Former MN Gophers Star QB Makes Broadcast Debut

We have now fully entered the Drake Lindsey era of Minnesota Gophers football. He took over for Max Brosmer this season, and the arm talent was on fully display last weekend.

Although Buffalo was not a formidable opponent, Lindsey got his feet wet and never left the game in doubt. On Saturday against Northwestern State, he’ll have an opportunity to embarrass a truly terrible team.

It’s not just an opportunity to be a coming out party for Lindsey either. Former Gophers star quarterback Tanner Morgan will be on the call.

Tanner Morgan makes broadcasting debut calling Minnesota Gophers

For five seasons Tanner Morgan operated as a quarterback for the Minnesota Gophers. His 2019 season was among the best in Gophers football history, and they finished 11-2 with an Outback Bowl win over Auburn and the 10th overall rank in the nation.

Morgan never sniffed the NFL despite some draft projections. Now he’ll be on the big screen as he calls his first game on Big Ten Network.

The game is a soft landing spot for Minnesota, and will be so for a few former Gophers as well. Not only is Morgan on the broadcast, but so too is women’s golf alum Emma Carpenter. The former quarterback is set to operate as the analyst alongside Jason Ross Jr. handling play-by-play duties. Carpenter will be their sideline reporter.

It will be a fun full-circle moment for Morgan. The Kentucky-native endeared himself to Minnesota, and he left school with 9,454 yards to his credit. He threw 65 touchdowns and his 151.0 passer rating is a program record.

Carpenter is an Illinois-native, but has stayed in the area to pursue broadcast opportunities. She shot a career-best 69 five different times, with the most recent at the Westbrook Invitational in 2024. He 7th-overall finish in that tournament the year prior was a career-high as well.

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Minnesota has not previously played Northwestern State, but they are an FCS opponent, and a doormat at that. Despite beating Alcorn State in Week 1, the Demons are coming off an 0-12 record in 2024. They opened last season on the road against FBS opponent Tulsa and lost 62-28.

No line has been made public yet, but the only thing stopping a scoreboard rollover may be the aggressiveness of P.J. Fleck himself. Last week saw plenty of young players contribute, and more of that should be expected in this contest. Kickoff is set for 11 am on Saturday.