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Loss to Illini extends two Gophers losing streaks

andy greder, pioneer press
·3 min read

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Gophers watched two droughts drag on in their 26-14 loss to No. 24 Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

Illini coach Bret Bielema extended his unblemished record against Minnesota to 9-0, which includes Illinois’ 14-6 upset of the U last year and a 7-0 record during his tenure at Wisconsin (2006-12).

Minnesota also saw its losing streak grow to 11 on the road against ranked teams. They are now 1-32 in such games since 2001, with the last win coming at Nebraska in November 2014.

LINES MOVE WITH QB NEWS

Minnesota was a 6.5-point favorite against No. 24 Illinois on Saturday morning, but the line moved to 4.5 points with news that Illinois quarterback Tommy DeVito would return from an ankle injury.

The U was a 12-point favorite against Purdue on Oct. 1 until it was announced Aidan O’Connell would return from a ribs injury. That spread dropped to 9.5 points at kickoff. Minnesota went on to lose 20-10 to the Boilermakers.

BIG RETURN COMING

The Gophers’ return teams provided brief flashes in loss to Purdue two weeks ago. Quentin Redding had 20-yard punt return, and he also busted off a long kickoff return, though it was called back by a penalty.

On Saturday, Redding and Minnesota’s kickoff return team provided a spark with a 92-yard kickoff return to start the second half. With a horse-collar tackle penalty tacked on the return, the U then took a 14-13 lead. It was the last points Minnesota scored.

“That was awesome,” defensive end Thomas Rush said. “Really happy for him. He had a great return, our kickoff return unit did a fantastic job that play. … That is something to keep going on.”

The Gophers’ last kickoff return for a touchdown was Rodney Smith against Nebraska in 2019. He went 100 yards.

SCHEDULE UPDATE

Gophers Athletics Director Mark Coyle said on KFXN-FM the 2023 Big Ten football schedule has not yet been sorted out due to impacts from the pandemic-affected season.

Coyle said some programs had to go on the road to face certain opponents in consecutive years, and the conference is working to even out that imbalance. He also said the conference is working on game schedules with its media partners.

On news Minnesota will face Alabama in 2032-33, Coyle said that home-and-home series came about when he was working on another sport. He and Alabama AD Greg Byrne both sit on the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee and started discussions last spring about their football teams playing.

BRIEFLY

Illinois offensive tackle Alex Palczewski made his 59th collegiate start Saturday, breaking the Big Ten record held with Minnesota alum Conner Olson (2017-21). … With the aid of crutches, receiver Chris Autman-Bell was on the Gophers sideline Saturday. It’s the first road trip for the Kankakee, Ill., native after suffering a season-ending knee injury against Colorado on Sept. 17. … Running back Trey Potts did not play Saturday after having only nine carries against Purdue. … Safety Tyler Nubin had a career-high 13 tackles Saturday, including two for lost yards. The St. Charles, Ill., native had eight tackles three times prior.

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