Floyd of Rosedale will be back on the line Saturday afternoon when the Minnesota Gophers host Iowa at TCF Bank Stadium.
Here are some of the things you should know about Saturday’s contest with the Hawkeyes.
1. Floyd is one of football’s most unique trophies
College football is full of unique trophy games. There’s the Little Brown Jug, Paul Bunyan’s Axe and of course there’s Floyd of Rosedale – and those are just the games the trophy games involving the Gophers.
Floyd is a bronze pig that stands 15.5 inches tall, 21 inches long and weighs 98.3 pounds.
The trophy was inspired by a 1935 wager between then Minnesota Gov. Floyd Olson and Iowa Gov. Clyde Herring. The loser had to deliver a prize hog from his state to the winner’s gubernatorial office in person.
So when Minnesota won, Herring got the pig from Rosedale Farms in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and delivered it to Gov. Olson in Minnesota. Floyd of Rosedale was born.
The Hawkeyes currently have Floyd, but the two teams have split the last six games. Minnesota last held him following a 51-14 victory over the Hawkeyes in 2014 – the last time they met at TCF Bank Stadium.
"That's how rivalries should be. They're physical games." Coach Claeys, on going back-and-forth with having Floyd.
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) October 4, 2016
2. Leidner could hold the key
Gophers quarterback Mitch Leidner has been getting a lot of national attention. His strong start through the season’s first four games really hasn’t stopped that.
So far this season the senior has completed nearly 63 percent of his passes for 840 yards and 5 touchdowns to 2 interceptions.
Those numbers are only further establishing him as one of the top signal callers in program history.
#Gophers QB Mitch Leidner has become the most accurate passer in school history. His completion percentage is at 57.3 heading into Iowa.
— Andy Greder (@andygreder) October 4, 2016
In his two previous starts against Iowa, Leidner has been impressive, leading a Gophers offense that has amassed 86 points in their last two games against the Hawkeyes.
Leidner himself has played a big part in it, rushing 22 times for 109 yards and a touchdown, while completing 29-of-40 passes for 5 touchdowns without an interception.
3. 3-headed ground attack
Through four games, the Gophers have had three different running backs eclipse 100 yards. Rodney Smith ran for 125 vs. Oregon State and 104 at Penn State.
Shannon Brooks put up 100 yards against Penn State and Kobe McCrary ran for 176 yards against Indiana State.
It’s the first time the Gophers have had three running backs post 100 yard games in a season since 2007 when Amir Pinnix, Jay Thomas and Duane Bennett accomplished it.
