• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Ohio State looks to put clamps down on Minnesota

Sep 29, 2007 - 10:47 AM No. 8 Ohio State (4-0) at Minnesota (1-3) 8:00 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Amir Pinnix and Minnesota shouldn't count on racking up the yards this weekend.

Pinnix and the Golden Gophers look to be the first team this season to do much offensively against Ohio State when they host the eighth-ranked Buckeyes in a Big Ten Conference matchup on Saturday.

Minnesota (1-3, 0-1 Big Ten) has struggled, as expected, thus far in its first season under coach Tim Brewster, including a 45-31 home setback last weekend to Purdue in its conference opener.

But one bright spot has been Pinnix, who is averaging just under 110 rushing yards, although he was limited to 53 yards on five carries against the Boilermakers.

Ohio State (4-0, 1-0), meanwhile, has been shutting down opponents this season, ranking seventh nationally against the run (57.5 yards), second in total defense (177.75) and third in scoring defense (7.25).

Last week, the Buckeyes limited Northwestern to 181 total yards in a 58-7 rout in Columbus.

First-year starter Todd Boeckman completed 11-of-14 passes for 179 yards, four touchdowns and one interception for the Buckeyes, while Maurice Wells rushed for two TDs and Beanie Wells ran for 100 yards and a score.

The Buckeyes crushed the Golden Gophers in Columbus last year, 44-0. They have won all four meetings under coach Jim Tressel since a 29-17 loss under John Cooper in 2000.