FORT COLLINS, COLO. – The Gophers opened Saturday's game with a new look at linebacker.
Everett Williams and Jonathan Celestin started in the spots that Cody Poock and De'Vondre Campbell had held in the opener against TCU.
"Cody was injured throughout the week," coach Jerry Kill said. "And then De'Vondre — we run a strict program and he broke a team rule. He was late, so we didn't play him the first quarter. A lot of people go, 'That's crazy.' But that's who we are. And he's a great kid. But that's just the way we work."
Kill did the same thing to linebacker Damien Wilson one game last season. Campbell still finished with three tackles and saved a touchdown with a leaping pass deflection during the third quarter.
Poock's surgically repaired right knee was a bit sore during the week, so the Gophers held him from practice twice. He made seven tackles against TCU, and made seven more against Colorado State. He also forced a fumble in overtime before Ryan Santoso kicked the game-winning field goal.
"This was a huge win for us," Poock said.
Injury report
• Left guard Jon Christenson left the game with a right knee injury. Kill said he's worried about that one, along with wide receiver KJ Maye's undisclosed injury that kept him out of overtime.
• Tight end Brandon Lingen suffered a concussion.