It is onto Big Ten play for the undefeated Gophers.

Minnesota (3-0) defeated Miami (0-3) 26-3 on Saturday afternoon at TCF Bank Stadium. Junior Tyler Johnson caught three touchdown passes. True freshman Bryce Williams end the game with 33 carries and 141 yards. He also added 35 yards receiving. 

The Gophers didn’t miss a beat without their senior running back, Rodney Smith, who is out for the rest of the year. Johnson ended the game with nine catches, 133 yards and three touchdowns. The duo of Williams and Johnson combined for 309 all-purpose yards.

Johnson’s third touchdown catch came late in the third quarter to put the Gophers up 26-3. The touchdown drive was set up by an Antonio Shenault interception. 

Minnesota scored 12 points in the second quarter and started to pull away from the RedHawks. After a 44-yard field goal by Emmit Carpenter, the Gophers forced a safety after running back Alonzo Smith tripped in the end zone. 

With 1:45 left to play in the second quarter, the Gophers converted on third down and 17 yards to go with a screen pass to Williams for 35 yards. That play set up Minnesota in the red zone. Redshirt junior Seth Green came in for the wildcat formation and threw a slant to Johnson for the first touchdown pass of his career. It was Johnson’s second touchdown catch of the day. 

Minnesota plays Maryland next weekend in the team’s conference opener on Sept. 22 in College Park, Maryland.