EVANSTON, ILL. -- The Gophers will open their Big Ten season Saturday without all-conference cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun, who has a knee injury and is not on the trip.

Boddy-Calhoun injured his right knee last week against Ohio. But the Gophers will have senior safety Antonio Johnson, who has recovered from the concussion he suffered last week. Fellow senior safety Damarius Travis made the trip, but he will not dress. He's been out since the TCU game with a hamstring injury.

It's chilly and windy at Ryan Field, where the Gophers and Northwestern will kick off at 11 a.m., on Big Ten Network. (Note: Glen Mason is doing the color.)

According to Weather.com, it's 52 degrees with a 23-mph wind and gusts up to 29. You can bet this will limit what both teams try to passing wise.

The Gophers will need their best running game possible. As I wrote here, it's Georgia North with Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks as the new RB tandem. Linebacker Jonathan Celestin is part of that Georgia contingent, too.

Here's The Call, with a look at the matchups and my prediction for the game. The Star Tribune Live Blog is a great way to follow the action inside and outside Ryan Field.

Check back here for other pregame news, etc.

Update: The Gophers are wearing maroon helmets, white jerseys and maroon pants. Northwestern is going wtih its black Gothic uniforms.

Chris Streveler no longer throws passes in warm-ups. He works strictly with the receivers. Demry Croft is listed as the No. 2 QB on the Gophers depth chart.

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