Minnesota's season opener was over before it started. Eastern Illinois showed up at Huntington Bank Stadium, but the Gophers made sure it stopped mattering fast.
Drake Lindsey got his first real look under center in a game that counts, and P.J. Fleck's sophomore quarterback made it look routine in front of the home crowd for his 10th season opener. Lindsey went 19-for-24 for 264 yards and a touchdown before Fleck pulled him in the third quarter, ceding the rest of the night to backup Max Shikenjanski, who added a rushing score of his own. The Thursday-night kickoff at 07:00 PM CT was Fleck's nod to the State Fair tradition he's leaned on to open seasons in Minneapolis.
The story of the night, though, was special teams. Javon Tracy took an 87-yard punt return to the house late in the first quarter, then broke off a 69-yard return early in the third to become the first player in program history to house two punts in a single game. Tight end Pierce Walsh and running back Xavier Ford each chipped in touchdowns of their own, and by the time Tracy's second return landed, Minnesota was already up 42-7 with the outcome long decided.
None of that was a shock on paper. Eastern Illinois is an FCS program that finished a losing season a year ago under fourth-year coach Chris Wilkerson, and this was always a scheduling payday for the Panthers, not a competitive matchup. The number on the board reflected as much, and nothing that happened once the ball was kicked gave anyone reason to think otherwise.
Eastern Illinois never found a foothold. Minnesota led 35-7 at the half, tacked on 10 more in the third and closed it out with 14 in the fourth once the backups were already rotating through, and Huntington Bank Stadium never had to sweat a single possession. It was 87 degrees and mostly sunny at kickoff — comfortable weather for a laugher that Gophers fans got to enjoy from start to finish.
