The Minnesota Golden Gophers are tracking the participation of true freshmen in the 2024 football season, with safety Koi Perich, cornerback Samuel Madu, and long-snapper Alan Soukup making their debuts last week. Perich is highlighted as a top prospect with significant potential, while Soukup is expected to fill the role of the team's previous long snapper. After a disappointing 19-17 loss to North Carolina, the Gophers aim to rebound against Rhode Island, where quarterback Max Brosmer's performance in the opener raised questions about his consistency. The Gophers' offensive line struggled, allowing five sacks, and kicker Dragan Kesich will look to regain confidence after missing critical field goals. Meanwhile, Rhode Island, coming off a victory over Holy Cross, seeks to secure its fourth win against an FBS program, having previously defeated UMass and UConn. Both teams face a crucial game that could set the tone for their seasons moving forward.