BleedGopher
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Per Andrew:
Minnesota returns the seventh-most production in the FBS and has burgeoning stars on both sides of the ball. Running back Darius Taylor is one of the best in the Big Ten when healthy, and second-year starting quarterback Drake Lindsay could be one of the most improved passers in the country — he threw eight touchdowns and zero interceptions in his final four games. Moreover, helping both Taylor and Lindsay will be a veteran offensive line, which returns three starters from 2025.
On defense, yes, Koi Perich headed west to lose in big games alongside Dan Lanning at Oregon, but this defense is not devoid of talent. The Gophers return defensive end Anthony Smith, who led the Big Ten with 12.5 sacks last year, and cornerback John Nestor, who led the conference with six interceptions. In the middle of the defense, leading tackler Maverick Baranowski returns after a 100-tackle season, giving Minnesota a star at every level. If the Gophers can fill in the gaps around these stars or develop more, this team could find itself in the College Football Playoff hunt in November.
Go Gophers!!
Minnesota
The Fightin’ Flecks have been a relative model of consistency under their idiosyncratic head coach. Since P.J. Fleck took over in 2017 (how has it been that long?), Minnesota has averaged just under eight wins per season, excluding 2020. Following back-to-back eight-win campaigns, the Gophers and Fleck are poised to break through the nine-win glass ceiling this season.Minnesota returns the seventh-most production in the FBS and has burgeoning stars on both sides of the ball. Running back Darius Taylor is one of the best in the Big Ten when healthy, and second-year starting quarterback Drake Lindsay could be one of the most improved passers in the country — he threw eight touchdowns and zero interceptions in his final four games. Moreover, helping both Taylor and Lindsay will be a veteran offensive line, which returns three starters from 2025.
On defense, yes, Koi Perich headed west to lose in big games alongside Dan Lanning at Oregon, but this defense is not devoid of talent. The Gophers return defensive end Anthony Smith, who led the Big Ten with 12.5 sacks last year, and cornerback John Nestor, who led the conference with six interceptions. In the middle of the defense, leading tackler Maverick Baranowski returns after a 100-tackle season, giving Minnesota a star at every level. If the Gophers can fill in the gaps around these stars or develop more, this team could find itself in the College Football Playoff hunt in November.
Go Gophers!!
