Gophers quarterback battle heats up

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - The Minnesota Gophers football team kicks off its season two weeks from Thursday night, but the question still remains: which quarterback will be leading the team on offense?

The battle is between redshirt senior Conor Rhoda and redshirt sophomore Demry Croft.

Head Coach PJ Fleck says he wants to make the decision early next week because he wants to start installing the offense. Every time he thinks one quarterback has a step up on the other, he says the other responds.

"What I love about both of them is they’re both getting better and that’s what you can continue to see," said Fleck. "It hasn’t been an easy decision to say this guy's won the job. They’re both playing at a high level and that’s credit to Coach [Kirk] Ciarocca, our offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. But we’re getting there. We’re getting closer to me being able to say where we’re headed."

There is one open practice left that the public can attend. It's on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. People are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item as the kicking teams will be holding a canned food drive.

The season opens against Buffalo at home Thursday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.