THE ESSENTIALS
Date/Time: Aug. 29, 2024 / 7 p.m. CT
Site: Minneapolis
Stadium: Huntington Bank Stadium
Surface: FieldTurf
Capacity: 50,805
Series Overall: Minnesota trails 0-1
Streak Overall: Minnesota lost 1
Series at MINN: Never met
First Meeting: Minnesota lost 31-13 in Chapel Hill (9/16/2023)
Television: FOX // Jason Benetti (PXP), Brock Huard (Analyst), Allison Williams (Reporter)
Gopher Radio: KFAN FM 100.3 | SiriusXM: 84; SXM App // Mike Grimm (PXP), Darrell Thompson (Analyst), Justin Gaard (Reporter), Tanner Hoops (Host), Dan Rowbotham (Engineer)
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. University of Minnesota football begins its 141st season, and eighth under head coach P.J. Fleck, Thursday night as it hosts North Carolina at Huntington Bank Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. with a national TV audience on FOX.
2. Minnesota is 98-36-6 all-time in season openers, including wins in six of its last eight openers (5-2 under Fleck). The Golden Gophers are 102-31-7 all-time in home openers with an identical stretch of six wins in their past eight home openers (also 5-2 under Fleck). Minnesota, which is opening a season at home for the 12th straight year, is 10-5 in home openers since Huntington Bank Stadium opened in 2009. The kickoff date of Aug. 29 is tied for the second earliest in program history. Only the 2014 opener on Aug. 28 saw the Gophers start the season earlier.
3. Named to the 2024 Maxwell Award watch list, sophomore running back Darius Taylor played in only six games last season as a true freshman because of injuries. However, in those six games, he rushed 138 times for 799 yards (fifth most ever by a freshman in school history) and five touchdowns. He averaged 133.2 rushing yards per game, which was the third most in school history and he set a true freshman rushing record with 208 yards against Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl. Taylor did not play in enough games to be listed in the NCAA stat rankings last season, but if he were eligible, his 133.2 yards per game would have led the nation and would have been eight yards more than Cody Schrader from Missouri who averaged 125.2 yards per game. More on Taylor can be found on Page 4 of the notes.
4. Minnesota is handing the keys to the offense to sixth-year transfer quarterback Max Brosmer from the University of New Hampshire. A finalist for the 2023 Walter Payton Award and a Second Team All-American, Brosmer last year completed 294-of-459 passes (64.1%) for 3,464 yards and 29 touchdowns against five interceptions, while also rushing 57 times for 126 yards and three scores. He led the FCS in passing yards per game (313.55) and total offense per game (325.0). Brosmer finished his Wildcat career by completing 760-of-1,225 passes for 8,713 yards, 70 touchdowns, 25 interceptions, 191 rushes, 263 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.
5. The 2024 campaign is the eighth for head coach P.J. Fleck at Minnesota, where his record is 50-34. He is fifth in program history for overall wins, Big Ten wins (29) and games coached (84). Fleck’s .595 win percentage is third best among Minnesota coaches with at least 45 games under their helm behind only Henry L. Williams (.786, 1900-21) and Bernie Bierman (.716, 1932-41, ’45-50). In his 12th season overall as a college head coach, Fleck is 80-56 (.588).
CARROLL CONVERSATION
Gopher senior offensive lineman Quinn Carroll spoke with MNN sports director Mike Grimm about Thursday’s game:
Quinn Carroll (L) and Dragan Kesich (R)
(info and photos courtesy of Gopher Sports)
