College football reporter | Puck Drop

Randy Johnson covers University of Minnesota football and college football for the Star Tribune, along with serving as a producer for Puck Drop, the Star Tribune’s enhanced online hockey coverage.

Johnson also spent 17 years as sports copy editor/layout editor at the Star Tribune after five years in a similar role with the St. Paul Pioneer Press. From 1991 through 1995, he was assistant sports editor and Penn State football beat writer for the Centre Daily Times in State College, Pa.


Penn State's starting goalie transfers to Gophers men's hockey

Liam Souliere has been the Nittany Lions' primary starter for the past two seasons and has one year of eligibility remaining.


U football adds No. 6 in-state recruit to 2025 class, loses 3 to portal

Andover wide receiver Cameron Begalle committed to the Gophers, but the team also saw two linemen and a defensive back from its spring roster enter the transfer portal.


Challenger and champion: Gophers to play Denver in men's hockey

The Pioneers, an old WCHA foe with a new NCAA title in hand, and the U will meet in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game on Thanksgiving weekend in 2025. They last played in 2013.


Is Minnesota still the State of (College) Hockey? Let's take a look.

The fact that no Minnesota team was in the Frozen Four (and only a handful of players with Minnesota ties were at the X) gave fuel to critics who offered a collective, "State of Hockey, my posterior!" Do they have a point?


Denver wins Frozen Four title at the X with a local flair

Jared Wright, a former St. Thomas Academy standout from Burnsville, broke a scoreless tie in the second period for the Pioneers and Rieger Lorenz, a second-round draft pick by the Wild, stretched Denver's lead.


Gophers, St. Paul intend to bid on future Frozen Fours at Xcel Energy Center

This weekend's tournament is the fourth time the NCAA Frozen Four has been held in Minnesota.


Denver, Boston College — two teams that have it all — set for Frozen Four title game

Denver has three wins by the same 2-1 score in the NCAA tournament, while Boston College can open things up with a stable of playmakers.


Boston University star Celebrini wins Hobey Baker Award at age 17

Macklin Celebrini emerged from a list of other Hobey Baker finalists including North Dakota's Jason Blake and Boston College's Cutter Gauthier.


State ties, NHL prospects and more about the Frozen Four title game

Denver has more Minnesota ties; Boston College has a longer winning streak. And why the title game resembles a battle between Hill-Murray and St. Thomas Academy.


Former Gopher scores OT game-winner to get Denver to finals

Tristan Broz played one season for Minnesota before transferring and returning home to score the goal that gave Denver a 2-1 win over Boston U.