Ohio State has dominated the Big Ten for decades. That’s not anything new.
That still means that every Big Ten game is important for the Buckeyes. They are, for many other teams in the conference, their
Super Bowl. We saw the atmosphere in Washington last week, and the Huskies made the Buckeyes grind out a 24-6 win.
Expect a similar type of game this week when the Buckeyes face Minnesota. The Golden Gophers have a strong defense, and their offense is capable of hitting big plays.
Let’s look at Golden Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey, four other players to watch, keys to the game, and score prediction.
Quarterback: Drake Lindsey
For a redshirt freshman, Lindsey has been balling out through four games this season. He has 958 passing yards and seven touchdowns, while only throwing two interceptions and completing 65.8 percent of his passes.
Lindsey comes from an athletic family, with multiple members playing college sports at Arkansas. Drake’s grandfather, Jim Lindsey, played seven seasons in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings, and his great uncle, Elmer “B” Lindsey, played six seasons of minor league baseball in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
Four Players to Watch on Minnesota
1. Javon Tracy (WR)
Tracy is making the leap from the MAC to the Big Ten this season. He was First-Team All-MAC last season at Miami (Ohio) after hauling in 57 receptions for 818 yards and seven touchdowns, the culmination of a three-year career with the RedHawks.
So far this season, Tracy has 12 receptions for 204 yards and two touchdowns.
Javon is the brother of current New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr..
2. Jalen Smith (WR)
Smith is a big-play receiver for the Golden Gophers. He only has six receptions this season, but that’s because he missed two games in September. Those six receptions are for 179 yards and two touchdowns.
Last week against Rutgers, Smith caught four passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. He also had two receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown against Buffalo in Week 1.
3. Anthony Smith (DL)
Smith is a menace up front, and he’s emerging as one of the best defensive linemen in the Big Ten.
Already this season, Smith is up to 4.5 sacks and six tackles for loss. Mind you, he had 11.5 tackles for loss in 2024 despite only starting three games for the Golden Gophers. Those 11.5 tackles for loss were a part of 27 total tackles, with Smith being named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention.
Anthony’s uncle, Jaimie Thomas, played college football at the University of Maryland and spent three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.
4. Devon Williams (LB)
A Dublin, Ohio native who attended Dublin Coffman High School, Williams, like Smith, has been with the Golden Gophers for several seasons.
He’s coming off a 13-tackle performance against Rutgers, giving him 31 through four games. Williams also has 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.
Head Coach: P.J. Fleck (9th Season with MINN, 61-40; 13th Season Overall, 91-62)
Fleck has been rowing the boat in Minnesota for nine seasons, with a 6-0 record in bowl games, 19 NFL Draft picks, and having earned 2019 Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Minnesota has three nine-win seasons and four eight-win seasons under Fleck, and the Golden Gophers are the only team in the country with a first or second round draft pick in each of the last six seasons.
In four seasons at Western Michigan, where he was a two-time MAC Coach of the Year, Fleck took the Broncos from 1-11 in 2013 to a New Year’s Six Bowl and 12-0 record in 2016.
As a player at Northern Illinois, Fleck holds the school record with 87 punt returns and ranks second in punt return yards with 716. He also ranks in the top five in both receptions and receiving yards.
Offensive Coordinator: Greg Harbaugh Jr. (1st Season)
After spending the previous two seasons as Minnesota’s co-offensive coordinator, Harbaugh Jr. is in his first season as the sole offensive coordinator.
This is Harbaugh’s third stint with Minnesota, having been on Fleck’s staff in 2017 and 2019. He’s also coached at Eastern Michigan, including as a graduate assistant under Fleck from 2015-2016.
Greg is not related to Jim or John Harbaugh.
Defensive Coordinator: Danny Collins (1st Season)
Collins has been with Fleck for over a decade, and this is his ninth season in Minnesota, previously functioning as the team’s safeties coach. Having been handed the keys to a very shiny car, Collins helped the Golden Gophers rank in the top 10 in total defense, passing defense efficiency, and scoring defense.
Prior to Minnesota, Collins was a defensive graduate assistant at Western Michigan, including two seasons with Fleck as the head coach.
Keys to the Game
1. Run the ball
Minnesota has some dudes up front on defense. Running the ball can help neutralize them.
The Buckeyes ran for 149 yards at Washington last week, and they’re getting the run game going more and more each week. The ground game is a huge point of emphasis this week offensively for the Buckeyes.
2. Let your best players cook
There are Buckeyes fans who were upset that Julian Sayin wasn’t airing the ball out last week. That was a lot of the griping last season as well, especially after Nov. 30th.
Ohio State has too much talent not to take advantage of it. Brian Hartline needs to unleash this offense, and doing it in this game would be a massive statement.
3. Fast start
In every game except against Grambling State, the Buckeyes have struggled to get off to a fast start. It hasn’t cost them a game yet, but starting fast is something Ohio State needs to improve upon. If they do, they will be an even tougher team to beat.
4. Make Minnesota’s defense a non-factor
This may be challenging, but securing quick completions to Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, and Brandon Inniss will spread the Golden Gophers’ defense out.
Score Prediction: Buckeyes 34 – Golden Gophers 20
When push comes to shove, the Buckeyes’ talent will prevail. Minnesota will keep this game close, but the Buckeyes are too well-rounded and will wear down the Golden Gophers throughout the game.
Julian Sayin will be set up for a big passing play and the knockout in front of a prime-time crowd at the Shoe.
