Venue & Kickoff
Location: Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM CT
Broadcast: Big Ten Network
Capacity: 50,805
Surface: FieldTurf
Weather Forecast
Conditions: Mostly sunny, mild
Temperature: ~60°F at kickoff
Wind: Light, 5–7 mph
Precipitation: <10%
Impact: Ideal football weather; no environmental advantage to either side
Injury Report
Minnesota Golden Gophers
No major injuries reported after Week 1 win over Buffalo
Northwestern State Demons
No significant injuries reported after Week 1 win over Alcorn State
Team Records & Recent Form
Minnesota: Opened with a methodical win over Buffalo; defense allowed just 151 total yards and 44 rushing yards
Northwestern State: Snapped a 20-game losing streak; first win since Nov. 5, 2022
Key Player Matchups
QB Drake Lindsey (MINN) vs. QB Abram Johnston (NWST)
Lindsey: 19/35, 290 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT vs. Buffalo
Johnston: 9/18, 85 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT; 17 rushes, 69 yds vs. Alcorn State
RB Darius Taylor (MINN) vs. LB Demons Front Seven
Taylor: 141 yds on 30 carries; 4 rec, 36 yds
NWST allowed 4.6 YPC in opener
WR Jalen Smith (MINN) vs. CB Caesar McGee III (NWST)
Smith: 2 rec, 76 yds, 1 TD
McGee: All-conference CB; 3 INTs in 2024
MINN Defensive Line vs. NWST Offensive Line
Minnesota: 3 sacks, 7 TFL vs. Buffalo
NWST allowed 2 sacks vs. Alcorn State
Series History
First-ever meeting between Minnesota and Northwestern State
Betting Trends
Minnesota: 4–1 ATS in last 5 games; UNDER in 4 of last 5
Northwestern State: 1–0 ATS in 2025; 2–8 ATS in last 10 overall
FBS vs. FCS: Big Ten teams favored by 40+ are 65% ATS since 2018
Totals: UNDER has hit in 3 of Minnesota’s last 4 September games
Game Odds
Northwestern State Demons 50.5
Minnesota Golden Gophers – 42.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025
