Big Ten · 2026
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Head coach P.J. Fleck · Huntington Bank Stadium
2-10-0 in conference
TDC Rank
#65
of 138 FBS teams
Rating
+0.6
pts vs avg FBS team
Offense
-1.7
86th in FBS
Defense
+2.3
39th in FBS
Schedule so far
-8.1
90th toughest
Projected
5.4-6.6
bowl-eligible 46%
Season Outlook
From the TDC Rating, updated after every game
Rating by week
+0.6 now, -0.2 preseason · up 2 spots since preseason
Final record odds
5.4-6.6 expected · most likely 5-7 (23%)
Team Leaders
Schedule
Game score = the rating that one result implies, after adjusting for opponent and venue
| Wk | Date | Opponent | Result / TDC line | Game score | Win chance | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 3 | vs Eastern Illinois FCS | W 59–7 | +6.6 | — | Peacock |
| 2 | Sep 12 | vs 12Mississippi State | L 13–38 | -17.8 | — | CBS |
| 3 | Sep 19 | vs 126Akron | W 41–7 | +15.1 | — | BTN |
| 4 | Sep 26 | @ 50WashingtonCONF | Washington −5.1 · o/u 44.3 | — | FOX | |
| 5 | Oct 3 | vs 25MichiganCONF | Michigan −3.2 · o/u 41.8 | — | FOX | |
| 6 | Oct 10 | @ 94PurdueCONF | Minnesota −1.0 · o/u 57.4 | — | ||
| 7 | — | Bye | ||||
| 8 | Oct 24 | vs 24IowaCONF | Iowa −3.5 · o/u 36.0 | — | ||
| 9 | Oct 31 | @ 2IndianaCONF | Indiana −17.9 · o/u 39.2 | — | ||
| 10 | Nov 7 | vs 29UCLACONF | UCLA −2.3 · o/u 51.6 | — | ||
| 11 | Nov 14 | @ 7Penn StateCONF | Penn State −14.7 · o/u 40.1 | — | ||
| 12 | Nov 21 | vs 55NorthwesternCONF | Minnesota −1.2 · o/u 43.5 | — | ||
| 13 | Nov 27 | @ 66WisconsinCONF | Wisconsin −2.8 · o/u 42.1 | — | NBC |
Team Stats
Hover an advanced stat for what it means. Box-score totals include FCS games and aren't opponent-adjusted
| Stat | Offense | FBS rank | Defense (allowed) | FBS rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPA · per play, garbage time excluded (CollegeFootballData.com) | ||||
| EPA / play | +0.125 | 88th | +0.038 | 60th |
| Success rate | 47.6% | 39th | 39.8% | 74th |
| Explosiveness | 1.125 | 112th | 1.105 | 27th |
| Play-by-play advanced · garbage time excluded (computed from every play) | ||||
| Success rate | 47.6% | 41st | 40.9% | 75th |
| Rushing success rate | 52.1% | 18th | 46.8% | 116th |
| Passing success rate | 45.3% | 60th | 35.4% | 39th |
| Explosive run rate | 4.2% | 137th | 11.3% | 57th |
| Explosive pass rate | 9.7% | 88th | 11.3% | 94th |
| Line yards / carry | 2.24 | 135th | 3.27 | 109th |
| Opportunity rate | 31.2% | 129th | 45.2% | 129th |
| Stuff rate | 25.0% | 126th | 16.1% | 95th |
| Sack rate | 2.1% | 26th | 4.6% | 83rd |
| 3rd-down conversion | 50.0% | 29th | 42.3% | 93rd |
| Red-zone TD rate | 60.0% | 84th | 80.0% | 115th |
| Havoc rate | 12.6% | 65th | 15.7% | 49th |
| Box score · season totals | ||||
| Points / game | 37.7 | 42nd | 17.3 | 41st |
| Yards / game | 394.0 | 76th | 270.0 | 27th |
| Yards / play | 5.88 | 76th | 4.63 | 45th |
| Pass yards / game | 277.0 | 38th | 153.0 | 21st |
| Yards / pass att. | 7.40 | 88th | 6.04 | 39th |
| Completion % | 66.1% | 61st | 60.5% | 68th |
| Rush yards / game | 117.0 | 117th | 117.0 | 59th |
| Yards / carry | 4.10 | 95th | 3.69 | 66th |
| 3rd-down conv. % | 45.2% | 51st | 33.3% | 50th |
| Turnovers / game (lost · forced) | 0.67 | 26th | 1.00 | 79th |
| Sacks / game (allowed · made) | 1.00 | 33rd | 1.33 | 96th |
| Penalty yards / game | 56.7 | 67th | 56.3 | 66th |
Roster
100 players · Head coach P.J. Fleck
100 players
| # | Player | Pos▲ | Class | Ht | Wt | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Drake Lindsey | QB | JR | 6' 5" | 230 | Fayetteville, AR |
| 6 | Max Shikenjanski | QB | SR | 6' 2" | 185 | Stillwater, MN |
| 12 | Michael Merdinger | QB | JR | 6' 1" | 205 | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
| 15 | Owen Lansu | QB | FR | 6' 1" | 195 | Downers Grove, IL |
| 16 | Brady Palmer | QB | FR | 6' 2" | 210 | San Diego, CA |
| 1 | Darius Taylor | RB | SR | 6' 0" | 215 | Detroit, MI |
| 9 | Xavier Ford | RB | SO | 5' 10" | 210 | Leesville, LA |
| 20 | Ryan Estrada | RB | FR | 5' 10" | 190 | El Paso, TX |
| 22 | Jaron Thomas | RB | SO | 6' 0" | 225 | Elkhart, IN |
| 23 | TJ Thomas | RB | JR | 5' 8" | 190 | Thomasville, GA |
| 26 | Zeke Bates | RB | FR | 6' 0" | 220 | Haverford, PA |
| 28 | Niko Castillo | RB | FR | 6' 1" | 235 | Schuylkill Haven, PA |
| 3 | Perry Thompson | WR | JR | 6' 3" | 220 | Foley, AL |
| 7 | Bradley Martino | WR | SO | 6' 3" | 190 | Naples, FL |
| 8 | Jalen Smith | WR | JR | 6' 1" | 210 | Mankato, MN |
| 11 | Javon Tracy | WR | SR | 6' 0" | 205 | Indianapolis, IN |
| 13 | Noah Jennings | WR | SR | 6' 0" | 190 | Columbia, SC |
| 18 | Donielle Hayes | WR | SR | 6' 0" | 190 | Pensacola, FL |
| 24 | Braiden Stevens | WR | FR | 5' 8" | 170 | Platte City, MO |
| 25 | Zion Steptoe | WR | SR | 5' 11" | 190 | Little Elm, TX |
| 81 | Josiah Dozier | WR | FR | 6' 1" | 190 | Moody, AL |
| 84 | Hayden Moore | WR | FR | 6' 1" | 205 | Gainesville, FL |
| 85 | Rico Blassingame | WR | FR | 6' 1" | 185 | Auburn, WA |
| 89 | Quayd Hendryx | WR | FR | 5' 11" | 180 | Burlington Township, NJ |
| 44 | George Rohl | TE | FR | 6' 6" | 245 | Ellsworth, WI |
| 82 | Julian Johnson | TE | JR | 6' 6" | 260 | Aurora, IL |
| 83 | Sam Peters | TE | SR | 6' 4" | 250 | Maple Grove, MN |
| 87 | Kaden Helms | TE | SR | 6' 4" | 240 | Bellevue, NE |
| 88 | Jacob Simpson | TE | JR | 6' 4" | 245 | Johnston, IA |
| 50 | Nathan Roy | OL | JR | 6' 5" | 305 | Mukwonago, WI |
| 51 | Daniel Shipp | OL | SO | 6' 5" | 295 | Eastvale, CA |
| 56 | Brett Carroll | OL | JR | 6' 5" | 320 | Olathe, KS |
| 57 | Aaron Thomas | OL | FR | 6' 6" | 300 | Phoenix, AZ |
| 58 | Jaden Ball | OL | JR | 6' 5" | 310 | Carroll, OH |
| 59 | Tony Nelson | OL | SR | 6' 6" | 325 | Tracy, MN |
| 60 | Kaveon Lee | OL | SO | 6' 5" | 320 | Chicago, IL |
| 65 | Greg Johnson | OL | SR | 6' 6" | 325 | Prior Lake, MN |
| 66 | Beckett Schreiber | OL | FR | 6' 5" | 295 | Madison, WI |
| 69 | Gavin Meier | OL | FR | 6' 5" | 305 | Janesville, WI |
| 71 | Lucas Tielsch | OL | FR | 6' 7" | 320 | Copley, OH |
| 75 | Mark Handy | OL | SO | 6' 7" | 320 | Albuquerque, NM |
| 77 | Nick Spence | OL | SO | 6' 6" | 300 | Phoenix, AZ |
| 78 | Ashton Beers | OL | SR | 6' 6" | 320 | Slinger, WI |
| 0 | Anthony Smith | DL | SR | 6' 6" | 280 | Shippensburg, PA |
| 1 | Jaxon Howard | DL | SR | 6' 4" | 260 | Crystal, MN |
| 3 | TJ Bush Jr. | DL | SR | 6' 3" | 265 | Woodbridge, VA |
| 11 | Karter Menz | DL | SR | 6' 5" | 240 | Horace, ND |
| 33 | Rhett Hlavacka | DL | SO | 6' 5" | 260 | Fond Du Lac, WI |
| 41 | Anthony Charles | DL | FR | 6' 5" | 210 | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 45 | Sam Macy | DL | JR | 6' 5" | 250 | Chanhassen, MN |
| 47 | Enoch Atewogbola | DL | SO | 6' 4" | 255 | Avon, IN |
| 48 | Aaden Aytch | DL | FR | 6' 3" | 240 | Lafayette, IN |
| 55 | Jaylin Hicks | DL | JR | 6' 3" | 270 | Harlem, NY |
| 56 | Jay'Quan Stubbs | DL | SO | 6' 4" | 285 | Cleveland, OH |
| 70 | Naquan Crowder | DL | SR | 6' 2" | 330 | Aliquippa, PA |
| 88 | Josiah Anyansi | DL | FR | 6' 3" | 260 | Atlanta, GA |
| 90 | Xion Chapman | DL | SR | 6' 3" | 305 | Allentown, PA |
| 91 | Howie Johnson | DL | FR | 6' 3" | 300 | Forest Lake, MN |
| 92 | Sid Kaba | DL | SR | 6' 2" | 305 | Columbus, OH |
| 93 | Riley Sunram | DL | JR | 6' 5" | 305 | Kindred, ND |
| 94 | Mo Saine | DL | JR | 6' 4" | 275 | Eden Prairie, MN |
| 95 | Colin Hansen | DL | SO | 6' 7" | 265 | Byron, MN |
| 96 | Abu Tarawallie | DL | SO | 6' 3" | 290 | New Hope, MN |
| 97 | Jeremiah Benson | DL | FR | 6' 3" | 280 | Detroit, MI |
| 98 | Adam Kissayi | DL | JR | 6' 8" | 255 | Palm Bay, FL |
| 99 | Theorin Randle | DL | SR | 6' 2" | 300 | Houston, TX |
| 2 | Emmanuel Karmo | LB | SO | 6' 2" | 235 | Minneapolis, MN |
| 6 | Maverick Baranowski | LB | SR | 6' 2" | 230 | Ponce Inlet, FL |
| 16 | Hudson Dunn | LB | FR | 6' 0" | 220 | Peoria, AZ |
| 19 | Joey Gerlach | LB | SR | 6' 3" | 225 | Woodbury, MN |
| 29 | Andrew Marshall | LB | SR | 6' 2" | 235 | Carroll, OH |
| 32 | Angel Luciano | LB | FR | 6' 1" | 210 | Steelton, PA |
| 35 | Nate Cleveland | LB | SO | 6' 2" | 225 | Hoffman Estates, IL |
| 44 | Ethan Stendel | LB | SO | 6' 3" | 240 | Caledonia, MN |
| 46 | Mason Carrier | LB | JR | 6' 3" | 235 | Detroit Lakes, MN |
| 49 | Matt Kingsbury | LB | SR | 6' 3" | 235 | Chicago, IL |
| 4 | Zack Harden | DB | SO | 6' 1" | 210 | Covington, GA |
| 7 | Aidan Gousby | DB | SR | 6' 0" | 190 | Lehigh Acres, FL |
| 8 | Mike Gerald | DB | JR | 6' 0" | 190 | Houston, TX |
| 9 | Garrison Monroe | DB | SR | 6' 0" | 205 | Shakopee, MN |
| 13 | Zahir Rainer | DB | JR | 5' 9" | 190 | Richmond, VA |
| 14 | Kerry Brown | DB | SR | 5' 10" | 190 | Naples, FL |
| 15 | Samuel Madu | DB | JR | 6' 1" | 180 | Bronx, NY |
| 17 | John Nestor | DB | SR | 6' 1" | 210 | Chicago, IL |
| 18 | Rhyland Kelly | DB | SR | 6' 1" | 200 | Winnipeg, Canada |
| 20 | Parker Knutson | DB | SR | 6' 0" | 190 | Sartell, MN |
| 21 | Naiim Parrish | DB | SO | 5' 11" | 180 | Freehold, NJ |
| 22 | Mekhai Smith | DB | JR | 6' 2" | 215 | Lower Merion, PA |
| 23 | Lamont Hamilton | DB | FR | 5' 10" | 170 | Racine, WI |
| 24 | Chance Payne | DB | FR | 5' 10" | 185 | Jefferson, GA |
| 25 | Justin Hopkins | DB | FR | 5' 11" | 190 | Nashville, TN |
| 27 | Simon Seidl | DB | JR | 5' 10" | 190 | Hugo, MN |
| 28 | Trason Richardson | DB | FR | 6' 0" | 190 | Houston, TX |
| 31 | Jordan Lampkins | DB | FR | 6' 0" | 190 | Germantown, MD |
| 36 | Daniel Jackson | PK | SO | 5' 10" | 175 | Alexandria, MN |
| 92 | Beckham Sunderland | PK | SR | 6' 2" | 215 | Newport, KY |
| Luke Drzewiecki | PK | SR | 6' 0" | 186 | Shelby Township, MI | |
| 37 | Zachary Robbins | P | SO | 6' 3" | 220 | Santaquin, UT |
| 52 | Alan Soukup | LS | JR | 6' 1" | 210 | Phoenix, AZ |
| 53 | Jakob Lutz | LS | SO | 6' 0" | 205 | Peachtree City, GA |
Updated Sep 24, 3:19 PM ET. Ratings are in points on a neutral field. Projected lines include — points of home field. Win chances and record odds allow for the ratings themselves being uncertain, most of all early in the season. All FBS power rankings →