Everything to know ahead of Gophers vs. Nebraska

The Gophers got back on the winning track by scoring 14 points in the final 7:47 to beat Purdue 27-20 last weekend. They resume a stretch of three home games in four weeks by facing the Cornhuskers, who at No. 25 are ranked for the first time this season. Nebraska (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) is coming off a 34-31 comeback win at Maryland and has a three-point loss to Michigan as its only blemish.

The Gophers lead the all-time series vs. Nebraska 37-25-2, built largely on a 25-4-2 run to start the series that included 10 straight wins from 1940-49. The Huskers dominated from 1963-2012, winning 16 in a row. Since P.J. Fleck took over as Gophers coach in 2017, Minnesota is 6-1 vs. Nebraska and is riding a five-game win streak.

Minnesota ranks 115th nationally in rushing yards per game (112.3). In Big Ten play, the Gophers are giving up 174.7 rushing yards per game, which ranks 89th. Those two stats must improve if the Gophers want to win this game and others moving forward. They’ll need to match Nebraska’s physicality on both lines.

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule, who grew up in State College, Pa., and played for Penn State, reportedly is on the Nittany Lions’ radar to replace the fired James Franklin. Rhule on Monday said he loves living in Lincoln and wants to keep building the Huskers program. He didn’t confirm or deny interest in the Penn State job.

Johnson, a junior running back and former Holy Angels star from Minneapolis, ranks second in the Big Ten at 108.3 rushing yards per game, and he’s coming off a 21-carry, 177-yard effort against Maryland. Tasked with stopping Johnson will be a defense led by Baranowski, whose 82.9 rating by Pro Football Focus ranks 13th nationally among linebackers.

Raiola, the Huskers’ sophomore QB, is completing 73.8% of his passes, the third-best percentage in the Big Ten. He gets rid of the ball quickly, allowing his receivers to operate in space. Brown and Perich, the Gophers’ safety duo, are opportunistic ball hawks who have game-changing abilities.

Led by poised quarterback Drake Lindsey, the Gophers overcame a 14-point deficit to beat Rutgers in their Big Ten opener and used a 14-point fourth-quarter surge to top Purdue last week. Minnesota’s three FBS victories are against teams that are a combined 8-10, while Nebraska’s four FBS wins are against teams a combined 14-11. Unless the Gophers dramatically improve up front, this one goes to the Huskers.

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