MINNEAPOLIS -- The Gophers' schedule continues to get harder. Minnesota faces one of its toughest tests of the year this Saturday when No. 8 Ohio State comes to TCF Bank Stadium. The Buckeyes are one of the highest-scoring teams in the country, and have won seven in a row since their only loss of the year. Can the Gophers slow down OSU's offense and pull off the upset in the final home game of the season? Here are five things to watch as Minnesota hosts Ohio State.
1. Will the Buckeyes crack 50 points against the Gophers?
Minnesota hasn't seen an offense of this caliber yet this year -- or quite a while, for that matter. Ohio State has scored 49 or more points in six of its last seven games, and that included a 49-point performance against a stingy Michigan State defense. For some perspective, Minnesota has scored 49 points just six times in the last decade. The Buckeyes don't lead the Big Ten in either passing yards or rushing yards per game, but OSU is the top scoring team in the conference. The most points the Gophers have allowed this year? That would be 38 to Purdue, albeit in a Minnesota victory. The Gophers' offense did score 51 points last weekend against Iowa, but this Minnesota team isn't built to win a shootout. Keeping Ohio State under 50 points is essential. Holding the Buckeyes to under 40 would be even better for Jerry Kill's team. But as OSU's opponents have shown this year, that's easier said than done.
2. Can Maxx Williams continue to amaze?
Minnesota's sophomore tight end made one of the most impressive catches in recent memory when he drug his toe to get a foot in bounds while stretching out to make a catch against Iowa. Besides that catch, Williams had a career-high three touchdowns as he once again proved he's the biggest threat in Minnesota's passing game. Kill said he's never seen a tight end quite like Williams, who currently leads the Gophers in catches (22), receiving yards (326) and touchdowns (7). Minnesota will be without wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky on Saturday, limiting quarterback Mitch Leidner's options in the passing game. Williams will likely once again be Leidner's top target. And why not? He might be the best tight end in the Big Ten and is starting to gain national attention. Ohio State's pass defense has been middle-of-the-road in the conference, so Minnesota may be able to find some weaknesses in the Buckeyes' secondary.
3. Will weather be a factor for either team?
Saturday's game will be the coldest of the year at TCF Bank Stadium, Minnesota's outdoor home since 2009. Temperatures are expected to be in the in the low 20s by kickoff at 11 a.m. on Saturday, and there's a slight chance of snow during the game too. Kill doesn't expect the cold weather to impact either team, though -- or if it does, both will be affected equally. Ohio State is used to playing in cold games late in the year, too, in Columbus. Big Ten teams recruit players who are capable of playing in less-than-ideal weather. A game played in frigid weather may cause both teams to run the ball plenty. That would play to the Gophers' strength, as Minnesota's running game is far ahead of its passing attack. Neither team will likely be comfortable on Saturday, but a game in the 20s in possible snow is Big Ten football at its finest.
4. Minnesota's cornerbacks vs. Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett
Before the season began, the Buckeyes appeared to be in trouble when star quarterback Braxton Miller was lost for the year with a season-ending injury. In stepped freshman J.T. Barrett, and he's been phenomenal in place of Miller. Barrett has averaged 239.6 passing yards per game as well as 64.7 rushing yards per contest, good for 10th among all Big Ten players. Against a tough Michigan State defense last weekend, Barrett threw for 300 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions while also running for 86 yards and two more touchdowns on the ground. Kill said earlier this week that he felt as if Barrett has been passing even better than Miller was when healthy. The Gophers have yet to face a quarterback of Barrett's caliber, and they may not the rest of the season. Barrett has the ability to singlehandedly beat teams. Minnesota can't let that happen on Saturday. Cornerbacks Eric Murray and Briean Boddy-Calhoun will have to be on their A-game against Barrett.
5. Can the Gophers' impressive roll continue?
Minnesota is still in great shape in the Big Ten West. The Gophers are one of three teams in the division with one loss, and they'll face the other two -- Nebraska and Wisconsin -- in the final two weeks after playing Ohio State. But if Minnesota loses this Saturday to the Buckeyes, that will greatly change things in the last two games. The Gophers are 12.5-point underdogs this weekend, but they've beat the spread before in Kill's tenure. If Minnesota can somehow pull off the upset Saturday it would give the team tremendous confidence heading into the final two games. The final four games of the year were expected to be the toughest stretch for the Gophers. Minnesota made it look easy against rival Iowa in a 51-14 win last weekend. It certainly won't be easy against Ohio State, but this year's Gophers squad seems to believe in itself. There's no doubt Minnesota will go into Saturday's game thinking it can win.
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