College Football Injury Report: Minnesota's offensive line takes a hit

The Golden Gophers had to battle through injuries on their offensive line to beat Illinois on Saturday.

College Football Rankings, Week 12: Oregon the new No. 1 in the AP poll

With Alabama losing to Texas A&M, Oregon took over as the No. 1 team in the Associated Press top 25. Three Big Ten teams were ranked in the latest top 25.

NCAA Football Rankings, Week 12: Big Ten with 2 teams in Coaches' Poll

Two teams from the Big Ten are ranked in the top 25 of the latest Coaches' Poll.

Minnesota vs. Illinois 2012: Celebrating bowl eligibility

Minnesota's 17-3 win over Illinois Saturday makes the Gophers bowl-eligible.

Minnesota vs. Illinois final score: Gophers outlast Illini, 17-3

The Minnesota Golden Gophers pulled off a 17-3 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday.

Minnesota At Illinois: Kirkwood Ices It For Minnesota

The Minnesota Golden Gophers took advantage of a huge turnover by the Illinois Fighting Illini, and it appears as though they're on their way to a bowl for the first time since 2009.

The Illini forced the Gophers to punt the ball away and took possession on their own 20-yard line with 3:18 remaining. Facing a 3rd-and-inches at their own 29-yard line, Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase attempted a quarterback sneak to convert for the Illini. He was stood up at the line, and attempted to stick the ball over the pile. In the process of doing so, however, the ball was knocked out of his hands by Minnesota linebacker Mike Rallis. The ball found its way into the hands of Derrick Wells, who took the ball down to the Illinois 19-yard line.

Running back Donnell Kirkwood handled things for Minnesota from there, as the Gophers handed him the ball three times in a row. On the third carry, a third-and-3 from the Illinois 12, Kirkwood made a couple of Illini defenders miss and went into the end zone for his second touchdown of the day. Jordan Wettstein's extra point made the score 17-3 in favor of the Gophers.

This means that the Gophers are going bowling for the first time since they lost the 2009 Insight Bowl to the Iowa State Cyclones by a score of 14-13. With the Big Ten being unable to fill all of its bowl slots thanks to Ohio State and Penn State being on probation from post-season play, the Gophers should get a fairly nice spot on the bowl ladder, too.

The game has just ended in Champaign, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers have defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini by a score of 17-3. We'll have a full recap for you coming soon.

Minnesota At Illinois: Donnell Kirkwood Finds Pay Dirt

It took nearly three full quarters of game play, but we finally have a touchdown in Champaign, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers have taken a lead over the Illinois Fighting Illini.

After the teams exchanged punts to start the second half of play and Minnesota forced Illinois to punt on their second possession of the half as well, Minnesota started near midfield, and continued to show the ground game that has really been their only form of offense on the afternoon. The Gophers used freshman Roderick Williams on their first four plays, three carries and a 7-yard completion, and found themselves at the Illinois 25-yard line. After a sack of Philip Nelson and a three-yard carry by Donnell Kirkwood, Nelson found Brandon Green for a 13-yard gain to set up a fourth-and-one at the Illinois 16-yard line.

The Gophers went for it, and Nelson converted on a quarterback sneak to keep the football with Minnesota. After a personal foul on Illinois' Akeem Spence moved the ball to the Illinois' 5-yard line, the Donnell Kirkwood Show continued, and he eventually found his way into the end zone on second-and-three to give Minnesota the lead. Jordan Wettstein added the extra point, and the Gophers found themselves ahead 10-3.

Kirkwood has been outstanding this afternoon for Minnesota, amassing 109 yards on 18 carries to go along with his touchdown. As a team, the Gophers have rushed for 168 yards on the afternoon.

Just under two minutes to go in the third quarter of play, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers lead the Illinois Fighting Illini by a score of 10-3.

Minnesota At Illinois Halftime: Barnburner In Champaign

The Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Illinois Fighting Illini are tied, 3-3, in Champaign as we go to the locker room at halftime.

The winds are gusting at the stadium this afternoon, and both teams have scored during the quarter where they had the wind at their back. Illinois converted a 20-yard field goal from Nick Immakus on the first drive of the game to give Illinois an early 3-0 lead. Minnesota eventually answered back, with Jordan Wettstein having a 20-yard field goal of his own in the second quarter to tie the score at three, and that's where we stand right now.

The teams have been fairly evenly matched through the first half of play. Minnesota has picked up eight first downs so far, and has 145 yards of total offense. Illinois has seven first downs and 170 yards of total offense.

The star on offense so far for the Gophers has been running back Donnell Kirkwood. Kirkwood has 86 yards on 12 carries so far on the afternoon, including a big 38-yard burst to start the drive that led to Minnesota's lone score of the afternoon. Quarterback Philip Nelson has struggled thus far, completing just 3-of-7 passes for 18 yards.

For Illinois, quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase has completed 5-of-8 passes for 108 yards, nearly half of which came on a 49-yard flea flicker play to Spencer Harris on Illinois first drive. Donovan Young leads the Illini in rushing in the first half, with 28 yards on six carries.

Illinois has the lone turnover of the afternoon, as Scheelhaase had a fumble in Minnesota territory that was recovered by Roland Johnson, but the Gophers couldn't convert it into points.

That's where we stand at halftime in this one, with the Gophers needed a big second half in order to secure bowl eligibility for the first time since 2009. They currently stand tied with the Fighting Illini of Illinois at 3-3.

Minnesota At Illinois: Gophers Tie It Up

The Minnesota Golden Gophers have tied the Illinois Fighting Illini, and they did it the old-fashioned way. . .by running, and running, and running some more.

After an Illinois punt had Minnesota starting on their own 32-yard line, the Gophers handed the ball to Donnell Kirkwood on their first play from scrimmage, and he promptly picked up 38 yards and pushed Minnesota into Illinois territory. Kirkwood picked up nine yards on his next carry as well, and then freshman Roderick Williams took over for a couple of carries to move the Gophers down to the Illinois 16-yard line.

Kirkwood then took over again, and carried the Gophers to a first-and-goal at the Illinois 8. Much like Minnesota did earlier in the game, however, the Illinois defense stiffened up. After the lone pass that Philip Nelson threw on the drive fell incomplete on third-and-goal, the Gophers brought in Jordan Wettstein for a 20-yard field goal attempt, which he made to tie the score at three.

Hasn't been a whole lot of action in this first half of play in Champaign, folks. Stay tuned to SB Nation Minnesota for all your updates, because if something does happen, we'll have it here first.

Minnesota At Illinois: Illini Get On The Board First

We're about halfway through the first quarter in Champaign, and the Illinois Fighting Illini have drawn first blood in their match-up with the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Minnesota got the ball first, and got the ball into Illinois territory before the drive stalled out and they had to punt it away. Illinois started out on their own 9-yard line, and started their drive with a 16-yard run. On the next play, the Illini hit a huge play courtesy of a flea flicker that resulted in Nathan Scheelhaase hitting Spencer Harris for 49 yards down to the Minnesota 26-yard line.

The Illini converted a third down to give themselves first-and-goal at the Minnesota 8-yard line, but the Minnesota defense stiffened and stopped the Illini short of the goal line. Illinois has to settle for a 20-yard field goal from kicker Nick Immekus to take an early 3-0 lead.

This game is a big one for Minnesota, as a victory will give them six wins and their first taste of bowl eligibility in the Jerry Kill era.

With about seven and a half minutes left in the first quarter, the Minnesota Golden Gophers trail the Illinois Fighting Illini by a score of 3-0.

2012 College Football Schedule: Minnesota looks for bowl eligibility against Illinois

While the game has no conference title aspirations, Minnesota's match-up against Illinois could leave the Golden Golphers bowl eligibility for the first time since 2009.