2025 Schedule - two Friday night games

Yeah but there will be one sept 27 and nov 1 so I’m not sure it’s the end of the world
Maybe, but both of those are TBD as far as kickoffs.

Nov 1 weather also a higher chance of being dicey.
 




Friday night games were a rarity 20 plus years ago as the BIG respected HS Friday nite football games. Michigan and Lloyd Carr reluctantly played the Gophers on Oct 10, 2003 at the damn dome due to a potential scheduling conflict as with the Twins being in the MLB playoffs. Of course the Gophers pooped their pants and lost 37-34 after being ahead 28-7 at half. As usual we were there. It was a great atmosphere then the air went out of the stadium as the Gophers had no response to the swing pass to the RB and their D finally shut us down.

Carr was complaining that they would miss one practice and his players would miss one day of classes and used the HS Friday game excuse. Mason said it was no different than hoops playing on a Thursday night or other week night. Now no one cares as it just happens.
It’s called show me the money. Need more prime time tv slots
 



That's a different argument, not related to the logistics of actually staging the game but but sure, I think it's a valid point.

More than 25% of the Home schedule not on traditional college football Saturday stinks in my opinion. Also nothing finer IMO than being on campus during the day for an October afternoon game.

Zero October Saturday afternoon games at the Bank in 2025.

Being a Glass Half Full Guy, it opens up a couple of Saturdays to get some extra golf in.
I would be shocked if Wisconsin will be anything other than 2:30 PM.
 

I would be shocked if Wisconsin will be anything other than 2:30 PM.
That used to be true because it was almost always the second best game on that day.

But now Saturday of that weekend games:
1. Ohio state Michigan - noon Fox

Minnesota-Wisconsin
Oregon-Washington
UCLA-USC
Penn state-Rutgers
Illinois-northwestern
Michigan State-Maryland
Indiana-Purdue (Black Friday NBC)
Iowa-Nebraska (Black Friday CBS)

And I’m not sure how the tv contract works.
Last year on the Saturday:
Night on NBC - probably west coast
Night on FS1 - maybe west coast but last year was Indiana Purdue (but Indiana was good)
330 on BTN - probably a bottom 2 game
330 on FS1 - probably a bottom 3 game
330 on CBS - probably a top 2 game
Noon BTN - probably a bottom 2 game

My guesses
Noon on BTN - Michigan State vs Maryland
330 BTN - Illinois Northwestern

So that means there is:
730 NBC: (Oregon)
730 FS1: MN or USC
330 CBS: (USC or Penn State)
330 FS1: MN or PSU

With Wisconsin being so shitty I actually think pretty good shot of a 730 ET kick on FS1



Last year 3 Black Friday games because USC-Notre Dame and UCLA-Fresno
 




Can't really play that card when Gophers already play the Season Opener on a Thursday Night.



Plus the city of Minneapolis has hosted plenty of other football contests drawing well over 50,000 on Mondays, Thursdays & Fridays, at other football stadiums in the past 40+ years at a location less than 2 miles from the Gophers current stadium. At least 1 even involved the University of Minnesota in 2003.
The Thursday openers are bad enough.
 

Night games are great aside from the three hour drive home following them
 


The difference between an Oct. 31 Saturday afternoon and a Nov. 1 Saturday afternoon is palpable
Yeah they both could suck.

October 28. 2023 when the Gophers hosted Michigan St, kickoff of 33 degrees on a grey day. Had break out the long undies.

On the other hand, there was a least 1 November game early in the Banks tenure I wore shorts.
 



West Bank Lot 86 Parking was dicey on Thursday openers in the early years because it is the main Law Library and other facilities lot on that side, especially when they would not open to football fans until 4 PM.

It has gotten better and not expecting any issues for the Thursday and two Friday night games. Former President Gabel had a hand in this.
 

It has gotten better and not expecting any issues for the Thursday and two Friday night games. Former President Gabel had a hand in this.
Only 1 of the Friday Night games is at home, the other is at Oregon.
 




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