(Photo Credit: USA Today Sports)
Key Players Returning:
RB Darius Taylor, TE Jameson Geers, OC Ashton Beers, OG Greg Johnson, OG Tony Nelson, DE Anthony Smith, NT Deven Eastern, LB Maverick Baranowski, LB Devon Williams, CB Za’Quan Bryan, NB/RS Koi Perich, and SS Kerry Brown.
Key Players Departing:
QB Max Brosmer, RB Marcus Major, WR Daniel Jackson, WR Elijah Spencer, OG Tyler Cooper, OT Quinn Carroll, OT Aireontae Ersery, DE Jah Joyner, DE Danny Striggow, LB Cody Lindenberg, CB Ethan Robinson, CB Justin Walley, NB Jack Henderson, PK Dragan Kesich, and PT Mark Crawford.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: WR Bradley Martino (Naples, Florida), RB AJ Turner (Marshall transfer), and EDGE Emmanuel Karmo (Minneapolis, Minnesota).
3 Star Recruits: WR Malachi Coleman (Nebraska transfer), OT Kahlee Tafai (Washington transfer), OL Marcellus Marshall (UCF transfer), EDGE Steven Curtis (Illinois State transfer), QB Jackson Kollock (Laguna Beach, California), DL Jayquan Stubbs (Cleveland, Ohio), and LB Ethan Stendel (Caledonia, Minnesota).
2024 Results:
G01 NORTH CAROLINA L 17-19
G02 RHODE ISLAND W 48-0
G03 NEVADA W 27-0
G04 IOWA L 14-31
G05 @ #12 Michigan L 24-27
G06 #11 USC W 24-17
G07 @ UCLA W 21-17
G08 MARYLAND W 48-23
G09 @ #24 Illinois W 25-17
G10 @ Rutgers L 19-26
G11 #4 PENN STATE L 25-26
G12 @ Wisconsin W 24-7
BOWL vs. Virginia Tech W 24-10
Team Info:
2024 Record: 8-5 (8th in Big Ten)
Home: 4-3
Away: 3-2
Neutral: 0-0
B10: 5-4
Non-B10: 2-1
Head Coach: PJ Fleck
Minnesota: 58-39
Bowls: 7-2
Career: 88-61
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Drake Lindsey (4-5, 50 yards, 80.0%, 10.0 avg., 1 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing: Darius Taylor (205 car., 986 yards, 4.8 avg., 10 TD)
Receiving: Darius Taylor (54 rec., 350 yards, 6.5 avg., 2 TD)
TDs Scored: Darius Taylor (12)
Sacks: Anthony Smith (6)
Tackles: Maverick Baranowski (65)
Tackles For Loss: Anthony Smith (12)
Interceptions: Koi Perich (5)
Pass Deflections: Za’Quan Bryan (5)
Forced Fumbles: 3 Tied (1)
Kick Returns: Koi Perich (16 ret., 314 yards, 19.6 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Koi Perich (20 ret., 188 yards, 9.4 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 5 Drake Lindsey (SO)
RB: 1 Darius Taylor (JR)
WR: 11 Javon Tracy (RS JR/TR)
WR: 0 Le’Meke Brockington (RS SR)
WR: 13 Logan Loya (RS SR/TR)
TE: 86 Jameson Geers (RS SR)
LT: 71 Kahlee Tafai (RS SO/TR)
LG: 65 Greg Johnson (JR)
OC: 78 Ashton Beers (RS JR)
RG: 74 Marcellus Marshall (RS SR/TR
)RT: 73 Dylan Ray (RS SR/TR)
KR: 3 Koi Perich (SO)
PK: 92 Brady Denaburg (SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 0 Anthony Smith (RS JR)
NT: 91 Deven Eastern (RS SR)
DT: 97 Jalen Logan Redding (RS SR)
DE: 46 Lucas Finnessy (RS SR)
LB: 20 Jeff Roberson (RS SR/TR)
LB: 6 Maverick Baranowski (RS JR)
NB: 3 Koi Perich (SO)
CB: 4 Za’Quan Bryan (RS SO)
CB: 5 Jaylen Bowden (JR/TR)
FS: 7 Aidan Gousby (RS JR)
SS: 14 Kerry Brown (RS SO)
PR: 3 Koi Perich (SO)
PT: 95 Caleb McGrath (RS SO)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/28 BUFFALO BULLS | Minnesota leads the series 2-0. The Golden Gophers won (17-7) the last meeting in 2017, and they won (41-17) the inaugural meeting in 2002.
09/06 NORTHWESTERN STATE WILDCATS | First meeting.
09/13 @ California Golden Bears | Minnesota trails the series 2-4. The Golden Gophers lost (21-35) the last meeting in 2009, and they lost (17-42) the prior meeting in 2006.
09/27 RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS | Minnesota leas the series 3-1. The Golden Gophers lost (19-26) last season’s meeting, and they won (31-0) the prior meeting in 2022.
10/04 @ Ohio State Buckeyes | Minnesota trails the series 7-47. The Golden Gophers are 0-4 since 2015, and they lost (3-37) the last meeting in 2023.
10/11 PURDUE BOILERMAKERS | Minnesota leads the series 41-35-3. The Golden Gophers are 6-3 since 2015, and they lost (30-49) the last meeting in 2023.
10/18 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS | Minnesota leads the series 37-25-2. The Golden Gophers are 6-3 since 2015, and they won (13-10) the last meeting in 2023.
10/25 @ Iowa Hawkeyes | Minnesota leads the series 63-53-2. The Golden Gophers are 1-9 since 2015, and their last series win (12-10) was in 2023.
11/01 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS | Minnesota trails the series 19-30. The Golden Gophers won (27-12) the last meeting in 2023, and they won (34-7) the prior meeting in 2022.
11/15 @ Oregon Ducks | Minnesota leads the series 3-1. The Golden Gophers won (31-30) the last meeting in 2003, and their only series loss (20-24) was at the prior meeting in 1999.
11/22 @ Northwestern Wildcats | Minnesota leads the series 56-37-5. The Golden Gophers are 4-4 since 2015, and they lost (34-37) the last meeting in 2023.
11/29 WISCONSIN BADGERS | The series is tied 63-63-8. The Golden Gophers are 4-6 since 2015, and their last series loss (14-28) was in 2023.
Predictions:
Home: 6-1
Road: 0-5
Neutral: 0-0
B10: 4-5
Non-B10: 2-1
Overall: 6-6 (11th in B10 – Bowl Eligible)
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