PLAYERS TO WATCH
–LB Carter Coughlin has put together some big games this season. He tallied two tackles and a sack against Maryland while getting a strip sack in the loss to Iowa.
–QB Zack Annexstad is coming off a tough performance against Iowa’s highly-ranked defense. He’s discovering life in the Big Ten Conference is not easy, as he prepares for Saturday’s showdown at No. 3 Ohio State. The freshman must not force passes and attempt to prolong plays in the pocket.
–WR Tyler Johnson is coming off another big game, catching six passes for 107 yards and a touchdown in the blowout loss to Iowa. As one of the Gophers’ only dynamic playmakers, Johnson must have a good game at Ohio State to keep the pressure off his young quarterback and also move the chains to keep the ball away from the Buckeyes’ prolific offense.
–WR Rashod Bateman is among the freshmen playing a key role for the young Gophers. The Georgia native is a player to keep an eye on, especially since catching seven passes for 68 yards and his first career touchdown at Maryland. He had seven receptions for 65 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to Iowa.
SERIES HISTORY: Ohio State leads Minnesota 44-7. The Buckeyes defeated the Gophers, 28-14, in 2015 in Minnesota’s last visit to Columbus.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Was he perfect? No. But there were things I kept saying into the headset, that, ‘Man, he didn’t do that last week. He grew.’ Then he did things and I was, ‘Oh, no, no. We’ve got to break that habit. He did it again.’” — Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck, on freshman QB Zack Annexstad’s performance in the loss against Iowa.