College Sports

Gophers

September 2, 2017

Minnesota's wide receiver Tyler Johnson ran for a touchdown in the first quarter as they took on the Buffalo Bulls at TCF Bank Stadium, Thursday, Augu

Gophers Week 1 replay: Looking back, looking ahead

The P.J. Fleck Era of Gophers football opened with fanfare Thursday night, but the game itself did not follow the path of a predicted Minnesota blowout.

Gophers

September 1, 2017

Shannon Brooks, left, and Demry Croft were part of a methodical, but perhaps somewhat boring, Minnesota offense on Thursday. That less-than-thrilling

Fleck played surgeon, not showman, in Thursday's methodical victory

Was Thursday's closer-than-expected 17-7 Gophers football victory flashy? No. But new coach P.J. Fleck and his squad are 1-0. "We had to do what we had to do to win the football game," Fleck said.

Gophers

September 1, 2017

Area college openers: Sioux Falls shuts down UMD; Mankato crushes Mary

Max Mickey ran for 114 yards and a touchdown to lead defending NSIC South Division champion Sioux Falls to a 26-7 road victory over the defending NSIC North champions

August 31, 2017

Ed Cunningham, a veteran football analyst for ESPN and ABC, at home in Long Beach, Calif., Aug. 23, 2017.

ESPN football analyst quits job, citing player safety as reason

Longtime ESPN college football analyst Ed Cunningham says he left the network in part out of concern over injuries to players, especially brain trauma.

Gophers

August 31, 2017

Games start tonight: Small college football weekend preview

A look at Week 1 around the state's college football games, including the top two teams from the NSIC last season squaring off Thursday night.

Gophers

August 31, 2017

Running backs Shannon Brooks, left, and Rodney Smith practiced earlier this season.

Scoggins: Fixing the quarterback issue? Give ball to Smith and Brooks

The Gophers have questions at quarterback, but the tag-team duo of tailbacks Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith combined for 1,808 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, marks they should exceed this season.

Gophers

August 29, 2017

File-This Jan. 2, 2017, file photo shows Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley looking for room to run against USC during the first hal

Big Ten preview: Penn State is most definitely back among the powers

Though the stain and heartbreak caused by Penn State's child-abuse scandal will never go away, the program has survived decimating sanctions in a fast-track return to power.

Gophers

August 29, 2017

Buffalo quarterback Tyree Jackson runs in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Nevada on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016 in Reno, Nev. (AP

About the Buffalo Bulls: A guide to Minnesota's first opponent

The Bulls have mainly toiled in anonymity, with nine FBS seasons of two or fewer victories and only two winning campaigns.

Gophers

August 29, 2017

St Thomas running back Jordan Roberts is back, after missing several games last season because of an injury.

MIAC football season preview: Can anyone stop St. Thomas?

St. Thomas, which has won five conference titles in the past seven years, is expected to continue the trend. The Tommies are ranked No. 5 in the D3football.com poll and picked as the favorite by MIAC coaches.

Gophers

August 29, 2017

Karim Ortiz of Cancun, Mexico, led Gustavus in rushing last fall.

From Cancun to Gustavus, team's top back is a product of unique connection

Coach Peter Haugen didn't view the Gusties' 2011 visit to Cancun as a recruiting trip. But that's been the happy result of a service project.

Gophers

August 28, 2017

UMD head football coach Curt Wiese talked with quarterback Justin Laureys during practice last month. ] JEFF WHEELER ‚Ä¢ jeff.wheeler

NSIC football preview: Duluth, despite QB uncertainty, favored to keep North title streak alive

Since the NSIC split into two divisions for football in 2008, Minnesota Duluth has won or shared all nine North Division titles. The Bulldogs are are favored to keep their division streak alive.

Gophers

August 28, 2017