For the last year, Gophers fans stood behind referee Tim O’Dey’s ruling that Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean gave an invalid fair catch signal.

The call sent the Floyd of Rosedale trophy back to Minneapolis and Iowa fans left with an urge to reclaim the golden pig.

The fight for the Floyd of Rosedale on Sept. 21 will be the 118th meeting for what the NFL said is college football’s most prestigious trophy. Both teams enter the weekend with a 2-1 record with home non-conference losses. 

The Gophers won last season’s matchup 12-10 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa.

After last season’s defensive duel, the pair will meet again with two of the nation’s best defenses squaring off at Huntington Bank Stadium.

The Gophers’ defense is ranked fifth overall in the country. This season, Minnesota allowed one touchdown through three games and held opponents to 186.3 yards per game.

Their one defensive hurdle came in week one when the Gophers missed 22 tackles against North Carolina, according to defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman. The Tar Heels running back Omarion Hampton leads the nation in yards after contact, and Iowa’s tailback Kaleb Johnson trails two yards behind with 308.

Gophers transfer defensive back Ethan Robinson said having seen a running back of Hampton’s caliber is helpful when preparing for Johnson.

“We learned lessons from week one about missing tackles and how to adjust our technique,” Robinson said. “Last two weeks we’ve seen some good backs but they haven’t been quite these guys.”

Johnson leads the NCAA with 479 rushing yards through the season’s first three weeks. But the Hawkeyes rank 108th in the country in passing yards per game.

Hetherman said the synergy within Iowa’s offensive line helps them run the ball effectively.

“They work really well together up front and then the running backs run through tackles,” Hetherman said. “Their backfield is very talented and up front, they have an older group.”

Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said games against the Hawkeyes are “won in the trenches.”

The Gophers offense scored two rushing touchdowns in all three games to start this season, while Iowa has yet to allow a touchdown on the ground.

The Hawkeyes are top five in rushing defense allowing 56.3 rushing yards per game.

Gophers offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr. said patience is important on offense against a tough defensive front.

“You can’t get away from the run game when you’re only getting one, two, three yards,” Harbaugh said. “Because it’s just chipping away, it’s a physical game.”

The Gophers are averaging 130 yards per game on the ground and have featured multiple running backs including Darius Taylor, Marcus Major and Jordan Nubin.

Taylor said it is up to him to perform against Iowa and he will go back to his fundamentals to do so.

Taylor leads the team in rushing having played two games this season. Minnesota’s lead tailback is averaging 7.5 yards per carry and set back-to-back career highs in receptions.

Harbaugh said being efficient is also critical because the plays are limited in games against Iowa.

Gophers linebacker Cody Lindenberg said the defense will focus on executing details and fundamentals while taking it one play at a time.

 “These Big Ten games everything is magnified,” Lindenberg said. “Those little plays that you may have gotten away with in the first few games you’re not going to get away with anymore.”

Linebackers Maverick Baranowski and Lindenberg lead the team in tackles, combining for 33 tackles in three games.

Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. for the Gophers’ second primetime matchup of the season hosting their rival.