Gophers 35, Middle Tennessee State 24
The recap: Minnesota led 28-0 at halftime, but Middle Tennessee had nearly trimmed the lead in half five minutes into the third quarter. Mitch Leidner injured his left knee, but David Cobb rushed for a career-high 220 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Gophers hold on.
What was learned: The Gophers have looked impressive building big leads against Eastern Illinois (35-0) and Middle Tennessee. But Minnesota can ill afford to take its foot off the pedal, especially as the schedule gets more difficult.
YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
• Senior middle linebacker Damien Wilson had a career-high 14 tackles, giving him 24 for the season, which leads the Big Ten.
• Sophomore linebacker Jack Lynn entered with nine career tackles but made 10 against the Blue Raiders, including three near the goal line that forced a third-quarter field goal.
• Starting offensive tackle Jonah Pirsig walked off the field with what appeared to be a right hand or arm injury in the fourth quarter.
• The Gophers ran at least one play with Cobb and Berkley Edwards together in the same backfield.
UP NEXT: Texas Christian
3 p.m. Saturday, Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas
TV: Fox Sports 1. Radio: 100.3-FM
Records: Gophers 2-0, TCU 1-0
The skinny: TCU went 4-8 last year, but the losses to Baylor, Kansas State, West Virginia and Oklahoma were by a combined 11 points. The Horned Frogs always play good defense, and 14th-year coach Gary Patterson hired new offensive coordinators to start running a no-huddle, up-tempo offense. TCU defeated Samford 48-14 in the season opener Aug. 30, then had a bye this past week. Patterson tabbed Trevone Boykin as the starting quarterback, over Texas A&M transfer Matt Joeckel. Boykin finished 29-for-41 for 321 yards and two touchdowns, and he rushed for a touchdown, too.
JOE CHRISTENSEN