About Last Week This happened. [Barron] The Road Ahead Minnesota (3-2, 1-1 B1G) Last week: Beat Louisiana, 35-24 Recap: They got back in the win column, but it wasn’t pretty. Minnesota trailed 17-14 at halftime, and didn’t get their lead out to multiple scores until the fourth quarter. They were outgained by 1.4 yards per play by the Ragin’ Cajuns. The offense looks more like what we generally expected entering the season; after running the ball on 36% of plays in the opener, they’ve run the ball on 70% of plays in the intervening 4 weeks, including 78% this week. But it’s the defense that is the real cause for concern; in the last two weeks, they’ve allowed 6.2 yards per play to Northwestern and 6.7 yards per play to Louisiana. This team is as frightening as (Cinema Edition): The shark from Jaws. Yes, it’s formidable, but its options to go after you are SUPER limited. If it tries to attack through the air, it’s mostly just gonna flop around. Fear Level = 5 Michigan should worry about: Minnesota is, statistically and in terms of eye test, the best team Michigan has faced thus far. Michigan can sleep soundly about: Freshman Darius Taylor, to whom I attribute 73% of Minnesota’s run game improvement, missed last week’s game with a leg injury. I haven’t seen anything about his return, but even if he does, it’s likely that he won’t be 100% a week after having to sit out. When they play Michigan: For some reason, the last three games between Michigan and Minnesota have all been night games as well: The one game in 2020 where Michigan looked like a competent football team The one game in 2017 where Michigan looked like a competent football team The 2015 goal line stand game The Brown Jug games in 1991, 1996, 2002, 2003 (the Buffalo Stampede game) and 2006 were also night games, all of which Michigan won. Next game: vs. Michigan, 7:30 p.m., NBC (Minnesota +19) [AFTER THE JUMP: Everyone is on a bye next week]