The wait is finally over. The Minnesota Golden Gophers will begin their 2024 campaign on Thursday evening as they take on the North Carolina Tar Heels out of the Atlantic Coastal Conference.
The Gophers enter 2024 hoping to bounce back from a 2023 season that saw them go 6-7 including 3-6 in Big Ten play, losing their last four regular season contests before picking up a bowl win over Bowling Green.
GET THE INSIDE SCOOP EVERY DAY WITH YOUR PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION!
MORE: INSIDE GOPHERS NATION MESSAGE BOARD
FOLLOW ALONG ON X: @MinnesotaRivals
The Tar Heels had a little bit better luck in 2023, posting an 8-5 record including 4-4 in ACC play but did struggle after a fast start to the season. This season, they'll have to make up for the loss of quarterback Drake Maye, a top five in this year's NFL Draft.
Last season, these two teams met in Chapel Hill, a 31-13 win for the Tar Heels. In that affair, Drake Maye threw for 414 yards and two touchdowns while Tar Heels wide receiver Nate McCollum posted an incredible day of 15 receptions for 165 yards and a touchdown.
This will be Minnesota's eighth Thursday night game since 2017, in their previous seven games the Gophers are 6-1 with their only loss coming to No. 4 Ohio State in the 2021 season opener. Last season, the Gophers started their season off with a 13-10 win over Nebraska at Huntington Bank Stadium as Dragan Kesich nailed a 47-yard field goal as time expired.
Entering Thursday evening, the biggest question that has yet to be answered is if star running back Darius Taylor and wide receiver Daniel Jackson will play for the Golden Gophers. Both have been dealing with injuries in recent weeks leading to their availability for the season opener to be in question.
WHEN, WHERE, HOW TO WATCH
When: Thursday, August 29, 2024, 7:00 p.m. CT
Where: Huntington Bank Stadium (50,805)
TV: FOX | Jason Benetti (PxP), Brock Huard (Analyst), Allison Williams (Reporter)
Radio: KFAN | Mike Grimm (Pxp), Darrell Thompson (Analyst), Justin Gaard (Reporter)
SiriusXM: 84
WEATHER UPDATES
11:00 a.m. - Continues to look like we're going to be seeing pop ups torms and showers throughout the day but particulary this evening. There are some expected storms just around kickoff in Minneapolis with significant rain and wind gusts. A potential delay of kickoff appears likely.
READING MATERIAL
- Trio of 2026 prospects headlines Thursday's visitors group
- Minnesota vs North Carolina: Starters as Recruits
- GOPHER NUGGETS: Projected two-deep vs North Carolina
- Rivals250 cornerback to visit Minnesota on Thursday
- Minnesota announces uniform for season opener
- Minnesota vs North Carolina: How to watch, betting, weather
- GOPHER NUGGETS: Projected offensvie depth chart
- Three-star WR Dveyoun Bonwell-Witte sets return visit
- Insider Q&A: North Carolina Tar Heels
- Minnesota vs North Carolina: Five storylines to watch
- WATCH: North Carolina HC Mack Brown previews Minnesota
- Gophers Nation TV: P.J. Fleck and coordinators meet with the media
- Gophers HC P.J. Fleck has seen 'tremendous growth' from cornerbacks
PROJECTED STARTERS
GOPHERS NATION TV
POST GAME CENTRAL
Stay tuned at Gophers Nation for full comprehensive coverage of the Gophers season opener against North Carolina. In the coming days, we'll have a complete post game recap, reactions from P.J. Fleck, players of the game, position grades, and more.
============================
- Talk about it INSIDE GOPHER NATION.
- Follow us on Twitter: @MinnesotaRivals, @RivalsDylanCC
- SUBSCRIBE to Gophers Nation
