Gophers football: 4 eye-popping stat categories after nonconference play

Minnesota's football team is 3-0 after a dominant nonconference schedule. The Gophers play their Big Ten opener against Michigan State at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.

Gophers football has the best overall grade (97.8) after nonconference play. Mo Ibrahim has 464 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns after contact. The team is better on third down than any other team in the nation. The offense converts 77.5% of the time and the defense allows only 11. 8%. It's a good start for a team that's expected to be among the top teams in December. It is also better than the previous five years. In the past five seasons, the team's conversion rate has been about 60%. The best offenses convert about under 60% and their defense around 27%.

Minnesota is 3-0 after beating Colorado, New Mexico State and Western Illinois. Michigan State is 2-1 after defeating Western Michigan and Akron. The Gophers haven't traveled to East Lansing since 2013. They lost to Michigan in 2010.

Minnesota's No. 1 wideout Chris Autman-Bell is injured and will miss the rest of the season. The remaining pass catchers will have opportunities against a 103rd-ranked Spartans secondary.