Courtesy: University of Minnesota —
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are 4-0 for the first time since the 2005 season. The Gophers are receiving votes in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Polls for the first time since Nov. 6, 2005. Minnesota will put its undefeated record on the line Saturday at Ohio Stadium, opening Big Ten Conference play at Ohio State.

Minnesota grabbed four interceptions last week in a 37-3 rout of Florida Atlantic. The victory capped a perfect non-conference slate for the Gophers. Adam Weber threw for 235 yards, while Eric Decker caught seven balls for 122 yards in the win over the Owls. Ohio State wrapped up the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 28-10 win over Troy Saturday. The Buckeyes are 3-1 overall and ranked Nos. 14/13 by the AP and ESPN/USA Today.

The Big Ten Network will televise the game. Thom Brennaman will call the play-by-play. Charles Davis and Glen Mason are the analysts. Charissa Thompson will be on the sideline.

QUICK HITTERS
> Minnesota is the No. 4 team in the nation in turnover margin, averaging +2.75.
> The Gophers are one of six teams in the nation that have committed two or fewer turnovers through the first four weeks of the season.
> Last week’s victory quadrupled Minnesota’s win total from last year.
> Minnesota is 4-0 for the first time since 2005.
> The Gophers 2008 recruiting class was ranked as high as No. 14 in the nation and was a consensus Top 25 class. Numerous members of that class are on the depth chart.
> The Gophers rank No. 11 in the nation in pass efficiency (164.83).
> Minnesota ranks No. 17 in the nation in kickoff returns (25.86 yards per return).

THE OHIO STATE SERIES
Saturday’s game will be the 48th gridiron meeting between the University of Minnesota and Ohio State University. The Buckeyes lead the series by a 40-7 count.

Ohio State has won the last five meetings. The most recent Minnesota victory was a 29-17 upset of then-No. 6 Ohio State on Oct. 14, 2000. The Buckeyes defeated Minnesota 30-7 last season at the Metrodome.

THIS IS BIG
The Big Ten Conference is an 11-member NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and Bowl Championship Series league, with all of its members playing football.

The Gophers hold a 316-341-27 record against members of the Big Ten Conference. Despite its sub-.500 mark against Big Ten competition, Minnesota holds a winning record against six of the other 10 members of the conference. The Gophers have had their most success against Northwestern (49-29-5). Minnesota has struggled the most with Ohio State (7-40-0).

This season, Minnesota will play Ohio State, Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, Northwestern, Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin. The Gophers will not face Michigan State or Penn State in the 2008 Big Ten Conference schedule

The Big Ten was founded in 1896. Big Ten universities provide approximately $100 million in direct financial aid to more than 8,500 men and women student-athletes who compete for 25 championships, 12 for men and 13 for women. Conference institutions sponsor broad-based athletic programs with more than 270 teams.

WEBER COOKING WITH GAS
As a redshirt freshman last season, Gopher quarterback Adam Weber re-wrote virtually all of Minnesota’s passing and total offense records. Weber set single-season and freshman records for passing yards (2,985), completions (258), attempts (449), touchdown passes (24) and total offensive yardage (3,512). So far, Weber has been as hot or hotter this season. His completion percentage was .575 last season and sits at .718 through four games in 2008. Weber ranks No. 2 in the Big Ten in passing yards/game (241.8) and pass efficiency (164.84), where he also ranks No. 16 nationally. Weber also ranks No. 3 in the Big Cheap Viagra Ten and No. 30 in the nation in total offense per game (266.5).

STACKING THE DECK
Junior wide receiver Eric Decker set a new Minnesota single-season record for receptions with 67 last year. The Bruce Smith Award winner as Minnesota’s top offensive player in 2007 is on pace to smash that record. If Decker keeps up his current pace, he would tally 96 receptions by the end of the regular season. Decker is currently tied for No. 3 in the nation and is No. 1 in the Big Ten in receptions (8.0 per game). He is 4th in the nation and No. 1 in the Big Ten in receiving yards (113.5 per game). He’s doing all this after missing spring football to play baseball. He was the Gophers’ starter in left field and batted .329 with 11 doubles, four triples and three home runs last season. Despite making it known that he would not sign a baseball contract, Decker was still selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 39th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

THE VALUE OF VANDESTEEG
Senior defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg made a big move up the Minnesota career sack and tackle-for-loss charts vs. Montana State two weeks ago. He added a tackle-for-loss against Florida Atlantic Saturday. He currently ranks No. 7 with 12.5 career sacks and No. 6 with 31.5 career tackles-for-loss.

CAMPBELL’S M’MM M’MM GOOD
Junior Lee Campbell has come full circle in regard to position. He began his Minnesota career as a linebacker, was moved to DE last season and is now the starter at middle linebacker, after moving back to the position midway through camp. Campbell ranks No. 2 on the team in tackles (21) and tallied his first career interception vs. Florida Atlantic.

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