Gophers get ready to take on USC

• University of Minnesota

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(Minneapolis, MN) -- University of Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill yesterday held his first game week news conference of his coaching tenure at Minnesota. Kill and the Gophers will open the season at USC on Saturday afternoon.

Kill called Trojan quarterback Matt Barkley a "first round draft pick" who will be tough to defend. The first-year coach also joked that USC will have "500 tailbacks lined up there that can all play." He says USC is a good, athletic team.

Kill's team will have a light practice today and leave for California tomorrow. Kickoff on Saturday is set for 2:30 p.m.

Here is the University of Minnesota football schedule:

Saturday, September 3rd - at Southern California, 2:30pm

Saturday, September 10th - vs. New Mexico State, 2:30pm

Saturday, September 17th - vs. Miami (OH), 2:30pm

Saturday, September 24th - vs. North Dakota State, 6pm

Saturday, October 1st - at Michigan, time TBD

Saturday, October 8th - at Purdue, time TBD

Saturday, October 22nd - vs. Nebraska, 2:30pm

Saturday, October 29th - vs. Iowa, time TBD

Saturday, November 5th - at Michigan State, time TBD

Saturday, November 12th - vs. Wisconsin, time TBD

Saturday, November 18th - at Northwestern, time TBD

Saturday, November 26th - vs. Illinois, time TBD

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Here is this week's slate of college football games in the Big Ten:

UNLV at Wisconsin, Thursday, 7pm

Youngstown State at Michigan State, Friday, 6:30pm

Tennessee Tech at Iowa, Saturday, 11am

Northwestern at Boston College, Saturday, 11am

Indiana State at Penn State, Saturday, 11am

Akron at Ohio State, Saturday, 11am

Minnesota at USC, Saturday, 2:30pm

Arkansas State at Illinois, Saturday, 2:30pm

UT-Chattanooga at Nebraska, Saturday, 2:30pm

Western Michigan at Michigan, Saturday, 2:30pm

Indiana vs. Ball State in Indianapolis, Saturday, 6pm

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Three teams from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference are in the D-3 National Preseason Football poll. St. Thomas begins the year ranked fifth in the country, Bethel is seventh, and Saint John's is 25th. UW-Whitewater is the preseason No. 1 team in the nation.

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Here is Saturday's slate of college football games in the MIAC:

Luther (IA) at St. Olaf, noon

Augsburg at Concordia-Wisconsin, 1pm

Simpson (IA) at Bethel, 1pm

Carthage (IL) at Carleton, 1pm

Dickinson State (SD) at Concordia-Moorhead, 1pm

Northwestern College at Saint John's, 1pm

St. Norbert at St. Thomas, 1pm

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Here is this week's slate of college football games in the Northern Sun:

St. Cloud State at California-Pennsylvania, Thursday, 6pm

Southwest Minnesota State at Northern State, Thursday, 6pm

Nebraska-Kearney at Wayne State, Thursday, 6pm

Minnesota State-Minnesota at Northern Michigan, Thursday, 7pm

Chadron State at U-Mary, Thursday, 7pm

Mayville State at Minnesota-Crookston, Friday, 6pm

Minnesota State-Moorhead at Robert Morris, Saturday, noon

Minnesota-Duluth at Augustana, Saturday, 1pm

Texas A&M-Commerce at Upper Iowa, Saturday, 1pm

Concordia-St. Paul at Minot State, Saturday, 1pm

Michigan Tech at Winona State, Saturday, 4:30pm

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Here is Saturday's slate of games in the UMAC:

Rockford (IL) at Westminster (MO), 1pm

MacMurray (MO) at Minnesota-Morris, 1pm

Maranatha Baptist at Martin Luther, 1pm

Northwestern College at Saint John's, 1pm

St. Scholastica at Lawrence , 1pm

Tags: minnesota sports, proam, football, gophers