DeLaSalle forward Reid Travis has become the first of the local Big Three — Apple Valley's Tyus Jones and Golden Valley's Rashad Vaughn are the other two — to announce he will make an official visit to the University of Minnesota. Travis, ranked No. 40 nationally in the 2014 recruiting class by Rivals.com, will make his official visit to the Gophers on Oct. 25.

Travis has the Gophers on a shortlist that also includes Duke, Gonzaga and Stanford, with Duke considered by many to be the strong favorite. Travis already has visited Duke and Gonzaga, and will visit Stanford this weekend. Stanford coach Johnny Dawkins will be in Minneapolis this week to visit Travis.

Travis father, Nate, told the Star Tribune that ESPN called Sunday night ask if Reid would wait until Nov. 15 — two days after the start of the fall signing period — to announce his college decision, which ESPN wants to broadcast nationally.

"He is giving that some thought," Nate Travis said.

Amelia Rayno and Jason Gonzalez

MSU Mankato ranked No. 1 in D-II football

For the first time in school history, the Minnesota State Mankato football team is ranked No. 1 in the American Football Coaches Association Division II poll.

The Mavericks (6-0) moved up one spot to No. 1 after last week's No. 1, Valdosta State, lost to West Alabama. MSU Mankato received 791 points and 26 of 32 first-place votes to take the top spot.

Minnesota Duluth (5-1) moved up two spots to No. 9, and St. Cloud State (5-1) re-entered the poll at No. 25.

Mariucci Classic field set

The Gophers men's hockey team announced that Ferris State, Colgate and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will complete the field of the Mariucci Classic, which will be played Jan. 3-4. Minnesota will face Colgate at 7 p.m. Jan. 3 at Mariucci Arena, preceded by Ferris State against RPI at 4 p.m. The Gophers will play at 7 p.m. on Jan. 4, no matter the result of the Jan. 3 game. The other game will be at 4 p.m.

• The Gophers, who beat Mercyhurst and New Hampshire to win the season-opening Ice Breaker tournament, moved up two spots to No. 3 in the U.S. College Hockey Online men's poll. Miami (Ohio) supplanted Massachusetts-Lowell as the top-ranked team. Wisconsin is No. 2, followed by the Gophers, Notre Dame, Michigan and North Dakota.

• The Gophers women's team (4-0) retained its No. 1 ranking in the USCHO poll after its sweep of No. 4 Wisconsin over the weekend. Minnesota, which has won 53 consecutive games, received all 15 first-place votes in the poll.

U volleyball on ESPN2

The Gophers-Michigan State volleyball game scheduled for Thursday at the Sports Pavilion will be begin at 7 p.m. — an hour later than previously scheduled — and will be televised by ESPN2.

• Gophers middle blocker Tori Dixon was named the Big Ten's defensive player of the week after her performances against Penn State and Ohio State last weekend.