Zac Epping's streak of 42 consecutive starts on the Gophers offensive line includes a victory over Iowa as a redshirt freshman followed by two losses to the Hawkeyes.
"They always have a great O-line and a great D-line, and the game is won in the trenches," Epping said Tuesday. "Whoever's going to win the line of scrimmage is going to win the game."
Iowa boasts two of the Big Ten's best defensive tackles in Carl Davis and Louis Trinca-Pasat, so the Gophers will have their hands full.
At left guard, Epping has kept his streak going despite a high ankle sprain suffered Sept. 6. At left tackle, junior Josh Campion has run his own consecutive starts streak to 34 games. And at center, senior Tommy Olson has started all eight games.
Those three have been mainstays, but right tackle Ben Lauer reinjured an ankle injury against Illinois, forcing Jonah Pirsig into action despite a bout with the stomach flu. Lauer hoped to return to practice Tuesday, but coach Jerry Kill said Pirsig might start against Iowa.
"At halftime [at Illinois], he wasn't doing very well," Kill said of the 6-9 Pirsig. "Sunday, he really had a good practice. The more you play, the more success you have, the more confidence in your game. But you know, we certainly need him right now. There's no doubt about that."
At right guard, Joe Bjorklund has been filling in for the injured Foster Bush, but the Gophers are getting true freshman Connor Mayes ready to play more snaps against Iowa.
"We need to get him coached up because he's going to have to give us some minutes," Kill said.
