In the wild world of modern college football, the Minnesota Golden Gophers head into 2026 with an uncommon sense of stability. P.J. Fleck will enter his tenth season on the sidelines in Dinkytown, with much of his coaching staff intact and a roster that returns key contributors across the board. The personnel, beyond the high-profile transfer of star safety Koi Perich, also brings continuity. Quarterback Drake Lindsey will be back for a second season as starter, Darius Taylor will spearhead the backfield, and notable names like Anthony Smith and Kerry Brown headline the defense.
P.J. Fleck, Minnesota
With that foundation in place and the 2026 schedule released this week, we have a very early idea of what next fall will look like for the Gophers. The schedule offers plenty of tough matchups and potential landmines – meaning Fleck and company will have to have the team ready to go if they want to improve on last season’s eight win campaign.
September 3 vs. Eastern Illinois
It will be the Eastern Illinois Panthers who kick off Minnesota’s season at Huntington Bank Stadium. It will be the 14th season in a row the Gophers kick off their fall on the first Thursday night of FBS football.
It was a rough 2025 campaign for the once-proud Panthers, as they fell to 3-9 and a lowly 2-6 inside the Ohio Valley Conference. The only FBS comparison we can make isn’t a super helpful one – the Panthers went on the road to Alabama this last November and were dominated to the tune of 56-0. A Tide rushing attack that struggled all season ran for 270 yards and a staggering eight touchdowns.
You have to believe the plan for the Gophers is for this to essentially act as a preseason game. Drake Lindsey and the rest of the key players will get their reps in the first half, but it’s likely we see them move down their depth chart in the second. It should give us a chance to learn more about what this backfield looks like beyond Darius Taylor, as the Gophers will almost surely take advantage of their size and physicality in the trenches.
Way, Way Too Early Score Prediction: Minnesota, 49 Eastern Illinois, 7
September 12 vs. Mississippi State
It’s not too often we see SEC teams travel this far north in the early non-conference, so Minnesota – Mississippi State will be an intriguing one. Jeff Lebby has gone just 7-18 since taking over in Starkville, but the program has made real strides. They played in a bowl game this past fall, coming up short in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
Lebby is a Josh Heupel disciple, known for his wide-open spread offensive attack that often puts defensive backs on islands on the perimeter. This is going to be a really tough matchup for a Gopher secondary that may still be finding their legs, especially without Koi Perich. The return of John Nestor may have been the most important returning piece on the entire defense, but the cornerback room is still a major question mark. With the ball control game P.J. Fleck often plays, particularly so early on in the season, one or two big plays from the Bulldogs could turn the tide of the entire game.
This is a fantastic barometer test for the Gophers. They’ve been right there against several power conference foes recently, namely UNC and California, but special teams blunders and uncharacteristic mistakes have doomed them. Mississippi State is without a doubt a team the Gophers should beat in Year Ten of Fleck – it’s about going out and finishing the job in a way they simply haven’t in these types of matchups.
Way, Way Too Early Score Prediction: Minnesota, 31 Mississippi State, 28
September 19 vs. Akron
There's no game I detest more on the Gopher schedule every year than the annual MAC opponent in mid-September. The Gophers under Fleck have a frustrating tendency to play down in these games and in some cases even lose them (ahem, Bowling Green). Akron is not at the level of some of the past MAC schools Minnesota has welcomed to Huntington Bank Stadium, but you can never be quite sure so early on in the season.
The Zips went 5-7 this past fall, including a .500 mark inside the MAC. They were shelled by Nebraska in the non-conference, 68-0, but seemed to find something during the back half of their schedule and nearly played themselves into a bowl game. On the sidelines once again will be Joe Moorhead, a coach with some history against the Gophers going back to his time as Penn State offensive coordinator. It's been a slow burn for Moorhead at one of the most difficult jobs in FBS football, but could 2026 finally be the year something comes together? Under center for the Zips is likely to be Reese Poffenbarger, who put up big numbers over two seasons at Albany from 2022-23, before serving as a backup at Miami and North Texas the last couple years.
This will be an important stage-setting game for Minnesota regardless of what happens against Mississippi State. With just one bye week in the Big Ten this year, they need all the momentum they can get before hitting the meat of their conference schedule.
Way, Way Too Early Score Prediction: Minnesota, 35 Akron, 10
September 26 @ Washington
For the first time since 1977, the Gophers will square off with the Washington Huskies - and they'll be looking for their first win in Seattle since the mid 1950s. Needless to say, this game could tell us a lot about whether the Gophers may actually be a contender in the Big Ten in 2026.
As opposed to Minnesota, it's been an offseason of drama so far for the Huskies. There was some thought head coach Jedd Fisch may be a candidate for any number of the big-time openings across the country, namely Florida, but he opted to stay put. His quarterback, Demond Williams, put his name in the transfer portal in a whirlwind couple of days before announcing his return to Seattle. Williams is quite the talent, but it will be interesting to see how the team responds to his return. He announced his intention to transfer merely days after signing a sizable NIL deal, and likely only decided to come back because the school threatened legal action.
Despite the drama, this is a quality Washington football team. They haven't quite reached the heights under Fisch they did under Kalen DeBoer, when they played for a National Title, but they did win nine games last season and will send notable names off to the NFL this spring.
Going into Seattle for this time of game is going to be difficult for Minnesota. That's a lot of travel for their first game away from Huntington Bank, against a good football team. You have to hoping Washington is looking ahead to USC the next week and gets caught sleeping, which certainly can happen under Fisch. But, the bettings odds certainly favor the Huskies to come out victorious here.
Way, Way Too Early Score Prediction: Washington, 27 Minnesota, 21
October 3 vs. Michigan
Speaking of drama, perhaps no program in the country had a crazier end to last calendar year than the Michigan Wolverines. The Sherrone Moore situation went from juicy drama around his firing due to an appropriate relationship to a staffer, to a genuinely scary situation for all involved. His ongoing legal drama is going to put a cloud over Michigan's 2026 campaign.
With that being said, the program did make the right hire in Kyle Whittingham, who was essentially forced out at Utah after two decades in charge, and now has something to prove. Whittingham almost certainly is not the long-term answer for the Wolverines, considering he is 66 years of age. But does he does provide them with much-needed stability, and few coaches get more out of their personnel than him.
Ensuring quarterback Bryce Underwood was staying put was certainly priority No. 1 for Whittingham and the new staff this offseason, as the former top recruit showed real promise during his true freshman season. He'll be aided by a rising star in the backfield in Jordan Marshall, and a defense that will have a real Utah feel considering how many Utes Whittingham ended up bringing with him.
Minnesota fought valiantly in the last "Little Brown Jug" game, coming up just short of an epic comeback, 27-24. Yet, the program still has some demons to excise against Michigan, as they've beaten them just twice since 1987. Getting them at home is a massive win, but I think the Wolverines are a legit Playoff team next year. I'm not sure the Gophers have what it takes to hang with them for four quarters.
Way, Way Too Early Score Prediction: Michigan, 30 Minnesota, 17
October 10 @ Purdue
Unsurprisingly, Barry Odom had a rough debut campaign with the Boilermakers in 2025, going 2-10 and winless in the Big Ten. Yet, that same team gave Minnesota fits during their matchup last season before a game-changing pick six from Perich flipped the game. This is a team that has given the Gophers real problems in recent time, and now the game will be in West Lafayette.
We still don't have a great idea of what Purdue will look like for 2026. For the second straight offseason, they have completely flipped the roster, currently bring in 29 transfers. That number includes former Gopher tailback Fame Ijeboi, who ran for 441 yards on 97 carries in relief of Darius Taylor. Ijeboi has a real chance to be the lead back for the Boilermakers, joining incumbent starting QB Ryan Browne in the backfield.
Purdue's defense was shredded last fall, allowing nearly 32 points per contest - 117th in the nation. Even with all the additions, plus the hiring of Kevin Kane as defensive coordinator, this group is likely to have their fair share of struggles again in 2026. If you're the Gophers, this is a real opportunity to show what your offense can do and really hit their stride at a critical juncture of the season. Even on the road, you have to circle this game as a potentially big one for Lindsey and company.
Way, Way Too Early Score Prediction: Minnesota, 35 Purdue, 21
October 24 vs. Iowa
Getting a bye prior to the Iowa game is potentially the greatest gift on the schedule for the Gophers in 2026. It's no secret the Hawkeyes have owned this rivalry for the entirety of the Fleck era, and last year's game has to have left a particularly bad taste in the mouth of the Gophers. They were shelled 41-3 in a losing effort in one of the most lopsided games in the rivalry's recent history.
The interesting thing about the 2025 loss for Minnesota was that, if you look at the box score, you would have a hard time believing things could get so bad. The Hawkeyes didn't exactly light things up offensively, with 274 yards on 13 first downs. They went 4-12 on third down and the time of possession numbers were fairly similar. The big difference was the three turnovers from the Gophers and bad special teams plays eventually doomed them. It's been a common theme for the Gophers in this series, where losing on the margins has made all the difference.
Iowa is likely to be Iowa once again in 2026. They'll probably win 8-9 games under the steady leadership of Kirk Ferentz. Yet, there are some real questions about this roster looking ahead to next fall. They'll be breaking in a new quarterback, plenty of new faces throughout the offense, and have real turnover on this defense. They'll probably figure things out in short order, but this Hawkeyes team could certainly be gettable.
Am I crazy for thinking Minnesota can come away victorious? Probably. But, this series has typically been so close, and any play or two can swing the end result. With the Gophers getting the Hawkeyes away from Iowa City, it feels like they could finish the job this time around.
Way, Way Too Early Score Prediction: Minnesota, 20 Iowa, 14
October 31 @ Indiana
Does it get scarier on Halloween night than traveling to the reigning National Champions? Despite their longtime Big Ten roots, these two programs haven't met very often in recent times, with this matchup their first since 2021 and third since 2008. Needless to say, this Indiana program is at a much different place now than the 2021 edition.
The Hoosiers will see some key pieces leave the roster this offseason, but Curt Cignetti and staff have been doing work in the portal through the early offseason. They have their next quarterback - veteran Josh Hoover arrives from TCU - and I'm looking at Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh to become a household name after an impressive two seasons in East Lansing. The defense feels like a group that is going to be able to reload every year, given the culture they've built on that side of the ball.
If you're Minnesota, you certainly would have liked this game to be earlier in the year in the hopes there was some National Championship hangover, or the new pieces were still meshing. I have the feeling the Hoosiers are going to be fully up and operational at this point, and that's a scary reality for the Gophers. It's very likely their four game win streak in the series to a close in Bloomington here.
Way, Way Too Early Score Prediction: Indiana, 42 Minnesota, 21
November 7 vs. UCLA
For the first time since the late 1970s, Minnesota will welcome UCLA to the Twin Cities in an early November battle. The Gophers were victorious the last time these two met, coming away with a tight win in 2024. But this is a different Bruins team with Bob Chesney now in charge, as he comes over from James Madison.
Chesney has unsurprisingly flipped this roster through the portal, including bringing a host of former JMU players with him. Star running back Wayne Knight is likely to have one of the greatest impacts in 2026, but the rest of the roster is going to lean pretty heavily on names that were castoffs from big-name programs. It's going to be interesting to see how Chesney builds this here - this is of course an LA school and there's no shortage of talent in the area. But whether the school is committed to building a winner in football remains to be seen.
Weather is almost certainly going to be a factor in early November in the Twin Cities. This just has the looks of a frigid game where the Gophers are going to pound the rock and turn this into a ball control game. Assuming he's healthy, Darius Taylor is going to have a real chance to shine against a Bruin defense that has been completely overhauled.
Don't expect a particularly pretty football game here - Minnesota is going to be fine winning an ugly one in a game they hope sets up their November end of season in a big way.
Way, Way Too Early Score Prediction: Minnesota, 24 UCLA, 13
November 14 @ Penn State
It will be the second straight week the Gophers square off with a first year head coach when they travel to Happy Valley to take on Matt Campbell and the Nittany Lions. Campbell has brought enough of his former staff and players from Ames to essentially create Iowa State of the Northeast, including veteran QB Rocco Becht.
The last time these two collided, back in 2024, Penn State came away with a one-point victory in a game that could have truly gone either way. It was turnovers that made the difference there, too, with an interception and lost fumble by Max Brosmer sinking Minnesota's chances. Yet, one of the top takeaways I had from that game, and really most of the time the Gophers have played one of the league's giants, is how much they've struggled to run the ball. Darius Taylor was held to 58 carries on 17 carries, Marcus Major 37 yards on ten carries. Overall, the Gophers managed 106 yards on 36 carries, for a 2.9 yards per carry average. This team relies on the run so much, when they go up against teams with far superior athletes, they give up such with an edge with what they're able to do.
It's hard to know what to expect from Penn State in the first season of Campbell, but few teams in the Big Ten have as favorable of a schedule as them. No team gets this deep in the season unfazed, but this may be a more put together Penn State team than you might expect. Add to it the fact this will be in Happy Valley, you can assume the Nittany Lions will be heavy favorites.
Way, Way Too Early Score Prediction: Penn State, 31 Minnesota, 20
November 21 vs. Northwestern
Northwestern has been a persistent thorn in the side of the Gophers throughout the Fleck era. Minnesota won three straight in the series from 2019-2022, but has lost the last two in infuriating fashion. First, there was the come-from-behind overtime win from the Wildcats that was one of the most shocking collapses in recent Gopher football memory. Then there was last year, where Minnesota had multiple chances to win before a missed field goal doomed their fortunes.
If there is a silver lining here for the Gophers, you have to look at the other games Northwestern plays in this stretch. Starting on Halloween, they go on the road to Oregon, get Iowa at home, at Ohio State, Minnesota, and then Illinois. Generally, I'm not sure what the Wildcats did to piss off the Big Ten schedule-makers - they open the season with South Dakota State, have a bye right away, then have 12 games in 12 weeks.
Northwestern has a tendency to cycle up and down just about every year. They were a pleasant surprise this past fall, going 7-6, but all signs point down in 2026. Given the schedule, this could be a rough year for David Braun and company. And this should be a game Minnesota absolutely wins.
Way, Way Too Early Score Prediction: Minnesota, 27 Northwestern, 10
November 28 @ Wisconsin
As much as it pains me to say, I like what Wisconsin has done through the portal this offseason. Quarterback Colton Joseph comes in from Old Dominion and is the best playmaker they've had at the position in some time. He's a gunslinger who will make plenty of mistakes, but their offensive ceiling is elevated. Just as important, they brought in a backup Deuce Adams. They took their chances on former blue-chip prospects who still offer plenty of upside like corner Bryce West (Ohio State) and Zion Kearney (Oklahoma). And they've plugged remaining holes by filling in through the FCS and lower levels.
That's not to say a miraculous turnaround is necessarily in store in Madison. This is a team that crawled to a 4-8 mark last season and has felt listless for much of the Luke Fickell era. But they should offer a real challenge to the Gophers this fall in a way they didn't the last two years.
It's been a common point of contention among Fleck detractors: he has not beaten Iowa and Wisconsin in the same season. This team has the talent to do it, and beating Iowa at home would be massive. But in this scenario, the Gophers have already won multiple toss-up games. This just feels like one of those games they'll drop, doesn't it?
Way, Way Too Early Score Prediction: Wisconsin, 21 Minnesota, 17
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