12. MINNESOTA (5-5, 2-5)
Last week: Beat Purdue 41-10
This week: vs. Northwestern, 11 (BTN)
Illinois fired its defensive coordinator and routed Minnesota. Now the Gophers fired their defensive coordinator and routed Purdue. Is Purdue going to fire its coordinator, or will Minnesota get routed by Northwestern?
11. MINNESOTA (5-5, 2-5)
Adios, Robb Smith. Hello, defense? For one week, it was that simple for P.J. Fleck, who fired his defensive coordinator after Minnesota gave up 600-plus yards to Illinois. The Gophers responded by holding Purdue to season lows in yards and points. The Boilermakers were 0 of 12 on third down and didn't find the end zone until the fourth quarter of a 41-10 blowout. Can Minnesota pull one more rabbit out of its hat? (Last week: 13)
Minnesota beat Purdue 41-10 on Saturday. The temp at kickoff was 21 degrees in Minneapolis. One week after a terrible defensive performance against Illinois which led to the firing of DC Robb Smith, the Gophers came out and held Purdue to a season low 233 total yards. This Gopher team had been alloweding 43.2 points a game and 507.7 yards per game coming in. Mohamed Ibrahim ran for 156 yards and QB Seth Green had a TD run and a TD Pass. Black Cashman also forced a fumble and returned it 40 yards for a TD.
UP NEXT: Minnesota plays Northwestern at noon on BTN.
