BleedGopher
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Per ESPN:
OK, is this Minnesota's year? In 2018, Minnesota finished nine spots higher in SP+ than West champion Northwestern. In 2021, the Golden Gophers finished three spots higher than champion Iowa. In 2022, they finished 40 spots higher than Purdue.
Over six seasons in Minneapolis, P.J. Fleck has built a sturdy and consistently competitive program. In Minnesota's last three full seasons, the Gophers have gone a combined 29-10. They've won three bowls and, back in 2019, pulled off their first top-10 finish in 57 years. But when it comes to winning the West, they've always managed to lose the game they couldn't. In 2019, they just had to serve out a home win over Wisconsin to take the title but got blown out 38-17. In 2021, they couldn't hold on to a halftime lead at Iowa and came up five points short. In 2022, they were mostly brilliant in September and November but couldn't overcome injuries and quarterback uncertainty during a three-game October losing streak. A 20-10 loss to Purdue in that span made the difference.
This is Minnesota's (and everyone else's) last chance at a West title. The Gophers should again be involved in the race. Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis officially takes over after filling in for longtime incumbent Tanner Morgan and playing his two best games in the last two of 2022. Last year's top two running backs are gone, but 1,000-yard rusher Sean Tyler comes over from Western Michigan, as does 800-yard slot man Corey Crooms. Between Crooms, last year's leading pass-catcher (Daniel Jackson), 2021's (Chris Autman-Bell, injured for most of 2022) mammoth tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford and Charlotte transfer Elijah Spencer, Kaliakmanis' receiving corps appears loaded. The line does have three good starters to replace, but the pipeline has been pretty strong there for a while.
The defense should still be better than the offense, but the latter might have to pick up some slack if or when the defense regresses a bit. Minnesota has to replace five of the 12 defenders with 300-plus snaps last year, including two NFL draft picks in the secondary. It probably says something that five of the seven incoming defensive transfers are defensive backs; Georgia Southern corner Tyler Bride and Southeastern Louisiana safety Jack Henderson are particularly intriguing and aggressive additions. The line appears to have the depth it needs -- end Danny Striggow is a potential breakout star after shining in a small sample in 2022 -- but coordinator Joe Rossi needs a linebacker or two to step up, be it sophomore Cody Lindenberg, senior Ryan Selig (yet another WMU transfer) or someone else.
The schedule also could be an impediment. Minnesota has to travel to not only Iowa and Purdue but also Ohio State. The Gophers will probably need to win at least one of those three games to have a shot at the West crown.
www.espn.com
Go Gophers!!
OK, is this Minnesota's year? In 2018, Minnesota finished nine spots higher in SP+ than West champion Northwestern. In 2021, the Golden Gophers finished three spots higher than champion Iowa. In 2022, they finished 40 spots higher than Purdue.
Over six seasons in Minneapolis, P.J. Fleck has built a sturdy and consistently competitive program. In Minnesota's last three full seasons, the Gophers have gone a combined 29-10. They've won three bowls and, back in 2019, pulled off their first top-10 finish in 57 years. But when it comes to winning the West, they've always managed to lose the game they couldn't. In 2019, they just had to serve out a home win over Wisconsin to take the title but got blown out 38-17. In 2021, they couldn't hold on to a halftime lead at Iowa and came up five points short. In 2022, they were mostly brilliant in September and November but couldn't overcome injuries and quarterback uncertainty during a three-game October losing streak. A 20-10 loss to Purdue in that span made the difference.
This is Minnesota's (and everyone else's) last chance at a West title. The Gophers should again be involved in the race. Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis officially takes over after filling in for longtime incumbent Tanner Morgan and playing his two best games in the last two of 2022. Last year's top two running backs are gone, but 1,000-yard rusher Sean Tyler comes over from Western Michigan, as does 800-yard slot man Corey Crooms. Between Crooms, last year's leading pass-catcher (Daniel Jackson), 2021's (Chris Autman-Bell, injured for most of 2022) mammoth tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford and Charlotte transfer Elijah Spencer, Kaliakmanis' receiving corps appears loaded. The line does have three good starters to replace, but the pipeline has been pretty strong there for a while.
The defense should still be better than the offense, but the latter might have to pick up some slack if or when the defense regresses a bit. Minnesota has to replace five of the 12 defenders with 300-plus snaps last year, including two NFL draft picks in the secondary. It probably says something that five of the seven incoming defensive transfers are defensive backs; Georgia Southern corner Tyler Bride and Southeastern Louisiana safety Jack Henderson are particularly intriguing and aggressive additions. The line appears to have the depth it needs -- end Danny Striggow is a potential breakout star after shining in a small sample in 2022 -- but coordinator Joe Rossi needs a linebacker or two to step up, be it sophomore Cody Lindenberg, senior Ryan Selig (yet another WMU transfer) or someone else.
The schedule also could be an impediment. Minnesota has to travel to not only Iowa and Purdue but also Ohio State. The Gophers will probably need to win at least one of those three games to have a shot at the West crown.
Big Ten West preview: Connelly on Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and the rest
Can Luke Fickell's offense boost the Badgers? Will Iowa find a spark with a new QB? Bill Connelly breaks down the rugged Big Ten West.
Go Gophers!!