CBS: Big Ten football power rankings 2026 (9. Minnesota; The Golden Gophers are worth keeping an eye on)

[BleedGopher]

Per Backus:

9. Minnesota​

Minnesota flew under the radar in 2025 while winning eight games for a second consecutive season under coach P.J. Fleck and they're flying under the radar again entering 2026. The Golden Gophers are worth keeping an eye on, though. They return a wealth of starting experience on offense, including top running back Darius Taylor and starting quarterback Drake Lindsey, and the defense is anchored by stars like defensive end Anthony Smith.

Big Ten football power rankings 2026: Indiana at No. 1 post-transfer cycle

Indiana holds the top spot fresh off its national title, but how does the rest of the conference look?

www.cbssports.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[gopherbadgerman]

Seems pretty fair

 

[RememberMurray]

The B1G is clearly the best conference in college football. If the Gophers finish in the top third in 2026, that will be an impressive accomplishment.

 

[BTChamp]

Backus doesn't seem to be a dinkus. For the first time in recorded history they are ranked ahead of nebraska in the preseaason by someone.

 

[Some guy]

It is pretty crazy that the gophers have won 8 games or more in 4/5 seasons and 5 of the last 6 full seasons.
Last time that happened was 1900-1905

Strong bet on 7+ wins next year in the regular season.

Which means at a minimum they’re finishing middle third.


The gophers have finished with a winning conference record 4 of the last 5 seasons. And 5 of the last 7.

Last time that happened was 1963-1969

 

[MNVCGUY]

Seems a lot like last year in terms of overall conference expectations. Top 3 have separated to a degree and then it is a big jumble after that.

Thankfully we are near the upper portion of that jumble as opposed to near the back end where Sconnie rightfully resides these days.

 

[Some guy]

Seems a lot like last year in terms of overall conference expectations. Top 3 have separated to a degree and then it is a big jumble after that.

Thankfully we are near the upper portion of that jumble as opposed to near the back end where Sconnie rightfully resides these days.

Beat: (3-0)
Eastern Illinois
Akron
UCLA

Beat most of: (3-1)
@wisconsin
Northwestern
@Purdue
Mississippi state

Beat a couple of: (2-3)
@washington
Michigan
Iowa
@indiana
@ Penn State

You’re 8-4


The schedule is pretty easy if Michigan and Penn state are top 40 teams rather than top 15 teams.
If Michigan and Penn state are top 15 teams and Indiana also is a top 15 team…then it’s a really tough schedule.
I guess we will know at the end of the year.

 

[WinMinGophers!]

Will Taylor miss games, how many?

That is the question.

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

Backus doesn't seem to be a dinkus. For the first time in recorded history they are ranked ahead of nebraska in the preseaason by someone.

They no longer have Mahomes 2.0 to overinflate the preseason ranking.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

They no longer have Mahomes 2.0 to overinflate the preseason ranking.

Also don’t have Holy Angel’s RB Emmett Johnson anymore. He might have been a bigger driver of the Husker’s offense than the Mahoney wannabe.

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

Also don’t have Holy Angel’s RB Emmett Johnson anymore. He might have been a bigger driver of the Husker’s offense than the Mahoney wannabe.

True. I'm not sure Johnson moved the needle very much in last year's preseason ranking the way Raiola did.