Two 0-2 teams in the Big Ten West seek their first win. The Gophers' conference-worst defense meets Illinois, the conference's lowest-scoring offense. Meanwhile, COVID-19 has dramatically impacted both, making this outcome a real tossup. Prediction: Illinois 30, Gophers 24
THREE BIG STORY LINES
Coronavirus
The Gophers will be without defensive coordinator Joe Rossi, who tested positive for COVID-19 this week, and already had several players absent for either injury or COVID issues. Illinois had 14 players unavailable because of injury or COVID-19 in its most recent game, including starting quarterback Brandon Peters.
Defense trials
Without Rossi, co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Joe Harasymiak will call the game, something he did as a d-coordinator and head coach at Maine from 2014-18. But the Gophers have allowed an average of 578 yards through two games and struggled with young and inexperienced players on the field.
Pass the ball
While the Gophers have joked in the past that RTB doesn't stand for coach P.J. Fleck's "Row the Boat" culture but instead "Run the Ball," the team's heavy reliance on the ground game hasn't helped it win. Putting quarterback Tanner Morgan and receivers Rashod Bateman and Chris Autman-Bell to better use will be key.
TWO KEY MATCHUPS
Mohamed Ibrahim vs. the world