The Wolverines head into the matchup with a 3-1 mark, while the Golden Gophers sit at 2-2. This game will mark the 106th all-time meeting of the schools, in which Michigan leads the series, 77-25-3. The winner of this rivalry game will receive the Little Brown Jug, a trophy that dates back to 1903, and is the oldest rivalry trophy in the Big Ten.

Here is a look at everything to know ahead of Saturday’s Michigan vs. Minnesota matchup!

Saturday will mark the 99th game played between Michigan and Minnesota when the two schools battle for the Little Brown Jug — the oldest trophy in college football. The Wolverines have won four games in a row against the Gophers and have dominated the all-time series. Michigan has a commanding 77-25-3 lead against Minnesota.

The #12 Wolverines are coming off a major win against USC last weekend and Michigan showed it can still pound the rock to win games. With the help of Kalel Mullings, Michigan used a final drive to secure a win against the Trojans. Minnesota, on the other hand, is coming off a crushing loss at home against Iowa, The Hawkeyes ran wild on the Gophers and that will be the biggest factor in this game: how does Minnesota stop the Wolverines’ run game?

I asked some recruits to share their thoughts on the matchup this weekend and here is some insight as to what they think will happen.

The defensive lineman believes Michigan is going to be ready for the Gophers on Saturday and will get a 20-point win.

“This is the brown jug game! This is definitely a big game. Michigan will definitely go out there and ball out!”

Final score: Michigan 30, Minnesota 10

Pile is high on the Wolverines once again this week, especially with how well they played a week ago against the Trojans.

“Michigan looks good coming off a great win against USC. I’m always taking Michigan, they always come prepared.”

Conroy wants Michigan to continue to do the same thing that’s got the Wolverines to where they are now: run the football.

“Run the damn ball.”

Thomas wants to see some more out of the offense, but he has faith the Wolverines’ defense will keep Michigan in the majority of its games.

“The defense will keep BigBlue in most games. The offense just has to click. #GoBlue”

The Gophers were torched on the ground last weekend against Iowa and Patrick looks for Michigan to move the ball on the ground this week.

“I think Michigan will be able to run the ball really effectively.”

Krempin believes if the same Michigan team shows up this week as it did last week, the Wolverines will get a win on Saturday. The Gophers may have the second-ranked pass defense, but if they can’t stop the Wolverines’ run game, what matters?

“I know if the same Michigan team shows up that I saw last weekend, Michigans got it in the bag. A good pass defense doesn’t help much if you run the ball down their throat.”

Hart is extremely high on Michigan in this game due to its run game and Will Johnson on the defensive side.

“I got Michigan all the way baby!! They play hard smash-mouth football and they have the best corner in college football, Will Johnson.”

The major Michigan target thinks this game comes down to which team can run the football better. The Gophers have running back Darius Taylor who has been a very good back for the Gophers. Michigan has both Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards. He’s leaning toward a Michigan win.

“I think this game will be who wins the run game. You know Darius Taylor is going to be locked in playing his home state school. And it’s clear Michigan still is one of the top running schools in the country. Think Michigan pulls this out though.”

– Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI –

Michigan football opponent preview: Minnesota Gophers

Three keys to a Michigan football win vs. Minnesota

3 Things To Watch: No. 12 Michigan vs. Minnesota

In the longest, most painful and putridly played game of the season, the Minnesota Twins fell 8-6 in 13 innings to the Miami Marlins Thursday night. The loss means the Twins’ only path to the playoffs is by sweeping the Orioles Friday-Sunday and getting the Tigers or Royals to be swept as well.

The Twins had numerous chances to win and failed.

In the bottom of the ninth with Byron Buxton at second base and only one out, Trevor Larnach reached on a fielder’s choice and then with Buxton at third Royce Lewis dribbled a ball in front of the plate and was thrown out at first base to end the inning. Lewis’s nubber left his bat at 46.3 mph and traveled three feet.

He was not done failing in a big moment.

Lewis came up with the bases loaded and one out in the 11th and he hit a tapper in the infield that was fielded by the center fielder (Miami was playing a five-man infield) and the lead runner was thrown out at home.

Minnesota had Brooks Lee at second base with one out in the eighth and left him there. They had runners at first and second with one out in the ninth and they failed to score. They had the bases loaded with nobody out in the 10th and they scored only one. They had the bases loaded with one out in the 11th and they didn’t score. They had runners at first and second with nobody out in the 12th and they didn’t score.

The highlight of the putrid play was in the 12th when Ryan Jeffers bunted into a double play.

The awfulness in the ninth, 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th innings was somewhat surprising considering the Twins rallied to tie the game 4-4 in the eighth inning after trailing 4-0 most of the night.

Carlos Correa homered in the sixth to make it a 4-1 game, and a run on a Miami error in the seventh cut the deficit to twin runs. Then in the eighth inning the Twins got back-to-back doubles off the right field wall by Carlos Santana and Brooks Lee — Lee’s double drove in Lewis and Santana — to tie the game.

Minnesota will finish the regular season with three games at home against the Baltimore Orioles, who are one win or a Detroit loss from clinching the top wild-card spot in the American League. The Tigers host the White Sox, who are suddenly hot as they try to avoid an MLB record 121st loss, and the Royals are in Atlanta to face a Braves team that is fighting for its playoff life in the National League.

Minnesota was 70-53 entering play Aug. 18 and they’ve gone 12-24 since. The Tigers were 60-64 and have gone 25-10 since Aug. 18, turning a 9.5-game deficit into a three-game lead over the Twins.

The Twins and Orioles play at 7:10 p.m. CT Friday.