Fleck: ‘We’re a 6-5 football team, this isn’t 2-10’

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Per Fox 9:

‘We’re a 6-5 football team, this isn’t 2-10’​

Why you should care:

Fleck said at the start of the season he wanted to the Gophers to be "delusional" about the 2025 season. Why couldn’t they be what Indiana was in 2024, and compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff? Quite simply, the Gophers just aren’t there yet.

Beating Wisconsin on Saturday will heal a few warts from being 6-5, and 0-5 on the road this season. The Gophers’ marquee win this year was 24-6 over Nebraska. A win over the Badgers gives Minnesota a 7-5 record, but is that successful? They’ll go to a bowl game, but questions remain on what the bar should be for the Gophers’ program.

The Badgers have won two of their past three games, both over ranked teams, after it was announced Luke Fickell would return next year. Fleck has four wins over the Badgers, including three of the last four in the series, and a 24-7 win at Camp Randall last year.

"We’re a 6-5 football team, this isn’t 2-10," Fleck said.

www.fox9.com

P.J. Fleck on 6-5 Gophers before Wisconsin: 'This isn't 2-10'

The Gophers dropped to 6-5, and 4-4 in Big Ten play after last Saturday’s 38-35 loss to Northwestern at Wrigley Field. They close out the regular season against Wisconsin on Saturday.
www.fox9.com www.fox9.com

Go Gophers!!
 

We’re a 6-5 football team, this isn’t 2-10," Fleck said.

OK! Talk is cheap. Let's see it on the field.
 


49801769-44af-45aa-91c2-1afa2ed3364a_text.gif
 




He also talked about he doesn’t care about year nine every year is year one. So many young players out there well that’s his fault too one way or another his schtick even in comparison to the college coaching world is ridiculous. He just makes shit up and expects us all to gobble it up when it makes really no sense a lot of it.
 

Well, at least he didn't claim to be the best 6-5 team in the country?

We are 6-5. We will end up 7-5 or 6-6. Neither of those records signifies the end of the world, but neither screams we're on the way up either.

Having watched every game (since they're all on TV these days), we have not looked very good at getting to 6-5.
  • We lost to Cal because the game was at 9 PM, and traveling west is .....because we waited for them to lose the game, and they did not.
  • We beat Rutgers with a solid second half, but we failed to show up early.
  • We lost to Ohio State because they are the best team in college football right now. Looking back on that game, other teams that are more on par with us were able to hang around longer before succumbing.
  • We beat Purdue with a putrid effort, being content to wait for them to lose the game, and they did.
  • We looked like a real football team in an absolute beatdown of Nebraska. Showed up for 60 minutes for the first time all season (against real competition).
  • Followed up the Nebraska game without even getting off the bus at Iowa. While some leeway can be given to losses against tOSU and Oregon, Iowa is not outspending us, but they do show up for every game and play for 60 minutes. They don't always play well or win, but effort is never in question at Iowa.
  • We beat Michigan State with another putrid effort for 57 minutes, then tied it and won in Overtime. Usually, when you play 6 minutes of football in a single game, you don't win.
  • We lost to Oregon because we can't compete with top-tier teams at all.
  • We lost to Northwestern because we waited for them to lose the game, but they didn't. At least we were present in the game for most of the 60 minutes after a rough early start. Thanks, Koi.
Based on this, the record is a lot better than it should be, so yeah, I'm happy we're 6-5. I hope we'll be 7-5. My prediction at the beginning of the year was 6-6/7-5 depending on how the Nebraska game turned out. As it turns out, it depends on how the Wisconsin game turns out.

I'm hoping we see the team play with the fire and drive displayed against Nebraska. Showing up for three full games in one B1G season isn't too much to ask for. Or maybe that's me taking Fleck at his word and being delusional about my expectations for a program to be ready to play every game - or in this case, at a minimum 33.33% of them.

P.S. Stop using John Nestor as an excuse for struggling. He's struggled all season; his replacements haven't looked worse.
 





When you start to think about the talent lost from last year, last year is truly the disappointing season compared to this year. 6-6 will be disappointing to me. 7-5 will feel a lot better with a win over your boarder rival to the East.

Going undefeated at home keeps a lot of people engaged in the team heading into 2026.

Maybe this is one of Fleck's better coaching jobs. 🤷‍♂️
 

gopherbadgerman said:
Well according to lots of posters here this was a rebuilding year and no one expected a great season. So if they win Saturday everyone should be satisfied. I would be.
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My perception was that a strong population of Gopherholers thoughts this was going to be an elite PJ Fleck team.
 

swede2 said:
My perception was that a strong population of Gopherholers thoughts this was going to be an elite PJ Fleck team.
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it is, depending on your definition of Elite. Fleck's is different than mine.
 



The bar for the Golden Gophers should always be 6-3 in the BIG. Three of those wins should be Wi. Iowa & the Huskers.
We’re not there yet.

A nice season is 5-4 and maybe 2/3 vs. rivals.
A poor season is4-5 or less and maybe 1 or 0 wins vs. rivals.
Elite is 7 or more BIG wins plus the sweep.

With our non conference schedule, three wins should be a given.
 

I think part of it is that everyone who watched the games knows this team is very close to being a 3-8 football team. There were comebacks and losing stat sheets against Rutgers, Purdue, and MSU who are a combined 2-22 in Big Ten play.

And 3 of the losses were not at all close.
 

I’m a PJ supporter. He’s had a miserable year for all the reasons identified in many different threads. Saturday is a must-win for all the reasons identified in many different threads. We desperately need a Nebraska-type performance and that starts with him & his coaching.
 


Married@SiebertField said:
I’m a PJ supporter. He’s had a miserable year for all the reasons identified in many different threads. Saturday is a must-win for all the reasons identified in many different threads. We desperately need a Nebraska-type performance and that starts with him & his coaching.
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With what looks to be a challenging schedule next year this feels like an important game to win as would the bowl game.
 

swede2 said:
My perception was that a strong population of Gopherholers thoughts this was going to be an elite PJ Fleck team.
Click to expand...
btowngopher said:
That was definitely not the majority opinion.
Click to expand...

I legitimately thought 8 wins regular season barring major injury. Close but no cigar. Losses to OSU, Oregon and Iowa were almost written in stone (in my opinion) and I assumed the Gophs would figure out a way to lose to a mediocre peer. Make it at least two of those peer losses.

The underperformance by the offensive line, defensive backfield and defense in general were surprises to me. I suppose DT's injuries shouldn't have been a surprise.
 

17 of 18 in total offense
18 of 18 in rushing offense
11 of 18 in total defense
16 of 18 in TOP
5 of 18 in turnover margin

The schedule and protection of the ball seem to be the biggest factors in (so far) 6 wins? Maybe I’m grumpy but the games - outside the joy of Drake Lindsey - and the Nebraska massacre have been grinders to watch.

Defeating Wisconsin will go a very long way towards restoring some faith.
 

MaxyJR1 said:
When you start to think about the talent lost from last year, last year is truly the disappointing season compared to this year. 6-6 will be disappointing to me. 7-5 will feel a lot better with a win over your boarder rival to the East.

Going undefeated at home keeps a lot of people engaged in the team heading into 2026.

Maybe this is one of Fleck's better coaching jobs. 🤷‍♂️
Click to expand...
I agree with this, and that's what makes me doubly depressed about this season. I can live with ups and downs for a program like ours, although it's still difficult to live through. I'm glad our "down" is still a bowl season. However, when we have a chance to make some hay, we need to take advantage. Last year we had a lot of talent end up on NFL teams, including a very good quarterback. We could've had nine regular season wins and a really nice bowl game. That's followed by this comparatively ugly season, which, on paper, will end up basically the same.
 

caliGopher said:
Well, at least he didn't claim to be the best 6-5 team in the country?

We are 6-5. We will end up 7-5 or 6-6. Neither of those records signifies the end of the world, but neither screams we're on the way up either.

Having watched every game (since they're all on TV these days), we have not looked very good at getting to 6-5.
  • We lost to Cal because the game was at 9 PM, and traveling west is .....because we waited for them to lose the game, and they did not.
  • We beat Rutgers with a solid second half, but we failed to show up early.
  • We lost to Ohio State because they are the best team in college football right now. Looking back on that game, other teams that are more on par with us were able to hang around longer before succumbing.
  • We beat Purdue with a putrid effort, being content to wait for them to lose the game, and they did.
  • We looked like a real football team in an absolute beatdown of Nebraska. Showed up for 60 minutes for the first time all season (against real competition).
  • Followed up the Nebraska game without even getting off the bus at Iowa. While some leeway can be given to losses against tOSU and Oregon, Iowa is not outspending us, but they do show up for every game and play for 60 minutes. They don't always play well or win, but effort is never in question at Iowa.
  • We beat Michigan State with another putrid effort for 57 minutes, then tied it and won in Overtime. Usually, when you play 6 minutes of football in a single game, you don't win.
  • We lost to Oregon because we can't compete with top-tier teams at all.
  • We lost to Northwestern because we waited for them to lose the game, but they didn't. At least we were present in the game for most of the 60 minutes after a rough early start. Thanks, Koi.
Based on this, the record is a lot better than it should be, so yeah, I'm happy we're 6-5. I hope we'll be 7-5. My prediction at the beginning of the year was 6-6/7-5 depending on how the Nebraska game turned out. As it turns out, it depends on how the Wisconsin game turns out.

I'm hoping we see the team play with the fire and drive displayed against Nebraska. Showing up for three full games in one B1G season isn't too much to ask for. Or maybe that's me taking Fleck at his word and being delusional about my expectations for a program to be ready to play every game - or in this case, at a minimum 33.33% of them.

P.S. Stop using John Nestor as an excuse for struggling. He's struggled all season; his replacements haven't looked worse.
Click to expand...
Assuming you picked us to beat Wisconsin wouldn't have always came down to the Wisconsin game? Sounds like we are right where you thought we would be and where a lot of people thought we would be? And yet like in 2016 people are angry that we are where we thought we would be. I guess I don't get the anx of it all (As long as we beat Wisconsin)
 

One of my biggest complaints has been how bad this d is on 3rd down. Turns out, it is successful about 60% of the time from what I can see. I would have never in a million years guessed it was that good. It seems like, in my mind, they never get off the field after 3rd down. Having said that, what is a good number for this stat? For the record, the offense sits at just over 38% success for this.
 

Pompous Elitist said:
17 of 18 in total offense
18 of 18 in rushing offense
11 of 18 in total defense
16 of 18 in TOP
5 of 18 in turnover margin

The schedule and protection of the ball seem to be the biggest factors in (so far) 6 wins? Maybe I’m grumpy but the games - outside the joy of Drake Lindsey - and the Nebraska massacre have been grinders to watch.

Defeating Wisconsin will go a very long way towards restoring some faith.
Click to expand...
Worse than grinders to watch. That’s my biggest beef the entertainment value is really hard to find. Shouldn’t be that hard.
 

Hates Monikers said:
I agree with this, and that's what makes me doubly depressed about this season. I can live with ups and downs for a program like ours, although it's still difficult to live through. I'm glad our "down" is still a bowl season. However, when we have a chance to make some hay, we need to take advantage. Last year we had a lot of talent end up on NFL teams, including a very good quarterback. We could've had nine regular season wins and a really nice bowl game. That's followed by this comparatively ugly season, which, on paper, will end up basically the same.
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One comment about last year as I think literally if we play UNC any other game than Max‘s first go round in a big stadium and that environment we beat them by two touchdowns. He was understandably nervous and just didn’t quite have the same spark he had the rest of the season.
 


Gopherchase said:
One comment about last year as I think literally if we play UNC any other game than Max‘s first go round in a big stadium and that environment we beat them by two touchdowns. He was understandably nervous and just didn’t quite have the same spark he had the rest of the season.
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We don't always see eye to eye but in this instance I agree 100%. Part of the reason I hate when there is a game against a power conference opponent in week 1 as opposed to a cupcake or G5 team.
 

Just beat Bucky at home and end up 7-5, disappointing, but not a horrible season
 

Year 9, the floor is 8 wins. I said it before, I still stand by it. Next two games need to be Ws and we need to make some substantial changes in the offseason.
 

MaxyJR1 said:
When you start to think about the talent lost from last year, last year is truly the disappointing season compared to this year. 6-6 will be disappointing to me. 7-5 will feel a lot better with a win over your boarder rival to the East.

Going undefeated at home keeps a lot of people engaged in the team heading into 2026.

Maybe this is one of Fleck's better coaching jobs. 🤷‍♂️
Click to expand...
I especially agree with your 1st comment, tried to point that out a few times, nobody bites.

A lot of people, me included, tried to convince ourselves that Nebraska was the standard, but it was the anomaly. Gave lots of hope after questionable start. I’m kind of ready for next year.
 

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