Year Five of the P.J. Fleck era of Gophers football opens with a huge challenge: No. 4 Ohio State, a 14-point favorite and the highest-ranked team Minnesota has faced in its opener since No. 2 TCU in 2015. A veteran Gophers team will try to put last year’s 3-4 record in the past. Three big story lines The fans are back An expected crowd of more than 50,000 is expected at Huntington Bank Stadium with fans allowed after the fallout from COVID-19 kept the stadium mainly empty in 2020. The Gophers hope to draw energy from a boisterous crowd on a festive night. Will Chris Autman-Bell play? Wide receiver Chris Autman-Bell, who has 78 career catches for 1,250 yards and six TDs, suffered a lower leg injury on Aug. 12, and Fleck said on his weekly radio show that the redshirt senior is progressing toward being a game-time decision. The…
Continue Reading: Gophers-Ohio State prediction and breakdown: Randy Johnson's forecast for Thursday night
