MINNESOTA at INDIANA

When: 2:30 p.m CT Saturday
Where: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Ind.
Stream: CBS
Radio: KFXN-100.3 FM
Weather: 64 degrees, overcast, 7 mph east wind
Betting spread: Indiana, minus-20.5

Records: The Gophers (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) edged then-No. 15 Iowa 13-10 at home to win Floyd of Rosedale for the second time in four years. No. 4 Indiana (7-1, 3-1) outlasted Michigan 13-6 in overtime in Ann Arbor, Mich., last weekend.

Context: Based on combined winning percentage, the Gophers have the toughest remaining schedule in the country. Their next five opponents — Indiana, UCLA, Penn State, Northwestern and Wisconsin — are a combined 28-8 (.778), and Penn State has half those losses.

History: The Gophers are 40-26-3 all-time against Indiana, including wins in the last four. But they have not played the Hoosiers with head coach Curt Cignetti. At Indiana, he is 34-3, 19-1 at home, his team went 16-0 to win the national championship last season. Minnesota is 0-12 against reigning national champions, including Ohio State last year and Michigan in 2024.

Big question: Can the Gophers compete with a College Football Playoff contender? Against top 10 teams last season, Minnesota lost to No. 1 Ohio State and No. 7 Oregon by a combined 84-16. Those games were over by halftime.

RELATED: Hoosiers have one of “most disruptive” pass rushes in country

Key matchup: Gophers offense vs. Indiana defense.

Indiana has been elite. They are tied for second in the nation in two key categories: 12.0 points per game and 4.14 yards allowed per play.

Meanwhile, Minnesota’s offense has been … ehh. They are outside the top 80 in those same categories.

The U’s running game is stuck in the mud, and quarterback Drake Lindsey has been inconsistent. After setting a program record for attempts without an interception, the junior has six picks in the past five games. He is 15th in the Big Ten in efficiency (127.2).

“He just has to know the windows are smaller and guys might not be as open as they are in certain other games,” offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh said. “(It’s about) raising your level of play when you play against these high-level defenses like an Indiana.”

Key to the game: Indiana has won or tied the turnover margin in 32 straight games — the most in FBS since at least 1995. Minnesota’s plus-three in turnover margin against Iowa helped them win as a seven-point underdog. Minnesota will need to snap Indiana’s streak if the U is to win as three-touchdown underdog.

Players to watch: Cornerback John Nestor is the highest-graded cornerback this season, per Pro Football Focus. and he was named the Senior Bowl’s defensive player of the week for 11 tackles and one forced fumble against Iowa.

“Unbelievable season,” defensive coordinator Danny Collins said.

But Nestor and fellow corner Aydan West will have their hands full with Hoosiers wideouts Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh, the best duo in the conference.

Prediction: Minnesota has wins against three ranked opponents this year but has not proven under Fleck it can hang with the best of the best. The Gophers’ subpar offensive play won’t change that this year. Indiana, 27-13.

Source: Yahoo Sports