“I went into it expecting this is going to be pass, pass, pass,” he said. “It’s not. They do a good job being very balanced.”
The Trojans average 143.8 rushing yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry. Woody Marks (334 yards) and Quinten Joyner (7.3 yards per carry) are their top rushers. “They find matchups,” Hetherman said. “They find space.”
Riley is just as concerned about the Gophers offense and quarterback Max Brosmer, the New Hampshire transfer who’s shouldering a bigger load in the absence of an effective Minnesota running game. Brosmer went 16-for-23 for 137 yards in the second half against Michigan and led three TD drives in the fourth quarter.
“This guy is really good quarterback,” Riley said. “He’s smart, decisive with the football, has a great feel on what they’re doing offensively. It really fits him. We’ve got to make him uncomfortable, which, for what we’ve seen on tape, is not an easy task.”