College football is just around the corner -- we're less than five weeks away from the Gophers' season opener on Aug. 30. So, with that in mind, I'll take a look at Minnesota's 12 opponents by asking five questions to a beat writer covering that team. Today's installment is Game 6, at Ohio State.
Opponent: Ohio State
When, where: Oct. 13, Ohio Stadium, time, TV to be determined
2017 record: 12-2, 8-1 Big Ten. Defeated Wisconsin 27-21 in Big Ten Championship Game. Defeated USC 24-7 in Cotton Bowl
Opponent's beat writer: Tim May, Columbus Dispatch
Five Questions for Tim May on Ohio State
1. J.T. Barrett accounted for more than 12,000 yards of offense and nearly 150 touchdowns in his career. How will the Buckeyes replace such a prolific quarterback?
The Buckeyes already have replaced Barrett a couple of times, in 2014 with Cardale Jones, who did great things in the three-game sprint to the first College Football Playoff national title, and with Dwayne Haskins Jr. last year in the direst of circumstances: Late third quarter, at Michigan, trailing, and he leads them back to victory. Confidence is high on the team that Haskins has the right stuff, especially in terms of perhaps taking the passing game to a higher level, and that his backup Tate Martell potentially is as elusive a playmaker as there might be in the league. Of course, neither has ever started a college game, and Martell has never played in one, so there is that.
