Minnesota's Rolling, Favored To Beat Penn State
How's this for a paradigm shift in Big Ten football? Minnesota has won straight three conference games and is favored, ever so slightly, to beat Penn State.
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How's this for a paradigm shift in Big Ten football? Minnesota has won straight three conference games and is favored, ever so slightly, to beat Penn State.
Minnesota coach Richard Pitino is on the verge of his first game with the Gophers. They host Lehigh on Friday night in the season opener. Pitino said before the team's practice on Thursday afternoon that he's nervous before every game, so this will be no different.
There are smiles on the faces of Gopher football players – that's what happens when you win. The U of M is on a three-game Big Ten win streak, something the program hasn't done for years.
Given their bloodlines and new jobs, Minnesota's Richard Pitino and Northwestern's Chris Collins have quite a bit in common. Both are in their 30s. They're the sons of well-known coaches, and they already seem to have a bond heading into their first season in the Big Ten.
Minnesota coach Jerry Kill is working his way back into the job after taking a leave of absence to better manage his epilepsy. He's not ready to return to the sideline. But he said confidently that he'll soon be seizure-free.
Nebraska's home game against Minnesota this weekend will be televised on ESPN. The Big Ten Conference announced which channel would air the game on Sunday.
The Gopher football team takes on Northwestern on Saturday searching for Minnesota's first Big Ten win. It will most likely be defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys' first time as acting head coach in Jerry Kill's absence, as the head coach is in the midst of an indefinite leave to manage his epilepsy.
All-session ticket packages go on sale Monday for the inaugural Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. The tournament will be held March 20-22, 2014, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Jake Rudock threw for one touchdown and ran for another and Iowa beat Minnesota on both sides of the ball in a 23-7 victory on Saturday. Mark Weisman rushed for 147 yards on 24 carries, and Mike Meyer made three of his four field goal attempts to help the Hawkeyes (4-1, 1-0) start the Big Ten with a bang. After losing their opener to Northern Illinois, they've outscored their last two opponents 82-10. Senior linebackers Christian Kirksey, James Morris and Anthony Hitchens led a stifling effort on defense, including interceptions by Kirksey and Morris of Minnesota quarterback Philip Nelson. Nelson hadn't played in two weeks because of an injury, but he started ahead of Mitch Leidner for the Gophers (4-1, 0-1).
When Philip Nelson's right hamstring strain forced him out of the game, Minnesota turned to redshirt freshman Mitch Leidner at quarterback. Leidner started for the Gophers last week, too, rushed for 151 yards and four touchdowns and tops the depth chart going into the Big Ten opener Saturday against Iowa. Nelson, the sophomore who took over at midseason last year, has no guarantees of getting the job back.
Quarterback Mitch Leidner rushed for 151 yards and four touchdowns to lift Minnesota to a 43-24 victory over San Jose State on Saturday. Leidner was filling in for injured starter Philip Nelson, who was out with a bad hamstring. He also passed for 71 yards as the Golden Gophers improved to 4-0. Gophers coach Jerry Kill returned to the sideline a week after missing the second half because of an epileptic seizure and made it through the game without incident.
Big Ten football coaches say there aren't very many places where they can unload frustrations about fans, reporters or anyone else without paying a price. On Tuesday's weekly call with reporters, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said that about the only person a coach can vent to in confidence is his wife. And he joked that that isn't a sure thing.
If all goes according to plan, the possibility of an FCS wins over one of the big boys of college football won't exist much longer in the Big Ten. The College Football Playoff is coming next season, and strength of schedule is part of the criteria the selection committee will use to determine the four teams. Playing FCS opponents wouldn't help the cause.
New coach Rich Pitino and his Gophers will open the Big Ten Conference season with none other than the national runner-up Michigan Wolverines. The University of Minnesota men's basketball team's 2014 conference schedule was released Wednesday, and it includes a home opener against Michigan on Jan. 2 before playing Purdue on Jan. 5 at Williams Arena.
Philip Nelson was a gifted quarterback from Mankato West, where he was turning heads in the Big Ten. He committed to Minnesota, and in his sophomore season he's progressing like he did in high school. "It's a lot like high school when it comes to each year you play, it slows down noticeably, and that's where I'm at right now. It's taken a step slower for me, and I think as an offense we all feel the same way," Nelson said.
Touting a strong finish to the previous season is a natural talking point for any college football team. At Minnesota, momentum has been trumpeted all summer. Even though the Gophers lost their bowl game to fall to 6-7 and won only once after Halloween, they showed signs of progress after back-to-back 3-9 finishes.
When the Big Ten grows to 14 teams, the conference's longtime football powers will literally be out of Minnesota's half of the league. But the Gophers didn't get any breaks on the upcoming schedules. In 2014 and 2015, when Maryland and Rutgers are added to the East, teams will only play two out-of-division opponents. Well, Minnesota drew Michigan and Ohio State for those two foes. In 2016, the Big Ten goes to nine-game conference schedules.
Joe Martinson knows exactly who he is. The Minnetonka senior pitcher doesn't step into the batter's box, or take to the field – his focus revolves solely around the mound.
Century Community College left-handed ace Jared Dettman, who is pitching in the Junior College World series, should get drafted for a second time next week. Cedar Rapids Kernels' manager Jake Mauer sees some similarities between first-round prospect Byron Buxton and his brother - the Twins' Joe Mauer. The Timberwolves are concerned about Kevin Love's conditioning since his injury ended his season.
Indiana is the top seed for the Big Ten baseball tournament, and coach Tracy Smith has an honest admission to make.
For the first time in 10 years the Gophers are going to the NCAA softball tournament. The squad finished second in the conference and is en route to Seattle to face Hawaii on Friday night in the Regionals.
Riley Dearring was well known at Minnetonka. But the big schools were not recruiting him hard -- except for Wisconsin. And his skills are a family affair.
While getting to the Final Four is a big deal, winning it is even bigger. But how much do schools directly benefit from winning the championship game?
Rick Pitino is one proud papa. A day after his son Richard Pitino agreed to become the next head coach at Minnesota, Rick Pitino proclaimed the 30-year-old up-and-comer "more than ready" for the challenge.
One of the biggest names in college basketball is coming to Minnesota to coach the Gophers.
Economists say Americans should expect elevated prices at the pump and rising grocery costs in the months to come.
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Maplewood, Minnesota, was arrested in Illinois Friday, the morning after the killing, police said.
A U.S. attorney has submitted his recommendation regarding the death penalty against Vance Boelter, the man accused of fatally shooting former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, to the Justice Department, according to court documents.
State lawmakers across the U.S. are increasing security measures as political violence rises.
The Minnesota Vikings took a big swing in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, selecting the uber-athletic but injury-plagued defensive tackle Caleb Banks out of Florida.
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Maplewood, Minnesota, was arrested in Illinois Friday, the morning after the killing, police said.
A U.S. attorney has submitted his recommendation regarding the death penalty against Vance Boelter, the man accused of fatally shooting former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, to the Justice Department, according to court documents.
State lawmakers across the U.S. are increasing security measures as political violence rises.
Having more people come to town for games is a win, especially after the losses they suffered during Operation Metro Surge.
Organizers of the Basilica Block Party announced Wednesday the two-day music festival is over after a three-decade run.
A worker on a boom truck that was trying to help a commercial vehicle move through a western Minnesota intersection was thrown from the bucket Thursday afternoon, officials say.
When you think of masterful, memorable works of art, grain elevators don't typically come to mind. But in towns across the country, including in Minnesota, they're becoming an unlikely canvas for creativity.
For more than 50 years, Steve Nesseth has answered the call, not for the recognition, but because for him service is simply a way of life.
Planting is underway and spring conditions have been good across much of Minnesota. But even so, some farmers are electing to sit out a year.
Elk River follows the cities of Champlin, Zumbrota, St. Francis and others in reverting to the old state symbol that was originally adopted in 1957.
Two Minnesotans were killed in a motorcycle crash Wednesday evening in western Wisconsin.
Matthew Keirans used William Woods's identity for decades, then manipulated police into prosecuting Woods, who spent 428 days in jail and 147 days in a mental hospital before DNA evidence proved his innocence.
Dozens of former employees are now suing their former bosses after they were all abruptly laid off from a metal fabrication plant in western Wisconsin.
Officials say more than 100 homes were damaged and one person was injured in a "significant tornado outbreak" across Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa on Friday.
A woman was found dead at a complex on the Mississippi River in Winona County, Minnesota, on Wednesday morning.
Bobby Rogers once came to the Minneapolis Institute of Art to sketch and study; now he leads its design and editorial work, shaping what visitors see and experience.
Moses Cooper, who has cerebral palsy, met running partner Mark Hulsey through My Team Triumph Minnesota two years ago and the pair qualified for the Boston Marathon at Grandma's Marathon last summer.
Mackenzie Reed, head custodian at Shakopee East Middle School, has painted large-scale murals throughout the building she once attended as a student, creating a more welcoming space for current students.
Kristi comes to the Salvation Army not only to get food, but to shine her light. She talks with and encourages people waiting in line.
The way Mary Hernandez describes it, the effort to keep families off the street in Shakopee, Minnesota, is like trying to keep your head above water.
State lawmakers across the U.S. are increasing security measures as political violence rises.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said that the Federal Reserve's inspector general will investigate cost overruns in project to renovate the central bank's headquarters.
Hegseth indicated during a Pentagon news conference that the Trump administration is in no hurry to reach a peace deal as the war continues.
Only on WCCO, a mother and daughter from the Twin Cities recount their 55-day ordeal in a Texas immigration center.
Some of Minnesota's government software is decades overdue for big upgrades, but the price tag is steep. As Caroline Cummings reports, there are a few different ideas on how to pay for it.
Some Trader Joe's shoppers will get a payout after a lawsuit alleged that the retailer's customer receipts put shoppers at risk of ID theft.
The bill would provide an average refund increase of $171 to homeowners after sharp property tax increases across the state this year.
The bills aim to close what supporters call a gambling law loophole, allowing for these prediction markets to flourish with no regulations.
It's a bittersweet changing of kegs and hands in northeast Minneapolis as HeadFlyer Brewing issued a permanent last call on Sunday.
Minnesota continues to beat the national gas price average, but there are still ways to save in the metro area.
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Maplewood, Minnesota, was arrested in Illinois Friday, the morning after the killing, police said.
State lawmakers across the U.S. are increasing security measures as political violence rises.
Improved response times, re-training and new strategies are part of Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara's stated commitment to helping victims of domestic violence. For the family members of two dead victims, the current efforts aren't enough.
The Minneapolis City Council failed to override Mayor Jacob Frey's veto of their rejection of Toddrick Barnette's reappointment, leaving the commissioner of community safety position without a clear resolution.
A bill that would stiffen penalties for impersonating police in the wake of last year's Minnesota lawmaker shootings passed unanimously in the state House on Thursday.
Minnesota lawmakers are calling for the humanitarian release of a woman detained earlier this year amid Operation Metro Surge who is suffering from a tennis ball-sized ovarian cyst.
For more than 50 years, Steve Nesseth has answered the call, not for the recognition, but because for him service is simply a way of life.
The media we consume and how long we spend consuming it can impact our mental health. In a world where screens are scrutinized, what is the worst kind of screen time?
National Nurses United warns Hennepin County Medical Center could close following federal health care cuts under H.R. 1, threatening care across Minnesota and the Midwest.
Hundreds of nursing home workers from across the Twin Cities are on strike Monday.
Jake was at the funeral for one of his closest friends when he learned of his parents' deaths, he said.
A previously unreleased song is one of many ways Prince is being honored a decade after his death.
Bobby Rogers once came to the Minneapolis Institute of Art to sketch and study; now he leads its design and editorial work, shaping what visitors see and experience.
A video game is helping people experience the Ojibwe culture in a new way.
At Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis, a new production is using the stage to explore the impact of immigration and displacement.
The Minnesota Vikings took a big swing in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, selecting the uber-athletic but injury-plagued defensive tackle Caleb Banks out of Florida.
Jaden McDaniels and the Minnesota Timberwolves flexed even more of their defensive muscle against the flagging Denver Nuggets and seized a 2-1 lead in the first-round NBA playoff series with a dominant 113-96 victory.
Having more people come to town for games is a win, especially after the losses they suffered during Operation Metro Surge.
Rob Brzezinski is keeping the makeup of the draft room pretty similar to previous years in his first time calling the shots. But let's be clear, the way he and Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell work together in this process will determine its success.
One of Minnesota's fastest-growing basketball training organizations is expanding with a new facility to develop athletes on and off the court.
From the controversies to the name-calling to bathhouse proposals to perhaps not renewing Police Chief Brian O'Hara's contract, it seems the Minneapolis City Council is always giving us something to talk about.
From the controversies to the name-calling to bathhouse proposals to perhaps not renewing Police Chief Brian O'Hara's contract, it seems the Minneapolis City Council is always giving us something to talk about.
Both the DFL and GOP nominating conventions are the last weekend in May 7, and voting for the Aug. 11 primary begins in June.
Minnesota's hospitals are facing a growing financial crisis amid higher costs, fewer insured patients, shuttering clinics and federal Medicaid cuts.
Minnesota's hospitals are facing a growing financial crisis amid higher costs, fewer insured patients, shuttering clinics and federal Medicaid cuts.
When you think of masterful, memorable works of art, grain elevators don't typically come to mind. But in towns across the country, including in Minnesota, they're becoming an unlikely canvas for creativity.
At Arnie Lillo's Creations in Blue Earth County, you can visit a metal-scaled version of the Eiffel Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge. The works of art have taken on a shape of their own.
It's one of the largest musky hatcheries in the entire world. John Lauritsen shows us how the Spooner hatchery keeps fish healthy and anglers happy.
Shattuck-St. Mary's is more than a hockey school, but hockey has helped put the school on the map. They have banners and big names to prove it, though the real evidence lies with a man called Rooster.
Opening Day for the Minnesota Twins is almost here. And across town, the St. Paul Saints are getting ready for their season, too, with some added history.
The media we consume and how long we spend consuming it can impact our mental health. In a world where screens are scrutinized, what is the worst kind of screen time?
The pet insurance industry is relatively new, and experts say that's partly why there's a low number of policies, but it is growing.
The popular afternoon pick-me-up in a cup is like a super food, supplement and medicine cure-all.
One of the biggest obstacles to exercising can be finding enough time to work out. WCCO explores whether upping the intensity can give someone the same benefits in a shorter amount of time.
Filing your taxes can be stressful. But daydreaming about how to spend that refund makes it worthwhile.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Tuesday night.
A look at the newest addition to the polar bear population at St. Paul, Minnesota's Como Zoo.
From food shelves to school programs, our team is proud to serve where it matters most.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
With high pressure in control, expect lots of sunshine Friday in the Twin Cities with cooler temperatures behind Thursday's front, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Adam Del Rosso.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
Clouds increase again for the weekend, but most of it stays dry aside from a stray shower, WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames reports.
The Twin Cities get a quiet start to the weekend before a steady spring rain moves in, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Joseph Dames.
With high pressure in control, expect lots of sunshine Friday in the Twin Cities with cooler temperatures behind Thursday's front.
Two motorcyclists from Minnesota have died after crashing into each other in Wisconsin.
Three of the four men arrested in connection to Wednesday's deadly shooting at a housing complex in Edina, Minnesota, are set to be released from custody Friday due to a lack of evidence, according to a spokesperson from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office.
With high pressure in control, expect lots of sunshine Friday in the Twin Cities with cooler temperatures behind Thursday's front, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Adam Del Rosso.
Christine Fennder, with the Waconia Chamber of Commerce, shares a preview Sister Saturday.
Maureen Scallen Failor, with Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Foundation, shares a preview of Runway for Hope.