The Gophers are going to be regulars on national TV to primetime audiences this season!
Imagine this: It’s a muggy September night in Minneapolis. Under the lights at TCF Bank Stadium, Mitch Leidner breaks the huddle flashing a slight grin. The Gopher offense aligns in victory formation, Leidner takes a knee to run out the clock, and pandemonium ensues. Throngs of a jubilant sellout crowd spill onto the turf, creating a sea of maroon and gold. In front of a national television audience, the Minnesota Golden Gophers have just shocked the heavily favored Texas Christian University Horned Frogs and the college football world, setting the tone for a wild college football season.
Yes, many people would consider this wishful thinking. A man can dream, right?
The Minnesota Golden Gophers 2015 football schedule features no shortage of opportunities to bring continued national recognition to the program and university. Here’s a closer look at some notable upcoming games in which the Gophers are already guaranteed to play to a regional or national television audience OR in a non-morning television slot:
vs. Texas Christian – Sept. 3, 8:00 p.m. CT ESPN
The Gophers will likely need a very strong effort on both sides of the ball in order to defeat the Horned Frogs. Can Minnesota’s coveted defensive backfield shut down preseason Heisman favorite QB Trevone Boykin and a pass-happy TCU offense that averaged 46.5 points (2nd among FBS schools) last year? The answer may determine the end result in this one. Look to Gophers defensive end Theiren Cockran to pressure Boykin before he can find stud wide receiver Josh Doctson, who in 2014 set TCU single-season records in receiving yards (1,018) and receiving touchdowns (11). The Horned Frogs are coming off a 12-1 season in which they lost on the road to the Baylor Bears in a historic 61-58 loss. The Gary Patterson-coached squad thrashed the Ole Miss Rebels 42-3 in the 2014 Peach Bowl after controversially being left out of the initial College Football Playoff. Regardless of the outcome, this nationally televised Thursday night matchup will provide a genuine challenge for the Gophers in front of what hopefully will be a festive atmosphere at TCF Bank Stadium.
at Colorado State – Sept. 12, 2:30 p.m. CT CBS Sports Network
This game in Fort Collins will be another early season test for the Gophers. The Rams posted a record of 10-3 last year, including a loss to then #22 ranked Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl. Thankfully, star quarterback Garrett Grayson (4,006 passing yards, 32 TD passes in 2014) is off to the NFL’s New Orleans Saints. The U’s secondary again will be tested, this time by wide receiver Rashard Higgins. As a sophomore in 2014, Higgins caught 17 touchdowns and totaled 1,750 yards.
vs. Michigan – Oct. 31, 7:00 p.m. CT ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
In 2008, Rich Rodriguez was hired to bring this program back to its legendary status, but was booted out of Ann Arbor after only three seasons. Brady Hoke was hired in 2011, and coached his initial team to an 11-win season, including a Sugar Bowl victory. But after a couple of mediocre seasons and an abysmal 2014 season in which the Wolverines finished with just five wins, he was canned. Former NFL coach Jim Harbaugh is the latest coach to enter the coaching carousel at Michigan, and there is seemingly nowhere for this program to go but up. The Gophers will seek to keep the Little Brown Jug in Minneapolis for the second year in a row after embarrassing the Maize and Blue by 16 points in 2014. The last time Minnesota won two games in a row against Michigan? 1962 and 1963. Expect a rowdy, costume-clad crowd at “The Bank” to make this Halloween showdown a tough one for the visiting Wolverines.
at Ohio State – Nov. 7, Time TBD ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
The jury is out: Minnesota will come into The Horseshoe as heavy underdogs. The defending national champions averaged 44.8 points per game in 2014 (5th among FBS schools) and return seven offensive starters. All-American defensive lineman Joey Bosa, who totaled an impressive 13.5 sacks in 15 games in 2014, will surely test the Gophers offensive line. It will be interesting to see how Minnesota fares against the Buckeyes on the road, especially after they gave Ohio State a close game at TCF Bank Stadium in 2014, losing 31-24.
at Iowa – Nov. 14, 7:00 p.m. CT Big Ten Network
This late season matchup between the two Big Ten West division archrivals never fails to disappoint. Unless, that is, you are the 2014 Iowa Hawkeyes, who were defeated on the road by the Gophers in a 51-14 beatdown. The game served as the so-called nail in the coffin for the Hawkeyes, who won just one game following the rout at TCF Bank Stadium. We will likely see a new-look Hawkeye offense at the star positions. Junior quarterback C.J. Beathard, who has only started one game in his career, will take over for Michigan-bound Jake Rudock. Additionally, Senior running back Jordan Canzeri will replace longtime starter Mark Weisman. The Gophers will come into Iowa City seeking to claim the Floyd of Rosedale trophy for the second year in a row and the fourth time in six seasons.
Part of the Gopher’s resurgence under the Jerry Kill regime includes bringing the program back to a point of consistent national relevance. Following two consecutive eight-win seasons, there is no question that the Gophers have succeeded in becoming a relevant program again. Television networks are certainly taking notice by showcasing the U in more primetime slots. The outcomes of the widely-viewed games listed above could play a large part in determining whether or not the Gophers remain a meaningful program on a national scale in 2015 and beyond.
* The 11:00 a.m. Sept. 19 game vs. Kent State will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Luke Gildemeister welcomes comments via e-mail at [email protected] or Twitter @Lgildy