The No. 12 Michigan Wolverines welcome the Big House to Minnesota this afternoon in what looks more like a defensive battle.

Michigan, fresh off a thrilling 27-24 win over USC, is aiming to go 2-0 in conference play. Meanwhile, the Golden Gophers look to bounce back from a tough 31-14 loss to Iowa.

The Wolverines have dominated Minnesota of late, securing the Little Brown Jug in each of the last four games, including a commanding 52-10 win in Minneapolis last year. Kirk Campbell and Co. will no doubt be looking to take advantage of the Gophers’ run defense, which struggled mightily in Week 3 against Iowa. After leading 14-7 at halftime, PJ Fleck’s squad was outscored 24-0 as the Hawkeyes powered through on the floor . Michigan will likely try to capitalize on this weakness again, relying on Kalel Mullings and the running game like it did in the win over USC.

Game information

Teams: Minnesota Golden Gophers and No. 12 Michigan Wolverines

Date: Saturday, September 28, 2024

Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI

Start: Noon ET

TV: FOX

radio: WXYT-FM (97.1)

Spread: Michigan -10.5; O/U: 35.5

Today’s question: Can Michigan make progress offensively against a competent defense?

Defensively, Minnesota was impressive, giving up just 12.5 points per game, good for 15th in the nation. However, the offense, which is comparable to Michigan’s 26.5 points per game, has struggled with consistency.

We saw how Michigan fully committed to quarterback Alex Orji last week – completing 7 of 12 passes for just 32 yards – and cruised to victory. But how sustainable is this offensive game plan? Could the Wolverines actually find their way to offensive success with Cade McNamara/Josh Gattis?

Urban Meyer doesn’t seem to think so, but Saturday’s matchup could be the perfect test to answer that question.