IOWA CITY – Seventh-ranked Minnesota looks to keep its perfect record intact when it visits No. 22 Iowa on Saturday in the battle for the Floyd of Rosedale. The Golden Gophers upset then No. 4 Penn State 31-26 in Week 11 to climb nine spots to No. 8 in the College Football Playoff rankings after improving to 9-0 for the first time since since 1904, and they hope to take a big step towards their first Big Ten West Division title by ending a four-game skid in the rivalry with the Hawkeyes.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, Fox. LINE: Iowa -3
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"It's a big game for this program and it's a big game for this state," Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman told reporters. "I just know we have a chance to get it this year so that is what we need to focus on." Iowa's hopes of winning the West Division are on life support after dropping a 24-22 decision to No. 15 Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes had a chance to tie the game, but came up short on a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter to fall three games behind Minnesota with three contests remaining, but can play the role of spoiler, as they search for their ninth straight win over the Gophers in Iowa City. "It's going to be a challenge to get back on our feet, but we have good leadership and good guys," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz told reporters. "Minnesota has earned the right to be ranked that high … and it's a great opportunity to play a team that is playing very well right now."
ABOUT MINNESOTA (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten)
Tanner Morgan had one of the best games of his career as he completed 18-of-20 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns in the win against Penn State to improve to 13-2 as the starting quarterback. Bateman hauled in seven passes for a career-high 203 yards and a touchdown against the Nittany Lions to become the second player in program history to surpass 200 receiving yards in a single game. Tyler Johnson added seven catches for 104 yards and a touchdown to give him a team-high eight on the season while extending his streak of games with at least one reception to 32.
ABOUT IOWA (6-3, 3-3)
Nate Stanley threw for 208 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the loss to Wisconsin to overtake Ricky Stanzi (7,377) for third place on the program’s all-time passing yards list with 7,509. Tyrone Tracy Jr. caught five passes for a career-high 130 yards and a touchdown while Keith Duncan made three field goals to set a new single-season Iowa record with 22, eclipsing the old mark of 21 shared by Rob Houghtlin (1987), Nate Kaeding (2002) and Kyle Schlicher (2004). Linebacker Kristian Welch is questionable for Saturday’s clash after sitting out the last three games with a leg injury while wide receiver Brandon Smith will miss his second straight contest with an ankle issue.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Minnesota has outscored its opponents 199-67 over its past five conference games.
2. Iowa has won six of the last seven overall meetings with the Golden Gophers.
3. Minnesota has won 11 consecutive games, which is tied for the third-longest streak in the nation.
PREDICTION: Iowa 26, Minnesota 24