Gophers push kickoff in season-opener to 8 p.m.

The Minnesota Gophers football team will wait at least an extra hour to kick off their 2024 season.

Due to impending storms, the team announced that the start time for Thursday night’s game against North Carolina has been pushed to 8 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. as originally planned.

Related: 5 matchups to watch during the Gophers' opener vs. North Carolina

Minnesota said the decision was made “after consultation with the National Weather Service, the Big Ten and campus and city partners.”

Storms are expected to move across the area Thursday afternoon and evening, and some are expected to be severe.

With that in mind, the Gophers are encouraging fans to take necessary precautions.

Thursday’s game will still be televised nationally on FOX and can be heard on the Gopher Radio Network. Premium gates to Huntington Bank Stadium will now open at 5 p.m. while gates for the general public will open at 6:30 p.m.