College Football Injury Report: Gophers relatively healthy after loss to Iowa

The Minnesota Golden Gophers got beaten badly by Iowa on Saturday, but they managed to escape the contest relatively injury free.

Minnesota vs. Iowa 2012: Gophers blown away in 2nd quarter against the Hawkeyes

Iowa rolled over Minnesota on Saturday, and now the Gophers have two weeks to recover before they host Northwestern.

Gophers At Hawkeyes Final: Floyd Goes Back To Iowa In 31-13 Hawkeyes Victory

The Minnesota Golden Gophers had hoped to keep the bronze pig known as Floyd of Rosedale in their possession for a third consecutive year, but it was not to be. The Iowa Hawkeyes thoroughly dominated the Gophers in every phase of the game, and took Floyd back home with a 31-13 victory in the Big Ten opener for both teams.

Things got off to a bad start for the Gophers, who saw Max Shortell throw an interception on the team's first possession after getting down 3-0 early. Both defenses exchanged punches for much of the first quarter, but the Hawkeyes were knocking on the door as the quarter came to an end, setting up shop at the Minnesota 8-yard line to start the second quarter.

Iowa scored on the second quarter's first play, as running back Mark Weisman powered over the left side for an eight-yard score to make the score 10-0 in favor of the home team. Iowa needed just one play to score on the next drive, as a perfectly executed flea-flicker between Wiseman and Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg resulted in a 47-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Cotton to make the score 17-0. The Hawkeyes scored on their next drive as well, as Vandenberg went over from a yard out to make it 24-0. That was the score going into halftime.

Minnesota finally got on the board in the second half, thanks to a nine-yard pass from Shortell to Isaac Fruechte to cut the deficit to 24-7. The Minnesota defense performed fairly well in the second half of play, allowing the Hawkeyes just 65 yards of offense after the break, but the Minnesota offense simply wasn't up to the task on this day. Iowa sealed it with a little more than five minutes left in the game, as Max Shortell's pass on fourth down in Iowa territory was intercepted by Christian Kirksey, who took the ball 68 yards for a touchdown to increase the Hawkeye lead to 31-7. The Gophers got a meaningless touchdown at the end of the game on a 1-yard pass from Shortell to Drew Goodger to make the final score 31-13.

The Gophers couldn't recover from getting battered in the first half. Shortell, after showing so much promise coming into today, looked bad against the Iowa defense. He completed 20-of-33 passes on the day for 197 yards and two touchdowns, but the three interceptions were back breakers for the Gophers. Minnesota was -4 in the turnover game (Donnell Kirkwood lost a fumble on the Gophers' first possession of the second half), and that's generally not a recipe for success in college football.

The Hawkeyes have won their last six games against the Gophers at Kinnick Stadium. The win snaps Minnesota's two-game winning streak over Iowa.

Minnesota (4-1, 0-1 Big Ten) will host Northwestern next weekend for Homecoming at TCF Bank Stadium. Iowa (3-2, 1-0 Big Ten) will have next weekend off before traveling to East Lansing to battle Michigan State.

Gophers At Hawkeyes: Minnesota Puts Lipstick On The Pig With Late Touchdown

The Minnesota Golden Gophers have found the end zone for the second time this afternoon, but it's not going to be nearly enough to defeat the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Minnesota took over at their own 20-yard line after the interception return for a touchdown by Christian Kirksey. Max Shortell took the Gophers' offense 80 yards in 11 plays, completing the drive in 4:34. The drive ended with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Shortell to Drew Goodger to make the score 31-13. The Gophers attempted to go for a two-point conversion, but Shortell's pass fell incomplete.

There's less than a minute left to go in the battle for Floyd of Rosedale, and the Iowa Hawkeyes are preparing to make the traditional dash to the other sidelines to take the bronze pig back home. The Gophers' onside kick attempt has just failed, so all Iowa will have to do is run out the clock to preserve their victory.

Gophers At Hawkeyes: Shortell's Third Interception Seals It For Iowa

I hope that Floyd of Rosedale brought all his stuff with him, because he's going to be staying in Iowa City this year.

The Iowa Hawkeyes have recorded their third interception of Max Shortell on the afternoon, and they have taken a 31-7 lead over the Minnesota Golden Gophes with time winding down at Kinnick Stadium.

Neither team had scored since Shortell found Isaac Fruechte in the end zone to get the Gophers on the scoreboard, and Minnesota was attempting to get close enough to make things interesting. Marcus Jones let a very catchable pass for what would have been a first down bounce off his chest on 3rd-and-6 from the Iowa 47-yard line. The Gophers followed that up by going for it on fourth down, and Shortell was intercepted by Christian Kirksey.

Nobody from the Gophers could get in Kirksey's way enough to stop him from going to the end zone, and the 68-yard return made the score 31-7 in favor of Iowa with a little more than five minutes remaining.

Minnesota will go to 4-1 after this one, and 0-1 in Big Ten play. Iowa will move to 3-2 with a 1-0 Big Ten mark.

Gophers At Hawkeyes: Isaac Fruechte Gets Minnesota On The Board

It took them a while to get going, but the Minnesota Golden Gophers have finally dented the scoreboard against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the battle for Floyd of Rosedale.

Minnesota got the ball first to start the second half, but gave up possession on a Donnell Kirkwood fumble. The Minnesota defense stepped up, however, and forced the Iowa defense into a three-and-out, giving Minnesota the ball back at their own 21. Max Shortell and company put together what is easily their most impressive drive of the game thus far, moving down the field in ten plays. Shortell completed five of six passes on the drive, none bigger than a 27-yarder to fullback Mike Henry on a 4th-and-1 call from the Iowa 42-yard line. Two plays after that, Shortell found Isaac Fruechte in the back right corner of the end zone for a nine-yard scoring strike.

The Gophers have started on the comeback trail, but it's going to take a lot more than this to keep Floyd in Minnesota.

With 7:12 left in the third quarter of play, the Iowa Hawkeyes lead the Minnesota Golden Gophers by a score of 24-7.

Gophers At Hawkeyes Halftime: Minnesota Getting Blasted, 24-0

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are down big to the Iowa Hawkeyes at halftime of the battle for Floyd of Rosedale. The scoreboard says that it's currently 24-0 in favor of Iowa, but it somehow feels even worse than that.

Minnesota has converted just one of six third down opportunities on the afternoon, and that came just before Max Shortell threw an interception on Minnesota's first possession. The Gophers have been outgained by the Hawkeyes by 253 yards, to the tune of 328 to 75. Iowa running back Mark Weisman has already gained 155 yards for the Hawkeyes on just 16 carries through the first half of play, and Hawkeyes quarterback James Vandenberg is 13-of-19 for 165 yards and a 47-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Cotton.

The Gophers have gotten nothing going offensively. Quarterback Max Shortell has completed just 4-of-11 pass attempts for 32 yards and an interception. The Hawkeyes have also bottled up running back Donnell Kirkwood, who has gained just 21 yards on eight carries on the afternoon.

Minnesota was hoping to hold on to Floyd of Rosedale for the third consecutive year, the first time that would have happened since the Gophers beat Iowa three consecutive times from 1998 to 2000, but if that's going to happen, they're going to need a massive turnaround coming out of the locker room at halftime.

With thirty minutes of football left at Kinnick Stadium, the Minnesota Golden Gophers trail the Iowa Hawkeyes by a score of 24-0.

Gophers At Hawkeyes: James Vandenberg Scores, Iowa Leads 24-0

In the battle for Floyd of Rosedale, things have gone from "getting ugly" to "are ugly" for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, as they now trail the Iowa Hawkeyes by 24 points.

After yet another three-and-out for the Gophers, who are 1-for-5 on third downs on the afternoon, the Hawkeyes took over at their own 48-yard line. The Hawkeyes actually did most of their damage through the air on the drive, with James Vandenberg connecting with Ray Hamilton and Keenan Davis on consecutive 20-yard passes to get the ball to the Minnesota 5-yard line.

The Hawkeyes thought that Mark Weisman had gotten his second touchdown of the day on first-and-goal, but the officials ruled him down inside the 1-yard line. Vandenberg took the ball over from there with a quarterback sneak, and another Mike Meyer extra point made the score 24-0 in favor of Iowa.

Not really many positives to take away from this one so far if you're pulling for the Gophers. If there's any chance of them getting back into this game, they need to start turning things around immediately.

With a little less than nine minutes remaining until halftime at Kinnick Stadium, the Minnesota Golden Gophers are getting pounded by the Iowa Hawkeyes, 24-0.

Gophers At Hawkeyes: Iowa Up 17-0 After One Play Drive

The Iowa Hawkeyes used running back Mark Weisman to thump the Minnesota Golden Gophers' defense on their last drive, and the Hawkeyes took advantage of that on their next possession.

After a three-and-out by Minnesota, the Hawkeyes took over on the Minnesota 47-yard line. Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg handed the ball to Weisman. . .who immediately turned around and pitched it back to Vandenberg. Vandenberg then launched one deep to receiver Jordan Cotton, who didn't have a Minnesota player within 15 yards of him. Cotton made the catch and coasted into the end zone, and Mike Meyer's extra point gave the Hawkeyes a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter in Iowa City.

Everything that could possibly go wrong for the Gophers thus far has gone wrong. Their defense has gotten shredded, and their inability to stop Weisman has opened up a lot of things for the Iowa offense. Jerry Kill is going to have to make some adjustments if he wants to get his team back into this one.

With thirteen minutes remaining until halftime, the Iowa Hawkeyes appear to be well on their way to taking back Floyd of Rosedale, as they lead the Minnesota Golden Gophers, 17-0.

Gophers At Hawkeyes: Mark Weisman's Touchdown Gives Iowa 10-0 Lead

We said that the Iowa Hawkeyes were threatening as the second quarter started, and they cashed in on the quarter's first play against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

On the first play of the second quarter, Iowa running back Mark Weisman. . .who is absolutely destroying the Gophers thus far. . .took a handoff from James Vandenberg and went over the left side for an 8-yard touchdown. Weisman gained 82 rushing yards on the drive, many of them on what looked like exactly the same play to his left (over the right side of the Minnesota defense), and now has 11 carries for 111 yards on the afternoon.

Mike Meyer added the extra point for the Hawkeyes, and they now have a ten-point lead over the Gophers in the battle for Floyd of Rosedale. Again, if the Gophers want to have any chance of winning this game, they need to find a way to get a handle on Mark Weisman.

With 14:46 left until halftime at Kinnick Stadium, the Minnesota Golden Gophers trail the Iowa Hawkeyes by a score of 10-0.

Gophers At Hawkeyes: Iowa Leads, 3-0, And Threatening Again

The Minnesota Golden Gophers defense looked impressive during their 4-0 start, but the Iowa Hawkeyes have found a way to move the football against the Minnesota defense.

The Hawkeyes have relied on running back Mark Weisman for their offense this afternoon, and he has responded in a big way. After ten carries, Weisman already has 103 yards on the ground, including back-to-back carries of 27 and 44 yards on the current Iowa drive. The Hawkeyes took possession at their own 16-yard line, but are now looking at a third-and-four at the Minnesota 11-yard line as we move on to the second quarter of play.

Max Shortell has been spotty for the Gophers thus far, completing just three of seven pass attempts for 28 yards and an interception. James Vandenberg has completed four of eight for Iowa for 55 yards, but 45 of those yards came on the first pass he threw on Iowa's opening drive.

If Minnesota doesn't step up against Weisman and the running game of the Hawkeyes, it's likely that they're going to be leaving Floyd at Kinnick Stadium. After the start they got off to, that would be disappointing, to say the least.

We're starting the second quarter of play in Iowa City, and the Iowa Hawkeyes lead the Minnesota Golden Gophers, 3-0.

Gophers At Hawkeyes Update: Controversy In Iowa City

This is definitely not the kind of start the Minnesota Golden Gophers were envisioning in their game against the Iowa Hawkeyes.

On Minnesota's first offensive possession, after gaining one first down, Minnesota quarterback Max Shortell executed a beautiful play-action fake and went deep to A.J. Barker. Barker appeared to have the catch, but the ball was ripped out of his hands by Iowa defensive back Tanner Miller. The pass was initially ruled incomplete,but after a review by the officials, it was ruled an interception and possession went to Iowa.

After Minnesota forced a punt, the Minnesota returner elected to not field the punt, and the ball was bouncing on the turf. An Iowa player forced Gophers' defensive back Damarius Travis back into the ball, which bounced off of his foot. Iowa thought they had a recovery of a muffed punt, but the officials ruled that because Travis had been pushed into the ball, possession would remain with Minnesota.

The Gophers are punting away again after a three-and-out, and with just under seven minutes left in the first quarter of the battle for Floyd of Rosedale, the Iowa Hawkeyes still lead the Minnesota Golden Gophers by a score of 3-0.

Gophers At Hawkeyes Score: Iowa Strikes First With Field Goal

Not really the start that the Minnesota Golden Gophers wanted in the 2012 battle for Floyd of Rosedale, but it could have been much worse.

The Iowa Hawkeyes got the ball first in this one, and on their second play of the drive, Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg found tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz for a 46-yard gain down to the Minnesota 29. The play was the longest given up by the Gophers this season, and the first play of 30 yards or more that the Gopher defense has allowed in 2012.

Iowa couldn't do much from there, however, as they only gained three more yards. The Hawkeyes brought in kicker Mike Meyer, and he knocked home a 46-yard field goal to give the Hawkeyes an early 3-0 lead at Kinnick Stadium.

With 12:35 remaining in the first quarter, the Iowa Hawkeyes lead the Minnesota Golden Gophers by a score of 3-0. Minnesota's first possession will be starting momentarily.

Minnesota Vs. Iowa 2012: Gophers And Hawkeyes Open Up Big Ten Play

The Minnesota Golden Gophers look to improve to 5-0 as they face Iowa Saturday.