EVANSTON, Illinois (Ticker) -- It might be a bit too early to label Minnesota a frontrunner for the Big Ten Conference title, but the 16th-ranked Golden Gophers have a chance to do something they have not accomplished in more than four decades.
Minnesota, which opened conference play with a 20-14 victory at Penn State last week, seeks its first 6-0 start since 1960 on Saturday when it concludes a two-game road trip at Northwestern.
That season, the Golden Gophers staged a stunning turnaround, going from a last-place finish in 1959 to a national championship and a share of the Big Ten Conference title.
Minnesota won its first seven games in 1960 before finishing the regular season 8-1, its only loss coming to Purdue. The Golden Gophers were voted the No. 1 team in the country before losing to Washington in the Rose Bowl.
This year's Minnesota team scored 187 points in winning its first four games. They then held on last week with a victory in the difficult environment of Penn State.
Marion Barber III carried 23 times for a season-high 134 yards for his third straight 100-yard effort. He has 11 rushing TDs on the season, two away from the school record shared by Jim Perkins (1976) and Darrell Thompson (1987).
Minnesota is looking for its first 2-0 start in Big Ten play since 1990, when the Golden Gophers opened with wins over Purdue and Northwestern.
Minnesota could be playing its final Saturday game until late October. The school moved next week's contest against Michigan to Friday because of the possibility of the Minnesota Twins being involved in the American League Championship Series. A home game against Michigan State on October 18 also could be switched to Friday.
Northwestern (2-3, 0-1), was blanked, 20-0, last week at third-ranked Ohio State. The Wildcats were shut out for the first time since a 49-0 loss to Penn State last season and lost to Ohio State for the 24th straight time.
Minnesota snapped a two-game losing streak against Northwestern last season, holding on for a 45-42 victory after opening a 21-point lead in the third quarter. The Golden Gophers ran for 418 yards as the teams combined for 1,041 yards of total offense.
Minnesota leads the all-time series, 47-28-5.
