linebacker and special teams player Derik LeCaptain will set the school record for most games played on Friday. It will be his 60th career game, breaking a tie with former U long snapper Brady Weeks.
Who has the edge?
Gophers offense vs. Oregon defense: QB Drake Lindsey and Co. will go against its third top 10 defense in yards allowed this year, and the U didn’t go over 170 total yards in the first two (Ohio State and Iowa). … The Gophers are barely in the top 100 in scoring offense (23.8 points per game) and have no TDs, one made field goal and seven punts on opening drives against FBS competition this year. … Top RB Darius Taylor missed the Michigan State game and appears doubtful against the Ducks. Without him, RB Fame Ijeboi had a career day against the Spartans, with 17 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown. … The Ducks rush defense is top 20, but its pass defense is even better at No. 2. …. D-ends Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti have 28 and 20 pressures, respectively, and four sacks each. Uiagalelei and DT A’Mauri Washington were on The Athletic’s prospect list. “These four, (it’s) very hard to game-plan them because they are all problems,” Gophers OC Greg Harbaugh said. EDGE: Oregon
Gophers defense vs. Oregon offense: Ducks OC Will Stein is one of the hot up-and-coming names to know for the head-coaching carousel this winter. He oversees a unit that has impressed Gophers DC Danny Collins with its exotic personnel packages. “They are very creative; they are very smart coaches,” Collins said. … QB Dante Moore runs the show. The athletic redshirt sophomore is ninth in the nation in completion percentage (70.5%), has seven games with at least touchdown passes. But he broke his nose against Wisconsin and didn’t find the end zone. Backup Brock Thomas needed to step in for a surprisingly close 21-7 win. . … The Badgers were one of the few unranked teams to stymie the Ducks’ offense, and it could be a source for game-planning for Minnesota. They might be shorthanded with top TE Kenyon Sadiq and top WR Dakorien Moore missing the Iowa game, while WR Gary Bryant left in the first quarter. Collins said the U will prepare as if all the top pass-catchers will play Friday. … DT Deven Eastern, an NFL draft prospect, had his best game against Michigan State, with a 88.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. EDGE: Oregon
Special teams: Ducks K Atticus Sappington made three field goals, including a game-winner from 39 yards out, against Iowa. … Gophers K Brady Denaburg missed his first FG inside 40 yards against Michigan State; he is 11 for 15 on all attempts this season. … Oregon leads the nation with minus-1 yards in punt returns this season. … The Ducks started the Wisconsin game with an onside kick. EDGE: Oregon
Prediction: The Gophers have given few indications they are ready to go toe-to-toe with one of the top teams in the nation. As massive underdogs, Minnesota is 0-3 overall on the road this fall and had zero takeaways in those games. Oregon rolls, 31-3.
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