Huskers and Gophers Meet in West Division Battle

NEBRASKA at MINNESOTA
OCT. 12, 2019 | TCF BANK STADIUM
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. | 6:30 P.M. (CT)

BROADCAST INFO
TV - FS1 (Brian Custer, Robert Smith)
RADIO - Husker Sports Network (Greg Sharpe, Matt Davison, Ben McLaughlin
SATELLITE RADIO - XM 382
INTERNET RADIO - Huskers.com, TuneIn.com
APP AUDIO - Official Huskers App, TuneIn App

HUSKERS
2019 Record: 4-2, 2-1 Big Ten
Last Game: Northwestern (W, 13-10)
Rankings: NR
Coach: Scott Frost
Career/NU Record: 27-17 (4th Year)/8-10 (2nd Year) 
vs. Minnesota: 1-0

GOPHERS
2019 Record: 5-0, 2-0 Big Ten
Last Game: Illinois (W, 40-17)
Rankings: RV
Coach: P.J. Fleck
Career/MN Record: 47-35 (7th Year)/17-13 (3rd Year)
vs. Nebraska: 1-1

The Matchup
Nebraska heads on the road for the second time in Big Ten Conference play this Saturday when Nebraska travels to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Game time from Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium is set for shortly after 6:30 p.m., and the game will be televised nationally on FS1. The game can be heard on the Husker Sports Network from Learfield-IMG. 

The contest is a key early-season matchup in the Big Ten West Division race, with both schools looking to establish themselves as division contenders as the 2019 season reaches the midway point.

Nebraska will bring a 4-2 record into the contest, including a 2-1 mark in Big Ten Conference play. The Huskers are coming off a dramatic 13-10 victory over Northwestern in Lincoln, winning the game on a field goal as time expired. The last-second victory over the Wildcats marked just the second time in Memorial Stadium history that Nebraska has secured a victory on a walk-off field goal. 

Minnesota enters the game with a perfect 5-0 record, including a 2-0 mark in Big Ten Conference play. The Gophers are coming off a 40-17 victory over Illinois on Saturday in Minneapolis to keep their perfect start intact. Minnesota has relied on an explosive offense, averaging 410 total yards and 35.8 points per game. The Gophers have won their past seven games overall, including a win over Wisconsin in the 2018 regular-season finale and a victory in the Quick Lane Bowl. The Gophers are ranked No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and are just outside of the top 25 in the AP Poll.

Series History
Minnesota holds a 32-25-2 edge in the all-time series between the two schools, including a 22-13-2 advantage in games played in Minneapolis. The Huskers are 2-2 in four games at Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium. 

• Nebraska owns a 5-3 advantage over the Gophers since joining the Big Ten Conference, including last year's 53-28 win in Lincoln.

• Nebraska has played Minnesota more than any other opponents with this Saturday marking the 60th all-time meeting. The schools met 51 times before Nebraska joined the Big Ten, including 19 straight seasons from 1934 to 1952. NU also played Minnesota eight straight years from 1967 to 1974. 

• Nebraska won 16 straight games in the series between 1963 and 2012, before a Minnesota victory in 2013. .

Minnesota a Memorable Matchup for Several Years
Nebraska defeated Minnesota 53-28 last season for the Huskers' first win of the season. Nebraska put up some noteworthy numbers in last year's meeting, and several current Huskers have enjoyed memorable matchups with Minnesota.

• Nebraska put up 659 yards of total offense in last year's win over Minnesota, which at the time marked the Huskers' highest output ever in a Big Ten Conference game (NU broke the record with 674 yards of total offense at Illinois last month).

• The Huskers scored 53 points last season against Minnesota, which marked the first time Nebraska had scored 50 points in a Big Ten Conference game. 

• Last year's 53-28 victory over Minnesota marked Scott Frost's first win as Nebraska's head coach.

• Adrian Martinez (125 yards) and Maurice Washington (109 yards) each had the highest rushing totals of their career in last season's matchup with Minnesota, when the Huskers had three 100-yard rushers for the fifth time in school history.

• Martinez completed his first 11 passes in last year's game and finished 25-of-29 for 276 yards, completing 86.2 percent of his passes. The effort set a Nebraska record for a quarterback who attempted at least 20 passes in a game.

• In the last trip to Minneapolis in 2017, JD Spielman totaled a career-high 291 all-purpose yards. Spielman's 291 all-purpose yards rank fifth in school history and are the second-highest total a Husker has ever had on the road. Spielman posted his 100th career reception in last year's win over Minnesota. 

Nebraska Joins 900-Win Club
Nebraska reached a major milestone in the history of its program with its win at Illinois on Sept. 21, becoming the fifth program in the country with 900 all-time victories. Nebraska joined Michigan, Ohio State, Texas and Alabama in the 900-win club. Oklahoma and Notre Dame joined the 900-win list a week later on Sept. 28.

Rk. School (Wins)
1. Michigan (957)
2. Ohio State (917)
3. Texas (912)
4. Alabama (910)
5. Nebraska (901)
    Notre Dame (901)
    Oklahoma (901)

Frost Offenses Impressive on Opening Drives
One common theme of a Scott Frost-led offense has been a fast start, and that has held true for Frost's tenure in Lincoln. NU has scored on its opening drive in three of six games in 2019. 

Nebraska received the opening kickoff against South Alabama and drove nine plays and 81 yards for a touchdown to a take a 7-0 lead. At Colorado, Nebraska drove 96 yards in five plays on its first possession to take a 7-0 lead. The Huskers opened with a field goal on the game's first drive against Northern Illinois, covering 58 yards in eight plays. The opening-drive success has continued a theme throughout Frost's head coaching tenure. 

• Nebraska scored on its first possession seven times in 12 games last season, including six of the final seven games. All seven of NU's opening scoring drives resulted in touchdowns. In Frost's two seasons, Nebraska has scored on its opening possession 10 times in 18 games.

• NU received the opening kickoff nine times in 2018 and scored touchdowns on six of those drives while punting only once. The Huskers had a game-opening touchdown drive to take a 7-0 lead in five straight games during the Big Ten Conference season.

• The Huskers scored on nearly 60 percent of their opening possessions in 2018, even with a pair of drive-ending turnovers in opponent territory. Nebraska's average touchdown drive covered more than 74 yards, including one 80-yard touchdown march and five 75-yard scoring drives.

• Over the last three seasons - 2018-19 at Nebraska and 2017 at UCF - Frost's offenses have scored a touchdown on their opening possession 18 times in 31 games (58 percent). The average length of the touchdown drive in that span is 74 yards.

• In three-plus years as a head coach, Frost's offenses have scored on their opening drive 23 times in 44 games, with 21 touchdowns and two field goals. In 84 games over six-plus seasons as a play-caller, Frost's offenses have scored on their first possession of the game 44 times, putting points on the board in more than half of their opening possessions.

• Frost's Opening Drive Scoring Percentage: 52% (44 of 84 drives)    
• Frost's Opening Drive Touchdown Percentage: 45% (38 of 84 drives)

Blackshirt Defense Making Noise Early in 2019 Season
The Nebraska defense has focused on taking a step forward in 2019, specifically causing more turnovers and big impact plays. Nebraska has shown that ability in stretches this season, particularly in home wins over South Alabama and Northern Illinois. 

• Nebraska has 11 takeaways through six games to rank fifth in the Big Ten and 15th nationally in that category. 

• Nebraska had five takeaways against South Alabama, including four in the second half. The five takeaways matched the most in two seasons under Scott Frost (Illinois, 2018) and was only the fourth time since 2010 that a Nebraska defense recorded five or more takeaways.

• Nebraska scored a pair of defensive touchdowns against the Jaguars–a 38-yard interception return by Eric Lee Jr. in the third quarter and a fumble recovery in the end zone by Alex Davis in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring.  The two defensive touchdowns marked the first time Nebraska scored a pair of defensive touchdowns since having two interception returns for touchdowns against Southern Miss in 2013. Nebraska is fourth in the nation in defensive touchdowns. 

• Lee's interception return for a touchdown was the first by a Husker since Marcus Newby had an interception for a touchdown against Northwestern in 2017.

• Davis' fumble recovery for a touchdown was the first by the Huskers since Josh Mitchell returned a fumble 57 yards for a touchdown against Miami in 2014. 

• Nebraska also scored on a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown by JD Spielman in the third quarter. The three non-offensive touchdowns were a first for Nebraska since the Huskers had three defensive touchdowns in a 31-3 win over Wake Forest in 2005. 

• Nebraska's effort against South Alabama marked the 16th time in school history the Huskers have scored on offense, defense and special teams in the same game.  It was the first time since 2012 NU had accomplished that feat, and the first instance against an FBS opponent since 2009 at Colorado.

• Nebraska has added six takeaways over the past five games, including a critical interception by Lamar Jackson against Northwestern with 1:00 remaining to set up a game-winning field goal. 

• Nebraska has averaged 2.2 takeaways in its past 11 games. Prior to that, Nebraska averaged 1.0 takeaway in its 30 previous games spanning three seasons. 

• The Huskers have forced three or more turnovers in four of their last 11 games. Before the current stretch, NU had not forced three turnovers in 30 games dating back to game two in 2016.

• Nebraska has forced 18 fumbles in its past 11 games. Prior to that, Nebraska had forced just 14 fumbles in its previous 34 games. 

• Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander has a history of producing disruptive defenses. In 43 games as a defensive coordinator (UCF, Nebraska) Chinander's defenses have scored 11 touchdowns.

Defending the Run Key for Blackshirts
Nebraska made big strides in defending the run early in the 2019 season. The Huskers held each of the first three opponents to less than 100 yards rushing. Illinois' run-heavy attack gained 221 yards on the ground before Ohio State ran for 368 yards. Nebraska allows 165.3 yards rushing per game. 

• Nebraska held three straight opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing to open the season, marking the first time NU held three straight opponents to less than 100 yards on the ground since early in the 2017 season. 

• The Huskers are allowing 4.05 yards per rush through six games, an improvement over last season when Nebraska surrendered 5.0 yards per rush. 

Offense Ranks Among Nation's Top Big-Play Units
Nebraska's offense has numerous big-play weapons that have helped the Huskers stress opposing defenses. Highlighted by 14 plays of 20 yards or more at Illinois, Nebraska ranks as one of the Big Ten and national leaders in producing chunk plays.

• NU has 36 scrimmage plays of 20-plus yards to rank second in the Big Ten and 12th nationally. 

• The Huskers rank in the top three in the Big Ten in plays of 40+ (13), 50+ (5) and 60+ (4) yards and are among the nation's top 17 teams in each of those categories.

• On the ground, Nebraska leads the Big Ten in rushes of 30+ (7), 40+ (7), 50+ (3) and 60+ (2) yards. Nebraska is in the top 12 in the nation in each of those categories. 

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