Gophers now 19-1 in non-conference under Fleck





Did we play anyone with, like, even half a pulse in those 20 games? CU last two years might have been two of the worst teams.

That’s about to change in a hurry.

Looking forward to 20-1:)
 


Did we play anyone with, like, even half a pulse in those 20 games? CU last two years might have been two of the worst teams.

That’s about to change in a hurry.

Looking forward to 20-1:)
Considering that includes 4 bowl games, yes we have played anyone with, like, even half a pulse. Including a damn good Auburn team.
 



Yes. And then they insist losing to Purdue last season was in the same category.
Purdue loss
2021 Illinois loss

Not remotely close to bowling green loss in terms of the type of team they lost to.


Both disappointing but not really comparable in football terms ImO
 




Someone want to post the list? I’m mobile so it’s annoying to do. Mostly just curious
 

Oh, the OP was including Bowl Games, which I've never heard referred to as "non-conference" with no other context. I've only ever heard that as referencing regular season games.

Carry on
 

Someone want to post the list? I’m mobile so it’s annoying to do. Mostly just curious

2017 - Butler, Oregon State, Middle Tennessee
2018 - New Mexico State, Fresno State (12-2), Miami of Ohio, Georgia Tech
2019 - South Dakota State, Fresno State, Georgia Southern, #12 Auburn
2020 - None
2021 - Miami of Ohio, Colorado, Bowling Green (loss), West Virginia
2022 - New Mexico State, Western Illinois, Colorado, Syracuse
 



Wait a second, are we sure that the GH Tweet actually is including Bowl Games?

7 years * 3 non-conference (regular season) games per year is 21 games ...

EDIT: ah, right, the 2020 season. That's why. Thanks
 

2017
Buffalo 6-6
Oregon state 1-11
Middle TN State 7-6

2018
New Mexico State 3-9
Fresno State 12-2 **finished ranked
Miami OH 6-6
Georgia Tech 7-6

2019
South Dakota state 8-5 (FCS)
Fresno State 4-8
Georgia Southern 7-6
Auburn 9-4 **finished ranked

2020
None

2021
Miami Oh 7-6
Colorado 4-8
Bowling Green LOSS 4-8
West Virginia 6-7

2022
New Mexico State 7-6
Western Illinois 0-11 (FCS)
Colorado 1-11
Syracuse 7-6

2023
Eastern Michigan


2-0 vs FCS
7-0 against P5
2-0 against teams that finished ranked
8-0 against FBS teams that finished over .500
3-0 against P5 teams that finished over .500
11-0 against team that are .500 or better

0-1 against bowling green
 

Auburn bowl win was indeed impressive. No one would disagree. In hindsight, particularly since 2018 we still weren't great yet, the win against Fresno is pretty damn good. That team beat UCLA on the road the next week after losing to us, won the MWC in Boise on Dec 1, and then beat Arizona St in a bowl game.

The rest are mostly against teams that range from bad to meh.


Obviously we'll take wins over losses.

Also it's not like a lot of P5 programs are stocking their non-conf schedules with 3 top 25 ranked teams. So it's fine.
 

If someone would have told you in 2017 that the Gophers would be 19-1 in their next 20 non conference games, and asked you to look at the list of those 20 opponents and call out the loss - can you imagine coming up with Bowling Green!??!
 

If someone would have told you in 2017 that the Gophers would be 19-1 in their next 20 non conference games, and asked you to look at the list of those 20 opponents and call out the loss - can you imagine coming up with Bowling Green!??!
No!
 

Did we play anyone with, like, even half a pulse in those 20 games? CU last two years might have been two of the worst teams.

That’s about to change in a hurry. . . .
Oh, the OP was including Bowl Games, which I've never heard referred to as "non-conference" with no other context. I've only ever heard that as referencing regular season games.
Fair point about “non-conference” games reasonably (but perhaps not exclusively) meaning regular-season (non-conference) games. Post-season games were historically called “bowl games,” although the opponents were traditionally non- or out-of-conference.

Your instinct about the weakness of PJ's regular-season non-conference opponents is also correct. PJ's 16 regular-season non-conference games as Gopher coach (record 15-1) include 14 teams that finished the season with a Sagarin rating of 85 or worse (7 of which were rated 100 or worse), 1 team that finished rated 21 (Fresno State-2018), and Eastern Michigan, currently rated 106 in 2023.

You are also right that things are about to change in a hurry. The North Carolina game this week will, in all likelihood, easily break an 11-game regular-season non-conference streak of playing teams that finish the season rated 85 or lower by Sagarin.

Finally, PJ deserves credit for upgrading the non-conference schedule to include North Carolina, Mississippi State and Alabama (also ok with playing Cal, but not sure it's an upgrade).
 

Auburn bowl win was indeed impressive. No one would disagree. In hindsight, particularly since 2018 we still weren't great yet, the win against Fresno is pretty damn good. That team beat UCLA on the road the next week after losing to us, won the MWC in Boise on Dec 1, and then beat Arizona St in a bowl game.

The rest are mostly against teams that range from bad to meh.


Obviously we'll take wins over losses.

Also it's not like a lot of P5 programs are stocking their non-conf schedules with 3 top 25 ranked teams. So it's fine.

And the point you're making is... what, exactly?
 

@BigTenGuy Bowl Games are exclusively non-conference, aren't they?

Hence you wouldn't need to specify that, and hence why referring to "non-conference games" to me always means just the regular season. But regardless, the discussion is interesting either way.
 


If someone would have told you in 2017 that the Gophers would be 19-1 in their next 20 non conference games, and asked you to look at the list of those 20 opponents and call out the loss - can you imagine coming up with Bowling Green!??!
Courtesy Mike Sanford.
 




Just hoping that we’re still lamenting only Bowling Green come Sunday.
Go Gophers. Beat UNC (University of Notorious Cheaters).
 

The Gophers are 28-1 in non-conference games since the 2015 season-opening loss to #2 TCU, including six straight bowl wins.

That's not too bad.
2015
Colorado state 7-6
Kent state 3-9
Ohio 8-5
Central Michigan 7-6
(I didn’t remember that this 6-7 Minnesota team had 3 Mac wins)




2016
Oregon state 4-8
Indiana state 4-7 (FCS)
Colorado state 7-6
Washington state 8-5
 

Did we play anyone with, like, even half a pulse in those 20 games? CU last two years might have been two of the worst teams.

That’s about to change in a hurry.

Looking forward to 20-1:)
Bowling Green had a very steady pulse
 

Going back to 2010, Minnesota is 40-12, and half of those losses were from 2010 and 2011.
  • Vs. Power 5: 10-7
  • Vs. Group of 5: 25-3
  • Vs. FCS: 5-2
 




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