Reusse: Talent might be an issue Saturday for Gophers, but not toughness

Michigan State had lost five Big Ten games by a total of 13 points when it came to TCF Bank Stadium in November 2012 to close the regular season. The Gophers were also 2-5 in the conference, although they had a chance to finish 7-5 overall in coach Jerry Kill's second regular season.

Aaron Hill's 33-yard interception return gave the Gophers a 7-3 lead in the first quarter. The Spartans decided to let Le'Veon Bell win the game on the ground after that. He carried 35 times for 266 yards in a 26-10 victory.

Bell averaged 7.6 yards running the most basic and predictable plays, and the Gophers did not have the physical wherewithal to do anything about it.

You rattle off the upgrades in Minnesota football two Novembers later, and from here, most impressive is the fact that an opponent no longer can beat the Gophers by smashing them in the mouth.

The 2014 Gophers were a couple of steps slow against TCU, and they were in a first-half fog against both Purdue and Illinois, but strength-wise, and across both lines … well, put it this way:

The Gophers are more likely to win a game giving the ball to David Cobb 35 times on a cold afternoon than they are to lose another game in that manner.

The offensive line has gotten its act together through the efforts of three stalwarts: Zac Epping, Josh Campion and Tommy Olson. A veteran defensive line has been fortified by Steven Richardson, an 18-year-old freshman nose tackle.

Richardson was an overlooked recruit out of Mount Carmel High School in Illinois because he's only 6-feet tall. That was good news for the Gophers, since it limited the competition for Richardson's talents.

Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys was asked this week if he was worried what would occur when this true freshman faced gigantic offensive linemen in the Big Ten.

"No, because I'm not worried about height,'' Claeys said. "If you look at the way the kid's built, he's a rock. And he's explosive. If you have the size with the strength he has … the only reason the kid is not playing at the so-called helmet schools is because of his height.

"I mean he can play anywhere in the country. Anywhere ...''

For Saturday, the bettors seem to have decided to go with the strong arm, exceptional speed and recruiting stars of the Ohio State Buckeyes. The visitors have gone from 12- to 14-point favorites during the week.

What's being ignored with that two-touchdown spread is that Ohio State had to battle mightily to defeat Penn State 31-24 two games earlier.

And this is a guarantee: The Gophers have a stronger and more tough-minded roster at this moment than does Penn State.

The physical toughness is reflected on the lines, and with Damian Wilson tackling all that moves from middle linebacker, and Cobb turning 18-inch holes into 3-footers by blasting forward, and the tough mindedness was articulated magnificently with an anecdote, again byClaeys.

He was asked if his secondary was "really motivated'' by the challenge of facing J.T. Barrett's red-hot passing and Ohio State's collection of fleet receivers.

"They are pretty motivated, that's what I say,'' Claeys said. "Eric [Murray] wasn't very happy with himself after the first Iowa drive. It reminded me a lot of Nebraska game last year. He gave up a couple of catches to Kenny Bell early on, and he said, 'Coach, that won't happen again.' ''

It hardly would be remembered if the Gophers were to upset Ohio State and end the Buckeyes' record 21-game winning streak in the Big Ten on Saturday.

I don't see this as a preposterous notion, when you consider the Buckeyes will be on the road in frigid conditions against a better team than Penn State. And if the upset happens, go ahead and storm the field … this one would be worthy of it.