Ohio State vs. Minnesota: How to watch, odds and everything you need to know

Week 1 of the college football season features an early blockbuster matchup on Thursday in the Big Ten.

The reigning conference champions, the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes, will take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, live on FOX at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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Coming off the heels of a busy Week 0, what will this big bout have in store?

Here's everything you need to know about Ohio State vs. Minnesota.

Which team is favored?

The runners-up in last season's College Football Playoff National Championship, the Buckeyes are two-touchdown favorites over their division rivals, according to FOX Bet's insights.

Favored by 14 points, the Buckeyes would need to beat the Gophers by at least 15 to cover the spread, which is priced at -110 (meaning a $10 bet would pay a total of $19.09). If the Gophers lose by fewer than 14 points or pull off the upset, the payout on a $10 bet would also be $19.09. In the event that the Gophers lose by exactly 14, any wager would be deemed a "push," and the bet would be refunded.

If picking an outright winner is more to your liking, the Buckeyes are priced at -550 (a $10 bet would pay a total of $11.82). Meanwhile, a $10 bet on the underdog Gophers at +425 would pay a total of $52.50.

For more on this matchup, check out Sam Panayotovich's full breakdown.

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How can I watch?

Coverage of Ohio State vs. Minnesota begins at 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday on FOX. 

Those looking to stream the game at home or on the go can watch via the FOX Sports app, FOXSports.com or through additional streaming devices upon authentication.

Which players should I keep an eye on?

With Justin Fields now suiting up for the Chicago Bears, Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day is turning to a new face under center: C.J. Stroud.

A redshirt freshman, Stroud was the No. 3 quarterback in the 2020 class, behind Alabama's Bryce Young and Clemson's D.J. Uiagalelei.

The 6-foot-3, 218-pound Stroud will have plenty of weapons at his disposal. The Buckeyes return seven starters on offense, wideout Chris Olave among them. He boasts 19 receiving touchdowns the past two seasons, the most in the Big Ten. Joining Stroud in the backfield will be running back Master Teague, who ran for 514 yards and eight touchdowns on 104 rushing attempts a season ago.

Speaking of running backs, the Gophers possess one of the conference's best in Mohamed Ibrahim. 

Last season, Ibrahim was the only player in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 100-plus rushing yards in every game. He led the Big Ten in rushing yards and touchdowns, with 1,076 and 15, respectively.

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Tanner Morgan returns at QB for the Gophers, with an 18-8 record as a starter. He has 46 career passing touchdowns and 16 interceptions, and he set school records for passing yards and passing touchdowns in 2019.

As Buckeyes legend James Laurinaitis told "First Things First" on Thursday, Minnesota's offense will be a test for Ohio State's defense.

Any other cool nuggets to know?

Historically, both all time and recently, this is a rather one-sided affair. The Buckeyes lead the series 45-7 and have won 11 straight against the Gophers.

Perhaps surprisingly, the most recent win for Minnesota took place away from home, with a 29-17 triumph in Columbus on Oct. 14, 2000. The Gophers haven't beaten Ohio State in Minneapolis since Nov. 7, 1981. Since then, it has been a 13-game losing streak in home clashes with Ohio State.

One possible source of hope for the Gophers? In their previous two meetings with top-10 opponents ⁠— No. 5 Penn State on Nov. 9, 2019, and No. 9 Auburn on Jan. 1, 2020 — Minnesota has come away with the win.

For more up-to-date news on all things college football, click here to register for alerts on the FOX Sports app!