Minnesota

Minnesota vs Illinois Prediction: Gophers finally get past Bret Bielema

Published

2 years ago

November 2, 2024

Minnesota vs Illinois Prediction: Gophers finally get past Bret Bielema

It’s another Minnesota Golden Gophers gameday and with that, it’s time to make another game day prediction here at Gophers Nation.

On Saturday, the Minnesota Golden Gophers will look for their fourth-straight win as they take on the No. 24 Illinois Fighting Illini on the road in Champlain. The Gophers in the process will look to also snap a 10-game losing streak against Illinois head coach Bret Bielema in the process.

A win on Saturday would give the Gophers their sixth win of the season as well, officially clinching bowl eligibility.

With that being said, who do we have winning on Saturday? Let’s get into it.

The Minnesota Golden Gophers have been playing strong football for the last five weeks, dating back to their second half performance against the Michigan Wolves in Ann Arbor. After nearly upsetting the Wolverines, the Gophers have won each of their last four games with wins over USC, UCLA, and Maryland, the latter win coming in impressive fashion by a final score of 48-23.

In the process of their four-game winning streak, the Gophers offense has played with a bit more of a spark led by quarterback Max Brosmer while the defense has played some of its best football, allowing just 19 points per game over the winning streak.

Illinois enters Saturday with a 6-2 record and No. 24 in the country after losing last week to No. 1 Oregon 38-9. The Illini’s only losses this season have come to the top-ranked Ducks and No. 3 Penn State. In their six wins this season, the Illini have relied heavily on their defense. In five of six wins, the opposing offense was kept to 350 total yards or less. That being said, the Illini are susceptible defensively.

The Illini defense this season has allowed nearly 400 yards per contest and rank 72nd in the nation in that category. But they’ve done a good job of limiting the overall scoring of opposing offenses, allowing just 23.6 points per contest. The Illini are suspect against opposing ground games, allowing 171 rushing yards per game this season and 4.8 yards per rush. Of course, Minnesota hasn’t been strong in the rushing category this season themselves, averaging just 106.7 rushing yards a game and averaging 3.5 yards per rush. But as we have previously stated this week, the magic number for Minnesota this season is 100 rushing yards. The Gophers are 4-0 when rushing for over 100 yards and are 1-3 when kept under the century mark.

Will they be able to get enough push up front on Saturday? That remains to be seen, however, if they do so, it will be without left guard Tyler Cooper who according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel will be on Saturday with an injury. Redshirt sophomore Tony Nelson is expected to step in to replace Cooper.

The Illini pass defense has been solid this season but can be They have allowed 290+ passing yards three times this season, doing so against Purdue, Nebraska, and Oregon. The Gophers have been solid through the air in recent weeks including Max Brosmer coming off his best game of the season with 320 passing yards last week in the win over Maryland. Expect the Gophers to one again rely on the likes of Brosmer as well as wide receivers Daniel Jackson and Elijah Spencer on Saturday afternoon.

Looking at the Illinois offense and the Gophers defense. The Illini will likely find ways to move the ball but it’s not a great matchup for Illinois, the Gophers have the advantage in most aspects of the matchup.

That being said, this is a smart Illinois offense and one that won’t make too many mistakes. That being said, few defenses in the country have created more chaos in terms of turnovers than the Gophers.

Look for them to get another big turnover or two on Saturday against Luke Altmyer and the Illini offense. Notably, Altmyer has been one of the best players this season in terms of interception percentage with just 1.55% of his passes this season being picked off. Notably, Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant is a game time decision on Saturday.

Special teams will be a concern in this game, the Gophers haven’t been all too strong in that facet of the game this season while Illinois is one of the better special teams, teams in the country this season. In what will be a close game, special teams could be the ultimate difference between a win and a loss for Minnesota.

So with all that, who is Gophers Nation picking for today’s game?

PREDICTION: Minnesota 23 – Illinois 16

We’re going to go with Minnesota to pick up their fourth straight win of the season, the Gophers are playing their best football at the right time while Illinois could still be feeling last week’s loss to Oregon. This Illinois team is a good one but it’s not a great one and not as good as their 6-2 record may indicate. The Gophers will still need to bring their A-game on Saturday to win but as long as they do so, we anticipate a Minnesota victory. We believe the difference once again will be quarterback Max Brosmer, after throwing a combined three interceptions against iowa and Michigan earlier this season, the transfer quarterback has been tremendous. Look for him to make up for those performances this weekend.

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Minnesota

Who’s the greatest Minnesota high school athlete of all time? Vote now in ‘USA 250’ poll

Published

10 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Press Room

Who’s the greatest Minnesota high school athlete of all time? Vote now in ‘USA 250’ poll

Minnesota has one of the deepest talent pools of multi-sport stars in the country.

Think about it — where else do you have someone winning multiple gymnastics and diving championships? Where do you have a baseball star hitting .600 while throwing for 6,000 yards as quarterback? Where do you have NBA players who were football champions?

Minnesota’s talent is as deep as its lakes, and we are looking to answer a question: Who is the best all-time Minnesota high school athlete? Who best defines the state’s prep environment?

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY is launching its 250 for 250 series, looking to answer that question by celebrating the best athletes from each state.

From fans’ votes, five athletes will be selected to represent the state as legends who have defined high school sports.

With that in mind, here are the Minnesota high school athlete nominees. The 15 players (listed in alphabetical order) were all standouts at the high school level.

Paige Bueckers, Girls Basketball, Hopkins High School (Minnetonka)

“Remember the name: Paige Bueckers. 6th grade, think Diana Taurasi.” Maybe the most prescient analysis of a sixth-grader ever. By high school, Bueckers was a clear superstar, joining the Hopkins varsity team as an eighth-grader and eventually establishing herself as the best player in the class. She is Hopkins’ all-time leader in points (2,877), assists (795), and steals (574), and won a championship with the program.

Jessie Diggins, Cross-Country Skier, Stillwater Area High School

Jessie Diggins spent six years competing for Stillwater Area High School, winning the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) individual pursuit championship three times and helping her team win the state meet in 2008 and 2010. She won the U.S. Junior National Sprint title in 2009 and is today a four-time Olympic medalist.

Bailey DuPay, Girls Diving, Gymnastics, Track and Field, Northfield High School

Bailey DuPay’s resume is undeniable. She’s a multi-time champion in two different sports — the first gymnast to win three straight Class 2A all-around titles and a three-time one-meter diving champion. She competed on the swim & dive team at Minnesota State.

Mark Hall II, Boys Wrestling, Apple Valley High School

Mark Hall II was the first wrestler to win six individual state championships. In leading Apple Valley to six team titles, he also became the first wrestler to win 12 combined state championships. He went 277-4 over his career, had 171 consecutive wins, and had 189 career pins, according to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Maria Hauger, Cross Country, Track and Field, Shakopee High School

Maria Hauger was the first runner to win four Class AA state championships. For those efforts, she was a four-time Minnesota Gatorade Cross Country Athlete of the Year. The success didn’t stop there; she won four championships in track and field, including the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races, according to MSHSL.

Chet Holmgren, Boys Basketball, Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis)

Part of an all-time Minnehaha dynasty alongside Jalen Suggs, Chet Holmgren helped the team win four championships and was named the National Player of the Year by several outlets as a senior, when he averaged 21 points and 12.3 rebounds per game.

Tyus Jones, Boys Basketball, Apple Valley High School

One of the greatest Minnesota high school boys basketball players of all time, Tyus Jones was a three-time Minnesota Boys Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year and led Apple Valley to a state championship. As a senior, he averaged 25.6 points, 8.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game.

Joe Mauer, Baseball, Football, Boys Basketball, Cretin-Derham Hall High School (St. Paul)

It’s tough to find a more accomplished high school career than Joe Mauer. He was the first athlete to be named USA TODAY High School Player of the Year in two different sports, which he did in football and baseball. Over two years on the gridiron, he passed for almost 6,000 yards and 73 touchdowns, winning two championships. In baseball, he struck out only once in his entire high school career, hitting .567 with 43 home runs. As a senior, he batted .605, hit a home run in seven straight games, and led his team to the championship.

Kevin McHale, Boys Basketball, Hibbing High School

The future NBA Hall of Famer had roots in Minnesota, where Kevin McHale was named Minnesota Mr. Basketball as a senior and led Hibbing to a championship game appearance. He had a 13-year career with the Boston Celtics, where he won three NBA championships.

Paul Molitor, Baseball, Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Cretin-Derham Hall High School

Paul Molitor was a versatile athlete, named to the all-state teams in baseball and boys basketball, and a champion in baseball, basketball, and soccer, according to SABR. He attended the University of Minnesota and played in seven MLB All-Star Games.

Gable Steveson, Boys Wrestling, Apple Valley High School

Gable Steveson dominated the wrestling circuit of Minnesota. He won four state titles and holds the highest winning percentage in state history, with a record of 210-3 (98.59%). According to the University of Minnesota, his final two championships lasted for a combined 28 seconds.

Jalen Suggs, Boys Basketball, Football, Minnehaha Academy

Jalen Suggs is known for basketball, but he was a star two-sport athlete at Minnehaha, becoming the first athlete in the state’s history to be named Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football in the same year, and was named the National MaxPreps Male Athlete of the Year as a senior. He led the football team to a championship and the basketball team to three straight titles.

Whitney Taney, Girls Tennis, Edina High School

All Whitney Taney did in high school was win. That’s not an exaggeration — she went 166-0 over her career (150-0 in singles, 16-0 in doubles) while losing only two sets en route to five championships between singles and doubles play, per her University of Michigan bio.

Lindsay Whalen, Girls Basketball, Hutchinson High School

One of the most influential girls basketball players in Minnesota, Lindsay Whalen was a four-time All-Missota Conference player, a four-time honorable mention on the All-State team, and led Hutchinson to three conference championships. She scored 1,996 points in her career.

Dave Winfield, Baseball, Boys Basketball, Football, St. Paul Central High School

Dave Winfield excelled in three sports in high school, leading to his recruitment to play baseball and basketball at the University of Minnesota. He went on to be a 12-time MLB All-Star and Hall of Famer.

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Minnesota

Minnesota man accused in a $250M fraud scheme taken into custody in Somalia | CNN

Published

20 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Press Room

Minnesota man accused in a 0M fraud scheme taken into custody in Somalia | CNN

AP —

Authorities say a Minnesota man charged with helping to orchestrate a $250 million fraud scheme has been taken into custody in Somalia.

Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, of Burnsville, Minnesota, was taken into custody Thursday in Mogadishu, U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen said in a news release. Court documents do not show if Eidleh has obtained an attorney, and he has not yet had an opportunity to enter a plea in the case.

Eidleh is one of dozens of people who were indicted in 2022 in connection with what prosecutors said was a massive scheme to defraud a federal meals program.

According to court documents, Eidleh was an employee of Feeding Our Future, an organization that claimed it helped provide millions of meals to children in need during the pandemic under a federal child nutrition program. But prosecutors say just a small portion of the federal money went toward feeding kids, with the rest laundered through shell companies and spent on property, luxury cars and travel.

Eidleh is accused of creating fake child nutrition program sites, falsely claiming they were feeding thousands of children a day and creating shell companies that purported to be meal vendors at the sites. The indictment charges him with 31 counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering.

Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Department of Justice’s National Fraud Enforcement Division said Eidleh was a central figure in “one of the largest fraud schemes in Minnesota history.”

“He not only stole taxpayer dollars, but he also robbed vulnerable children of critical resources they desperately needed. Rather than answer for his crimes in the United States, he fled to Somalia in a futile attempt to evade justice,” McDonald said.

President Donald Trump pointed to the fraud case as part of his justification for launching a massive immigration crackdown in Minnesota late last year.

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Minnesota

Minnesota primary voting starts for major 2026 races

Published

1 day ago

June 26, 2026

Press Room

Minnesota primary voting starts for major 2026 races

Madison McVan
| Minnesota Reformer

Early voting for Minnesota’s 2026 primary elections began on Friday, 46 days ahead of the official Aug. 11 election.
Voters will decide on nominees for governor, an open U.S. Senate seat, and all state legislative positions.
Minnesotans can vote absentee by mail or in person at designated early voting locations.

Voting in Minnesota’s 2026 primary elections began Friday morning, 46 days before the official Aug. 11 Primary Election Day.

Minnesotans confront a hugely important midterm election in the fall, when all constitutional offices, an open U.S. Senate seat, a highly competitive congressional district and the Legislature will be on the ballot. Control of both state government and Congress are at stake.

Before then, however, the parties will choose their nominees in a bevy of competitive races that will shape the fall election.

We don’t have party registration in Minnesota, which means anyone can vote in the primary.

Following the sweep of a progressive slate in several New York primaries this week, political analysts will be closely watching voters’ preferences, which will set the stage for the second half of President Donald Trump’s second term.

Here’s what you need to know.

Which races are on the ballot in Minnesota?

Every Minnesota citizen will have the opportunity to vote for statewide offices including governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, auditor and U.S. Senator.

For this primary election, you can only vote for candidates from one political party. Your ballot will have Democrats on one column, and Republicans on the other. Choose one! If you vote for candidates from more than one political party, your votes will not count. You decide when you vote which one of the parties you will vote for.

The governor’s race is wide open for the first time since 2018, when Gov. Tim Walz won his first term. Walz initially announced he would run for a third term before ending his campaign in early January following Republican attacks on his record on stopping fraud in Minnesota’s social safety net programs.

The Senate seat is open following Sen. Tina Smith’s retirement announcement last year. Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who is running for governor, still occupies the other Senate seat. (If Klobuchar were to win the governor’s race and resign her Senate seat, she would appoint a successor to hold the position until a special election.)

The entire state Legislature is up for reelection in 2026, but not every race has a competitive primary.

Voters may see other local races on their ballots, including county commissioners, county attorneys and school board members.

You can use this tool from the Secretary of State’s Office to preview your ballot.

How do I vote in Minnesota?

Friday, June 26, is the first day of absentee voting. You can request an absentee ballot be mailed to you, which you can return in-person or through the mail.

Alternatively, you can vote “in person absentee” by going to your local early voting location, where you can request your absentee ballot, receive it, fill it out and submit it on the spot.

Starting July 24, you can vote in-person at the early voting locations in a process similar to that of voting on Election Day.

Who’s running in Minnesota?

There are several competitive primaries in statewide races that will determine the matchups in the general election later this year.

For governor, Sen. Amy Klobuchar is expected to win the Democratic-Farmer-Labor nomination after winning the party’s endorsement on the first ballot, over a challenge from Kobey Lane, a 26-year old trans activist and former Republican legislative assistant.

The Republican primary is competitive; after Army veteran and former health care executive Kendall Qualls won the party’s endorsement in May, the other front-runners refused to drop out of the race, citing voting irregularities at the convention. House Speaker Lisa Demuth and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell round out the three-way race.

In the race to replace Smith in the Senate, two Democratic powerhouses are facing off: U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. Flanagan won the endorsement after Craig dropped out of the endorsement process; Craig is gunning for votes outside of the party’s activist base.

On the Republican side, GOP-endorsed former Navy Seal Adam Schwarze will face off against former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya, whose name recognition and well-financed campaign could boost her performance in a primary.

With Craig’s highly competitive south metro seat in the U.S. House coming open, three top-tier Democrats are vying to replace her: former state Sen. Matt Little, state Rep. Kaela Berg and state Sen. Matt Klein. State Sen. Eric Pratt is running unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

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