Quick Lane Bowl Preview: CMU vs. Minnesota
12/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
2015 Quick Lane Bowl Media Guide
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Football is football, whether you're playing your rival, whether you're playing indoors or outside, or whether it's late August or the holidays.
That said, there is something to be said for playing an opponent from a conference generally considered to be superior to that of your own.
Such is the case for Central Michigan (7-5) as it prepares to play Big Ten representative Minnesota (5-7) in the Dec. 28 Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit.
"You enjoy playing those big schools," CMU junior quarterback Cooper Rush said Friday after the team's practice at the Indoor Athletic Complex. "Like we've all said, it's a great opportunity."
And one that is familiar to the Chippewas. They played Power-Five representatives Oklahoma State (Big 12), Michigan State (Big Ten) and Syracuse (ACC) earlier this season, and more than held their own with all three.
They lost in overtime at Syracuse, trailed by one touchdown in the fourth quarter at Michigan State before falling 31-10; and lost to Oklahoma State, 24-13, after leading in the third quarter. Michigan State (12-1) won the Big Ten championship and is one of four teams in the College Football Playoff, and Oklahoma State (10-2) will play in the Sugar Bowl.
"I think it's a big help from a confidence standpoint," first-year CMU coach John Bonamego said of the takeaway from his team's performances against Power-Five teams. "I think our guys feel like we can play with anybody and they've demonstrated that this year. This is another opportunity to go toe-to-toe with a Power Five opponent and show that we belong in Division I."
That said, the Chippewas don't concern themselves much with pedigree or reputation.
"I'm more concerned about how we prepare, how we perform, than I am about who we play," Bonamego said. "Minnesota, Michigan State, Syracuse, Oklahoma State, Monmouth - it doesn't matter, it doesn't change how we prepare."
The Gophers lost five of their final six regular-season games. CMU won five of its last six, all against Mid-American Conference opponents. Among Minnesota's final six opponents were Ohio State, Iowa and Michigan. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 1 at the time, Iowa was No. 8, and Michigan was No. 15.
Minnesota opened the season with a 23-17 loss to then-No. 2 TCU. Of the Gophers' seven losses, five came to ranked teams. The lone common opponent is Kent State. CMU defeated the Golden Flashes, 27-14, on the road. Minnesota topped Kent State, 10-7, at home.
"We're not looking at their record," CMU wide receiver Jesse Kroll said. "They're a good team. We're trying our best to do what we do well, and they're going to be a good opponent regardless of their record.
"We want to play the best competition. We wouldn't want it any other way. Any time we get a chance to play a Power Five team, we get pretty excited about that."
Dual-threat quarterback Mitch Leidner leads a Minnesota offense that ranked 12th in the Big Ten with 357.1 yards per game. Leidner has completed 57.8 percent of his passes for 2,478 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has been intercepted 10 times. Leidner is Minnesota's third-leading rusher with 251 yards and five TDs.
Freshman Shannon Brooks averages 6.2 yards per carry and leads the Gophers with 644 yards rushing. KJ Maye, with 65 catches for 706 yards and four TDs, is Leidner's top target.
Defensively, the Gophers ranked ninth in the Big Ten after surrendering an average of 354 yards per game.
Rush is in the midst of one of the finest seasons for a quarterback in CMU history. His 3,703 passing yards are a single-season record, and that ranks 10th nationally.
Rush also ranks sixth in the country in completions per game (25.75), 12th in completion percentage (67.2 percent), 11th in passing yards per game (308.6), and 20th in TD passes (25).
While Rush has been consistent-to-outstanding all season in earning Second Team All-MAC honors, the Chippewas' calling card has been a defense led by the likes of Kavon Frazier and Blake Serpa.
CMU led the MAC in total defense, allowing 328.2 yards per game. The Chippewas have surrendered just 190.5 yards per game through the air, which also leads the MAC.
