3 keys to the Gophers leaving Illinois with a win over a ranked opponent

Minnesota travels to Illinois this week for a crucial matchup with former Big Ten West foe Illinois. Between his time at Wisconsin and Illinois, the Gophers never beat Bret Bielema. There are three important keys if they want to break the streak and leave Champaign with a win.

Offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr. fell in love with the pass against Maryland last week. And for good reason, as Max Brosmer had one of the best games by a Gophers quarterback in recent memory. Illinois has some health concerns in the secondary, so this could lead to another big day in the air, but if Minnesota is able to get Darius Taylor going early, the chances of leaving with a win will increase dramatically.

Illinois' run defense ranks 78th in college football, allowing 154.8 yards per game. Saturday presents a great opportunity for Taylor to get back on track and surpass 100 yards rushing for the first time since Oct. 5 against USC.

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer is at his best when the pocket stays clean and he isn't under pressure. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), he was “pressured” on 38.1% of his dropbacks this season and earned a PFF grade of 43.6 on those 101 plays, a significant decrease from his PFF grade of 87, 2 in the pocket is clean.

If Jah Joyner, Danny Striggow and the Gophers' pass rush can generate pressure, I think it could be a long day for the Illinois offense.

Last week's 48 points against Maryland were the most points scored by Minnesota's offense against a Big Ten opponent since Harbaugh was named offensive coordinator. From a gameplay perspective, it was by far the most aggressive game. The Gophers tried to score points in a two-minute situation before halftime, and they continued to throw the football down the field despite having a sizable lead.

The Gophers' performance against the Terrapins was a testament to how explosive the offense can be when you put the ball in the hands of playmakers. Against a familiar opponent like Bielema and Illinois, it could be easy for Minnesota to slip back into their conservative approach, but they must continue to rely on Brosmer and the deep passing attack.