Minnesota has defeated Penn State, a team the Ohio State Buckeyes are set to face in exactly two weeks. The 17th-ranked Golden Gophers, at home, took down the No. 4-ranked Nittany Lions.
They won 31-26, and still undefeated, Minnesota will not only have a claim to the Big Ten West with a win over Wisconsin. But, they may also play for a spot in the College Football Playoffs if their success continues.
Minnesota played to a higher standard and will inevitably be a top-ten team when the most recent rankings are revealed Tuesday night.
This could add late-season drama as Ohio State may be set to play an undefeated team in the Big Ten title game, something that wouldn’t have happened had Penn State knocked off Minnesota.
However, Ohio State may have no issues with Minnesota. The Gophers against Wisconsin will be more telling for their overall readiness for Ohio State.
Minnesota did two incredibly important things correctly.
They forced turnovers, pressuring Penn State’s Sean Clifford into three interceptions. They also limited turnovers as their quarterback, Tanner Morgan, notched over 300 yards to go with three touchdowns.
That said, Minnesota is legit, and we’ll get another clear look at their potential against Wisconsin and Iowa in the next few weeks.
