MINNEAPOLIS — Their contributions were key to one of the biggest wins in Gopher history, and now University of Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan and cornerback Antoine Winfield, Jr., are being honored by the Big Ten.
Morgan is the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, and Winfield is the conference's outstanding player on the defensive side of the ball after the University of MInnesota (U of M) beat then-5th ranked Penn State 31-26 Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium.
Morgan completed 18 of 20 passes (90%) for 339 yards and three TDs as the Gophers moved to 9-0 for the first time since 1904. Through nine games he has thrown for 21 touchdowns, which ranks third for U of M quarterbacks in a single season. It's the most since Bryan Cupito passed for 22 touchdowns in 2006.
He has now passed for 3,501 career yards, which ranks 11th all-time at Minnesota. Morgan is 13-2 as a starter and has guided Minnesota to 12 straight wins, tied for the third-longest winning streak in the nation.
RELATED: Gophers upset Penn State 31 to 26
Winfield led Minnesota with a team-high 11 tackles (9 solo) against the Nittany Lions, and notched two interceptions and 33 return yards in the win. Those two interceptions led to 14 points for the Gophers. Winfield now has seven interceptions on the year, which ties Minnesota's school record set by Jeff Wright during the 1970 season.
The U of M has now had eight players named Big Ten Player of the Week this year, which ties a school record that the Gophers set last season.
The 9-0 Gophers play Saturday when they visit the Iowa Hawkeyes at 3 p.m.
