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Who's got the edge? Minnesota vs. Illinois

OFFENSE

Illinois' big-play ability this season — see Corbin, Reggie — has been a 180-degree shift from a year ago. The redshirt junior running back ranks first in the Big Ten and second nationally at 8.03 yards per carry and ranks second among all FBS backs in runs of 70-plus (two), 60-plus (three), 50-plus (five) and 40-plus (five) yards. Injuries, meanwhile, have ravaged the Minnesota backfield. The Gophers are on their second freshman walk-on quarterback in Tanner Morgan after an injury to Zack Annexstad, and they've had to go running back by committee after Rodney Smith was lost for the season with a knee injury in early September.