The Gophers are ready for Northwestern

A few Gophers, including QB Tanner Morgan, met with the media Tuesday on campus, and KSTP Sports was there.

***Click the video box above to watch select players preview Saturday’s game vs. Northwestern***

Minnesota (5-2, 3-1 Big 10) is tied for first with Iowa in the West standings.

After winning the West division and appearing in the Big Ten championship game for a second time last year, Northwestern has had a rough year, starting off 3-4 and 1-3 in league play.

Minnesota enters Saturday having won three straight since an upset loss at home to Bowling Green. The Gophers have since won at Purdue, at home against Nebraska, and last week, at home against Maryland.

Northwestern, which ranks last in the Big Ten and 128th nationally in red-zone scoring, has lost three fumbles inside the 20 and two others inside the 30.

Minnesota has had success in the red zone, running on four of every five plays in what coach P.J. Fleck calls the “green zone” and averaging nearly 4 yards per carry.

The Gophers have converted on 16 of 17 opportunities since Sept. 18, with nine of 12 touchdowns scored on run plays. For the season, the Gophers are getting points 91.7% of the times they’re in the red zone and they’ve scored touchdowns on 75%.

“It’s just being able to have a mind-set and stick to what you really do well and be consistent," Fleck said.

Kickoff Saturday in Evanston is set for 2:30 p.m.

The Associated Press contributed to this report