BleedGopher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 63,091
- Reaction score
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- Points
- 113
Per Athlon:
11. Minnesota
Coach PJ Fleck has quietly guided Minnesota to at least eight victories in three out of the last four seasons. Approaching double-digit victories in 2025 will be a challenge with the personnel turnover facing this team. However, Fleck’s team has five winnable Big Ten home games and plays a favorable road contest at Northwestern.
Max Brosmer had a solid one-and-done season with the Golden Gophers and left big shoes to fill under center. Redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey gained valuable experience in three games last season and has the inside track to the starting job. How Lindsey develops will determine just how high Minnesota can climb in the standings. However, with the passing game in transition, Fleck and coordinator Greg Harbaugh can lean on a heavy dose of running back Darius Taylor if a line breaking in three new starters can jell early in the ‘25 campaign.
The Golden Gophers are also navigating transition on defense with five returning starters. Safety Koi Perich is back after a standout freshman season (five interceptions), while expectations are high for sophomore Jaxon Howard to deliver a breakout year off the edge. New coordinator Danny Collins is stepping into a good situation after this group held teams to 5.1 yards a play in Big Ten action last season. Although new faces must emerge at every level, Collins has enough back to expect this unit to pick up where it left off.
12. wisconsin
After going 57-18 with a playoff trip at Cincinnati, Luke Fickell was considered one of the top hires prior to the 2023 season. But success has been hard to come by in two years with the Badgers. Since taking over, Fickell is 13-13 overall and recorded a 5-7 mark last season - the program’s first losing year since ‘01.
If Wisconsin is going to overcome a brutal schedule and exceed expectations, an offense that averaged only 22.6 points a game in ‘24 needs to get on track under new coordinator Jeff Grimes. A return to more of a run-focused attack should be in order under Grimes, but there are plenty of question marks here. Maryland transfer Billy Edwards Jr. steps into the starting quarterback job, while Darrion Dupree and Dilin Jones will battle for the top spot in the backfield. The outlook is more promising at receiver, and along the offensive line with three starters back, including tackle Riley Mahlman.
The Badgers held Big Ten opponents to 23.1 points a game and 5.4 yards a play last season. Those numbers weren’t bad, but Fickell’s group struggled to stop the run (17th in the Big Ten). The staff landed a handful of transfers to boost the defensive line and get tougher in the trenches for ‘25. How the pieces fit and the overall play of the line remain a concern, but the secondary should be among the best in the conference with four returning starters.
Go Gophers!!
11. Minnesota
Coach PJ Fleck has quietly guided Minnesota to at least eight victories in three out of the last four seasons. Approaching double-digit victories in 2025 will be a challenge with the personnel turnover facing this team. However, Fleck’s team has five winnable Big Ten home games and plays a favorable road contest at Northwestern.
Max Brosmer had a solid one-and-done season with the Golden Gophers and left big shoes to fill under center. Redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey gained valuable experience in three games last season and has the inside track to the starting job. How Lindsey develops will determine just how high Minnesota can climb in the standings. However, with the passing game in transition, Fleck and coordinator Greg Harbaugh can lean on a heavy dose of running back Darius Taylor if a line breaking in three new starters can jell early in the ‘25 campaign.
The Golden Gophers are also navigating transition on defense with five returning starters. Safety Koi Perich is back after a standout freshman season (five interceptions), while expectations are high for sophomore Jaxon Howard to deliver a breakout year off the edge. New coordinator Danny Collins is stepping into a good situation after this group held teams to 5.1 yards a play in Big Ten action last season. Although new faces must emerge at every level, Collins has enough back to expect this unit to pick up where it left off.
12. wisconsin
After going 57-18 with a playoff trip at Cincinnati, Luke Fickell was considered one of the top hires prior to the 2023 season. But success has been hard to come by in two years with the Badgers. Since taking over, Fickell is 13-13 overall and recorded a 5-7 mark last season - the program’s first losing year since ‘01.
If Wisconsin is going to overcome a brutal schedule and exceed expectations, an offense that averaged only 22.6 points a game in ‘24 needs to get on track under new coordinator Jeff Grimes. A return to more of a run-focused attack should be in order under Grimes, but there are plenty of question marks here. Maryland transfer Billy Edwards Jr. steps into the starting quarterback job, while Darrion Dupree and Dilin Jones will battle for the top spot in the backfield. The outlook is more promising at receiver, and along the offensive line with three starters back, including tackle Riley Mahlman.
The Badgers held Big Ten opponents to 23.1 points a game and 5.4 yards a play last season. Those numbers weren’t bad, but Fickell’s group struggled to stop the run (17th in the Big Ten). The staff landed a handful of transfers to boost the defensive line and get tougher in the trenches for ‘25. How the pieces fit and the overall play of the line remain a concern, but the secondary should be among the best in the conference with four returning starters.
Go Gophers!!