The final score certainly indicates a close game: 23-17. And Minnesota did technically have a chance to win at the end, albeit the Gophers needed to go 80 yards in 27 seconds -- with no timeouts -- against second-ranked TCU.
However, except for brief moments, Minnesota never really felt in this game. Mistakes and missed opportunities doomed the Gophers from the start.
It's too bad they don't have a moral victories column in the standings, but there are just wins and losses and Minnesota can only put up a "1" in the latter.
If the defense keeps playing like it did against TCU, the left-hand column will see plenty of changes, though, this season. It would help with more consistency from the offense, of course.
Here's the breakdown from Thursday's season opener:
CLASS LESSONS
-- Left tackle Josh Campion not being able to play as he recovers from a concussion hurt Minnesota early. Ben Lauer, coming off a knee injury and minor surgery in mid-August did not look good early and allowed a sack/fumble early in the first quarter, which TCU would recover at the Gophers 15 and convert into a touchdown to take a 10-0 lead. Minnesota would move Jonah Prisig from right tackle to left and bench Lauer. Leidner would be sacked only one more time when he was blitzed in the end zone in the fourth quarter.
-- Minnesota misses David Cobb but might have found a replacement in redshirt freshman Rodney Smith, who had a game-high 16 carries for 88 yards with a touchdown. Rodrick Williams was presumed to be the No. 1 back, but he had a key fumble early in the game and ran the ball just twice in the second half (9 carries for 32 yards overall with a long of 8 yards).
-- Forward-progress plays can't be reviewed. We found that out after TCU wide receiver Desmon White clearly fumbled (as shown on TV replay) before falling to the ground as he was being tackled by Minnesota's Ace Rogers. But the referee blew the whistle (too soon, from a Minnesota point of view) and called forward progress. No review, no fumble.
-- Minnesota is still going with a two-quarterback system, albeit only briefly vs. TCU. Chris Streveler came into the game in the first quarter and ran for 3 yards on a second-and-6 play. Mitch Leidner QB'd the rest of the way.
-- Special teams was pretty good, with Peter Mortell averaging 45.4 yards per punt and Ryan Santoso nailing a 42-yard field goal. But there was also a major gaffe when Craig James called for a fair catch at the 4 on a ball that was seemingly headed into the end zone. That pinned Minnesota back and led to a near safety (at first it was ruled that but then changed to a Leidner fumble, recovered by the Gophers at the 1). Minnesota would have to punt, with TCU starting in Gophers territory and eventually getting a field goal to make it 23-10 with roughly 7 1/2 minutes left in the game.
DULY NOTED
-- Leidner had three pass attempts and three called runs in Minnesota's first seven plays. Leidner completed those first three passes then was 16 of 32 the rest of the way.
-- When Minnesota sacked Trevon Boykin in the first quarter, it appeared to take TCU out of field-goal position. But Horned Frogs kicker Jaden Oberkrom made the 53-yard attempt.
-- Eric Murray helped prevent some points with a fumble recovery at the Minnesota 13 in the second quarter. Later in the second, linebacker De'Vondre Campbell failed to come up with an interception deep in Minnesota territory, but he was bailed out when Oberkrom doinked a 36-yard field-goal attempt off the upright.
-- Minnesota had to call a timeout to get a 37-yard catch by TCU's Kolby Listenbee reviewed. The ball hit the ground and Listenbee didn't control it as well as he dove to make the catch. It was called a completion and TCU rushed to the line to snap the ball, but Jerry Kill got a timeout called in time, although there was some confusion with flags flying, too. It all worked out as the play was reversed and Minnesota got to keep its timeout.
-- Leidner was 5-for-5 passing on Minnesota's final scoring drive.
WHAT IT MEANT
Really, not too much. Minnesota wasn't dreaming of a spot in the college playoffs and this has no bearing on the Big Ten. It was good to see the Gophers were able to hang with one of the best teams in the nation, so that could bear well down the line.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
You really could pick a number of players from the Gophers defense, but we'll go with cornerback Eric Murray. The senior had eight tackles along with a forced fumble, interception and pass defensed.
DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME
If there is going to be a big play had by Minnesota in a game, best bet is wide receiver KJ Maye will be involved. Maye had four receptions for a team-high 73 yards with two of his catches going for more than 20 yards (22, 36), plus he drew a pass interference penalty down the field.
THAT MOMENT
Turnovers can be killers. Turnovers as you about to score are game-changers. Williams' fumble at the 1 -- with the ball going into the end zone where TCU recovered -- cost Minnesota a chance to cut the lead to 10-7, robbed it of some momentum and were points that were obviously needed (but of course aren't they all?). This happened early in the game, but the Gophers never really recovered and would eventually fall behind by two touchdowns.
THIS NUMBER
23 points. Yeah, 23 points allowed might normally not be something to crow about, but TCU had scored 30+ points in 15 consecutive games, dating back Nov. 9, 2013. Last year, Minnesota held the Horned Frogs, who averaged 46.5. points per game in 2014, to its lowest output of the season -- 30 points. And this TCU offense returns 10 starters from that team. Nope, 23 points allowed is nothing to sneeze at in this instance.
THEY SAID IT
"I told you it would be a tough game." -- TCU head coach Gary Patterson
WHAT'S NEXT
Minnesota plays at Colorado State on Sept. 12. The Rams won't exactly face the same kind of opponent the Gophers did in their opener as they begin at home this Saturday against FCS Savannah State.
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