TANNER MORGAN

C.

Last month, Tanner Morgan lost his closest confidant and biggest fan. Minnesota's fourth-year quarterback has found plenty of both among his coaches and teammates, as if he had any doubt about the depth of their connection. Morgan's father, Ted, died in July of brain cancer.

Nine of the 14 Big Ten football teams appear set at quarterback heading into the fall.

Maryland celebrate after defeating Minnesota during overtime of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, in College Park, Md. Maryland won 45-44 in overtime. Minnesota's Brock Walker sent an extra-point try wide right after the potential tying touchdown, giving Maryland a stunning 45-44 comeback victory Friday night. Never in school history had Maryland won after trailing by 17 points in the fourth quarter. Jake Funk ran for a career-best 221 yards, and Maryland totaled a whopping 675 yards of offense.

Viewing the loss of the 2020 schedule in a vacuum, however, is never the perspective that Fleck and his staff and players would take. The more time we have to build this football team, the better were going to be, Fleck said. The pandemic already cost the Gophers one star player, with NFL-bound wide receiver Rashod Bateman opting out for health reasons. The original 2020 slate had plenty of advantages for the Gophers, with no Ohio State or Penn State on the schedule and no road games until October. Now were going to do it our way, Fleck said, adding: There will be another season.