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Good afternoon from a damp TCF Bank Stadium. Fans, your No. 1 question has been answered. The Gophers announced that sophomore Demry Croft will start at quarterback today against Illinois.

Croft led the Gophers' comeback in last week's 30-27 loss to Michigan State, and he appeared to be in line to start today, but coach P.J. Fleck hadn't tipped his hand during the week, not announcing if Croft or senior Conor Rhoda would start.

The start will be the first of Croft's Gophers career. Last week, he entered the game in the second quarter after Rhoda struggled. Croft passed for three fourth-quarter touchdowns and finished 11-for-20 for 163 yards with one interception.

Croft sat out the Middle Tennessee and Maryland games because of a disciplinary suspension.

Photo: Andy Clayton-King, Associated Press