Gopher Nation will collide with Obama Nation on the University of Minnesota campus Saturday.

And while the U football team and President Obama share shaky prospects these days, the near-simultaneous staging of a Big Ten game and a campaign rally all but guarantee gridlock in southeast Minneapolis.

Because of the threat of rain, however, the crowd for Obama's rally will be considerably smaller than originally expected: It has been moved indoors to the University Field House. Until rain entered the forecast, the rally was to be held on the Northrop Mall, where tens of thousands of people were expected, as opposed to the 7,000-person capacity of the field house.

Kickoff for the Gophers-Penn State game is 11 a.m., with gates opening for Obama's rally at the field house 90 minutes later.

The game is likely to end by about 2 p.m.; Obama isn't likely to hit the stage until well after 3 p.m.

University officials are warning that parking and access to the venues, just a couple of blocks apart, will be tight.

Specific advice about the rally's logistics can be found here: bit.ly/9dheEB.