4 Gophers Players Suspended Before Indiana State Game

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Gophers football team played Saturday without four players who were suspended for violating team rules.

Freshman defensive backs Dior Johnson and Ray Buford, freshman defensive lineman Tamarion Johnson and sophomore defensive back KiAnte Hardin all sat out Minnesota's 58-28 victory over Indiana State.

Hardin and Buford have been battling for one of the team's two starting cornerback positions. Hardin had been listed as Saturday's starter before the suspensions were announced.

Gophers coach Tracy Claeys says the players were suspended indefinitely and that their status would be addressed on a "day-by-day" basis. He also expressed confidence in the team's ability to cover for the suspended players.