2026 Schedule: Quick Thoughts.

[NoelarBear]

Big Ten Releases Dates for 2026 Minnesota Gophers Football Schedule - GopherHole.com

While we have known for a while who the Minnesota Gophers will be playing at home and on the road. We now know the dates of these opponents as the Big Ten released the schedule for all its schools on Tuesday. Game times for these games won’t be announced until closer to the beginning of […]

gopherhole.com

While we have known for a while who the Minnesota Gophers will be playing at home and on the road. We now know the dates of these opponents as the Big Ten released the schedule for all its schools on Tuesday. Game times for these games won't be announced until closer to the beginning of the season.

Here is your 2026 Gophers Football Schedule

September 3rd – Eastern Illinois

September 12th – Mississippi State

September 19th – Akron

September 26th – at Washington

October 3rd – Michigan

October 10th – at Purdue

October 17th – Bye Week

October 24th- Iowa

October 31st – at Indiana

November 7th – UCLA

November 14th – at Penn State

November 21st – Northwestern

November 28th – at Wisconsin



Just like previous years, the Gophers will kick off their season on Thursday before Labor Day. With the Minnesota State Fair concluding and high school football, the Gophers have cemented their home opener on that Thursday night. It’s been seven years since the Gophers opened their season with an FCS opponent; this year, Eastern Illinois comes into town. Minnesota and Mississippi State begin their home-and-home contract this year, with the Bulldogs coming to Minneapolis. That should be a fun one.

A date Gophers fans have been waiting to see is the game against Washington. We now have it. Minnesota kicks off its conference play with a trip to Seattle in late September. Minnesota fans traveling out west must be happy about that.



The one thing that stands out to me about this schedule is October. You play for two rivalry trophies and go to play the National Champion at their place. Minnesota does have a bye week before Iowa, which isn’t a bad thing. Just like last year, October will be the toughest test for the Gophers. November includes two home games and two on the road. Those home games seem favorable while Minnesota concludes its season in Madison.



More thoughts to come soon, including my rankings on the toughest opponents of the 2026 schedule.

 

[mggoph]

Big Ten Releases Dates for 2026 Minnesota Gophers Football Schedule - GopherHole.com

While we have known for a while who the Minnesota Gophers will be playing at home and on the road. We now know the dates of these opponents as the Big Ten released the schedule for all its schools on Tuesday. Game times for these games won’t be announced until closer to the beginning of […]

gopherhole.com

While we have known for a while who the Minnesota Gophers will be playing at home and on the road. We now know the dates of these opponents as the Big Ten released the schedule for all its schools on Tuesday. Game times for these games won't be announced until closer to the beginning of the season.

Here is your 2026 Gophers Football Schedule

September 3rd – Eastern Illinois

September 12th – Mississippi State

September 19th – Akron

September 26th – at Washington

October 3rd – Michigan

October 10th – at Purdue

October 17th – Bye Week

October 24th- Iowa

October 31st – at Indiana

November 7th – UCLA

November 14th – at Penn State

November 21st – Northwestern

November 28th – Wisconsin



Just like previous years, the Gophers will kick off their season on Thursday before Labor Day. With the Minnesota State Fair concluding and high school football, the Gophers have cemented their home opener on that Thursday night. It’s been seven years since the Gophers opened their season with an FCS opponent; this year, Eastern Illinois comes into town. Minnesota and Mississippi State begin their home-and-home contract this year, with the Bulldogs coming to Minneapolis. That should be a fun one.

A date Gophers fans have been waiting to see is the game against Washington. We now have it. Minnesota kicks off its conference play with a trip to Seattle in late September. Minnesota fans traveling out west must be happy about that.



The one thing that stands out to me about this schedule is October. You play for two rivalry trophies and go to play the National Champion at their place. Minnesota does have a bye week before Iowa, which isn’t a bad thing. Just like last year, October will be the toughest test for the Gophers. November includes three out of the four games in Minneapolis. Which should set Minnesota up for a nice finish.



More thoughts to come soon, including my rankings on the toughest opponents of the 2026 schedule.

Thanks! Isn't Wisconsin an away game this year?

 

[gwbbfan82]

Thanks! Isn't Wisconsin an away game this year?

According to an email I received, it is at WI.

 

[NoelarBear]

Thanks! Isn't Wisconsin an away game this year?

Yes. Thanks for the correction. Edited it

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

If I travel for Washignton that's gonna be like ... 5 weeks in a row of football.

Now I like football but the gophers had that one year and god damn I was happy to have some time back when it ended

 

[ergopher]

Wish we played Penn State a bit earlier in the season. Matt Campbell will have righted the ship by November, I feel like.

 

[#2Gopher]

Where are the announcers for each game?!!!!!!

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

Wish we played Penn State a bit earlier in the season. Matt Campbell will have righted the ship by November, I feel like.

I'd love to swap Penn State and Washington if I had a choice.

 

[ergopher]

I'd love to swap Penn State and Washington if I had a choice.

My feelings exactly. The big silver lining for me though is that home/road alternates all season and the bye placement is perfect.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

My feelings exactly. The big silver lining for me though is that home/road alternates all season and the bye placement is perfect.

Yeah this is a pretty good layout of no huge breaks, and not too many games in a row.

Unless you travel for Washington like I plan to .... and in that case .... we're boned.

 

[Some guy]

I don’t see a loss


@USAF will take this post literally

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

I'm going to be curious what the Washington road contingent looks like.

Seems like it could be a good Gopher turnout. Very easy trip to make, Seattle is great, feels like the Midwest, gorgeous university.

 

[CentralGopher]

8-4. Just a wild guess.

 

[Some guy]

8-4. Just a wild guess.

I would think the smart money is there. Would guess the over under will be 7.5

The floor is 5-7
The ceiling is 16-0 (but probably like 9-3 or 10-2)

 

[USAF]

I don’t see a loss


@USAF will take this post literally

I doubt anyone takes anything you post seriously.

 

[ergopher]

Floor: If the offensive line yet again fails us, defense does not improve and DT once again has injury trouble, we probably go 6-6.
Average: If Drake improves an average amount and the defense returns to form, 8-4.
Ceiling: If DT breaks out, the defense comes together and fulfills its potential, receivers are good and the offensive line is even just okay we can go 9-3 or even 10-2

 

[Roland Brooks]

Beat SOMEBODY….. let’s be relevant

 

[Some guy]

I doubt anyone takes anything you post seriously.

Even why I try to make a joke with you you can’t handle it lol

 

[matt]

Even why I try to make a joke with you you can’t handle it lol

It seems to me that you can’t handle a joke.

 

[STPGopher]

Yeah this is a pretty good layout of no huge breaks, and not too many games in a row.

Unless you travel for Washington like I plan to .... and in that case .... we're boned.

I kind of want to make that trip. I miss B.C. and western Alberta. British Columbia is just a ferry ride away.

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

So there's only one bye week PJ has to be worried about I see.

 

[Ope3]

I don’t see a loss


@USAF will take this post literally

I figured you for a 10-2 Sorta Guy.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

So there's only one bye week PJ has to be worried about I see.

Dehydration, always a concern.

 

[gopherbadgerman]

I would think the smart money is there. Would guess the over under will be 7.5

The floor is 5-7
The ceiling is 16-0 (but probably like 9-3 or 10-2)

I’d bet over under is 6.5

 

[Texan Gopher]

I will be in Bloomington on Halloween. We might get beat by 45 points, but it will be fun

 

[Some guy]

I’d bet over under is 6.5

If it is I don’t think it’ll be even money 6.5
But you may be correct

 

[WinMinGophers!]

One analyst's take:

Minnesota Golden Gophers' 2026 Football Schedule Revealed

Get your calendar ready. Minnesota's football schedule for this fall is now out.

www.si.com

P.J. Fleck's program is coming off an 8-5 campaign in 2025. That's become the norm for the Gophers, who have won exactly 8 or 9 games (with 5 or 6 conference wins) in four of the last five years. They've gone 7-0 in bowl games under Fleck but haven't been able to break through with a huge season since they went 11-2 back in 2019.

Optimism for the 2026 season centers around...

 

[WindyCityGopher]

Argh! I was going to come up for the Michigan game to see us take back the Jug, but my nephew’s getting married that day! I guess I’m going to have to tell him to change the date.

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

Dehydration, always a concern.

I hope he has the team well prepared. It could be a trap game with Iowa coming to town the following week.

 

[dlw4gophers]

Thanks! Isn't Wisconsin an away game this year?

Yes it is