Greg Johnson and Daniel Shipp each committed two first-half offensive-line penalties against Mississippi State; Ashton Beers added another. Minnesota finished with 12 penalties for 115 yards and just 13 net rushing yards in its 38-13 home loss. The blockers gave the Gophers two problems to correct, namely creating room to run and avoiding the flags that make the next first down farther away.
Akron visits Saturday, September 19, at 11 a.m. Central on BTN. Fan Watch gives Minnesota a 97.3% chance to win. Expect a home victory, and look for the line to make ordinary handoffs productive. Minnesota has little at stake elsewhere this week. Explore the forecast in the interactive guide and how it works in the methodology.
The rushing total deserves a closer look. Drake Lindsey's minus-12 yards contributed to it, but the other four rushers combined for only 25. Darius Taylor started, then played sparingly after the first quarter, finishing with six carries for 15 yards. After the September 12 game, P.J. Fleck said Taylor had been banged up in the opener and was day-to-day. Minnesota's run game struggled with Taylor below full strength, and Fleck's postgame update left his status for Akron unresolved. Whoever carries Saturday, the line can help by opening a lane without backing the offense up on the next snap.
Offensive line coach and run game coordinator Brian Callahan coached Akron's line from 2004-09, helping the Zips win the 2005 MAC title. His current assignment against his old program is straightforward. Give Minnesota useful rushing downs and keep the offense out of avoidable long-yardage situations.
Minnesota averaged 103.2 rushing yards and 23 points per game in 2025, so fans have been waiting for more than a one-week rebound. Lindsey threw for 279 yards without an interception against Mississippi State, yet the Gophers converted four of 13 third downs and scored no offensive touchdown. Protecting the ball was encouraging. Against Akron, pair that care with runs that leave Lindsey a manageable conversion, then finish the drive in the end zone.
The defense has its own work before the snap. After Mississippi State, linebacker Maverick Baranowski said the Bulldogs executed their tempo at a high level while Minnesota did not. Joey Gerlach's strip-sack and Aydan West's end-zone recovery produced a touchdown, but Minnesota allowed 252 rushing yards. Watch whether the defenders get organized and keep the quarterback contained. Akron's Cibastian Broughton rushed for 82 yards at Wake Forest and 71 against Robert Morris, where he also threw four touchdown passes. Chasing him cannot mean abandoning receivers.
On punts, start with the catch. Javon Tracy returned two punts for touchdowns in the opener and credited the blocking walls and Daniel Da Prato's scheme. Against Mississippi State, he muffed and recovered his only opportunity, finishing with four net return yards. One chance cannot settle whether that opening advantage will last. A secure catch would let Tracy and his blockers get back to pursuing it.
Mississippi State ended Minnesota's eight-game home winning streak. After a 2025 regular season with seven home wins and five losses in true road games, losing that home comfort gives fans reason to be more cautious. Minnesota's first road game comes next week at Washington to open Big Ten play. Beating Akron cannot establish that the Gophers will travel better. Saturday can still supply something worth taking along, namely a blocker opening a hole, a back gaining useful yards and no flag sending everyone backward.