MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Coach P.J. Fleck had finished celebrating No. 17 Minnesota's 52-10 victory over Maryland on Saturday and again echoed the familiar refrain to reporters that his Gophers...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — All week long at Minnesota's practice facility, players were doused with frigid water as they took the field. The thermostat was turned down to the max in the mid-50s. Fans were...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The weather in Minnesota this weekend is forecast to turn wintry.

These Gophers are more than ready for that.

With the game on Saturday against Nebraska on track for...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — When Rodney Smith went down with a season-ending knee injury in the second game of 2018, Minnesota turned to Mohamed Ibrahim as the lead ball carrier and enjoyed a seamless...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota senior running back Rodney Smith will miss the remainder of the season because of an injury to his left knee, removing the most accomplished player from an inexperienced offense.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Many college coaches caution against making too much of early wins against nonconference opponents. Minnesota's P.J. Fleck, however, insisted he'll always remember his young team's performance against Fresno State on Saturday night.

Seth Green ran for two short touchdowns, including the game-winning 3-yard score late in the fourth quarter, and Antione Winfield Jr. sealed it with an interception off a trick play in the end zone as Minnesota held off the Bulldogs 21-14.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said he watched quarterback Demry Croft run read-option plays with running back Rodney Smith on Saturday and twice yelled "fumble" into his headset.

Croft had the Gophers' first-year coach as confused as Nebraska.

Croft ran for 183 yards and three touchdowns, Smith added 134 yards rushing and a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and Minnesota ran over the Cornhuskers 54-21 on Saturday.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Using just two different plays, Minnesota marched down the field midway through the fourth quarter against Illinois on Saturday. Kobe McCrary carried the ball six times. Rodney Smith ran five times during a grinding, 12-play drive.

The Gophers finally stuck with the run and ran over the young Illini.

McCrary ran for 153 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Smith added 103 yards rushing for Minnesota as the Gophers beat Illinois 24-17 victory.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — From taking his team to see Gophers legend Bruce Smith's gravesite to making his "Row The Boat" mantra ubiquitous across town, new Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck has pulled out all the stops to try to bring some energy and color to a team that was frayed and sullen at the end of last season.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — After an 0-2 start in the Big Ten, the Minnesota Golden Gophers have fought their way back into the race for the West Division title. Here's where it starts to get interesting.

Rodney Smith ran for 153 yards and three touchdowns and quarterback Mitch Leidner ran for 74 yards and two more scores Saturday as Minnesota defeated Purdue 44-31.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Rodney Smith ran for 153 yards and three touchdowns and quarterback Mitch Leidner ran for 74 yards and two more scores Saturday as Minnesota defeated Purdue 44-31.

Smith topped the 100-yard mark for the fourth straight game and sixth time this season as Minnesota (7-2, 4-2 in the Big Ten) won its fourth straight.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — On a windy Illinois afternoon that made passing an adventure, Minnesota knew it would need to run the ball if it wanted to pocket a win.

But the Golden Gophers figured they might have to run a little farther than they did to beat the Illinois.

A pair of early Illinois turnovers and a short punt gave Minnesota the ball at the Illinois 49-, 20- and 9-yard lines, and the Gophers turned each into a touchdown on the way to a 40-17 win.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Rodney Smith ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns, Conor Rhoda threw for a score in his first career start and Minnesota defeated error-prone Maryland 31-10 Saturday.

Combining a strong defensive performance with a low-risk offensive game plan, the Golden Gophers (4-2, 1-2) built a 14-0 lead at halftime and coasted to the finish.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota has quite the 1-2-3 punch in its running game this season.

The Gophers hit Colorado State with two of them all afternoon and completed nonconference play unbeaten.

Rodney Smith rushed 17 times for 99 yards and two touchdowns and Shannon Brooks returned from injury to net 85 yards and a score on 13 carries, helping Minnesota wear down the Rams on the way to a 31-24 victory on Saturday.