Gopher football

[Pompous Elitist]

That’s a good question, and honestly it’s hard to tell, but

On3 reports this for the top 10.

Rank	Program	Football-only spend (est.)
1	Texas	$38 – 40 M
2	Ohio State	$35 – 37 M
3	Oregon	≈ 30 M
4	Texas A&M	≈ 30 M
5	Texas Tech	≈ 28 M
6	Miami	≈ 27 M
7	Michigan	≈ 22 M
8	USC	≈ 21 M
9	Tennessee	≈ 20 M
10	Auburn	≈ 18 M

But i couldn’t find Gophers total. The source is behind their pay wall. At some point I did come across $3-5MM, but I can’t find the source now.

What I could find is, and the source isn’t behind a pay wall, the average NIL for 2025 commits is:

• Minnesota is listed as $23,000.
• Michigan: $245,000
• Ohio State: $165,000
• USC: $113,000

Now keep in mind this was just for 2025 commits, OhSt pay to Jeremie Smith isn’t included in this list, and he and many others of their returning Nat Champ team are probably higher paid, but the same goes for many teams.

Here is the link.

On3 B1G rankings of 2025 per player average NIL

That’s another good data point.

If you go to the On3 data, it shows in 2023 and 2024 Iowa average per commit as $23 and $28k, respectively. 2025 is $46k, double 2023.

I am not sure how that ties out with what this “the swarm” data is showing showing, but it does show that they doubled the 2023 spending.

Well, even those 2023 and 2024 numbers are suspect as the Swarm distributes to 22 Iowa teams. Sure, the majority of that undoubtedly goes to football but even then these on3 numbers are educated guesses at best.

To my knowledge there are only a few collectives that claim non-profit status and file publicly available documents so the REAL numbers that are out there are extremely sparse. There is no way any numbers reported from coaches, ADs, etc are close to real. I do think the Swarm numbers are close and there are certainly other private deals with NDAs but as far as the actual number allocated to football I don’t know. Sub $2M likely?

The 2024 numbers will be out later assuming anyone bothers to file taxes anymore…j/k.
Sorta.

 

[btowngopher]

Good grief, trotting this one out again.

Why do people think it’s not difficult? What coach has ever shown that it’s easy?

 

[DEGopher]

Well, even those 2023 and 2024 numbers are suspect as the Swarm distributes to 22 Iowa teams. Sure, the majority of that undoubtedly goes to football but even then these on3 numbers are educated guesses at best.

To my knowledge there are only a few collectives that claim non-profit status and file publicly available documents so the REAL numbers that are out there are extremely sparse. There is no way any numbers reported from coaches, ADs, etc are close to real. I do think the Swarm numbers are close and there are certainly other private deals with NDAs but as far as the actual number allocated to football I don’t know. Sub $2M likely?

The 2024 numbers will be out later assuming anyone bothers to file taxes anymore…j/k.
Sorta.

Yeah, the real numbers will never be known. Contracts can remain private, so you will always have that.

I believe in the first year of NIL, Gable Stevens was projected as the highest earning student athlete, because it was like 2022, the consortiums weren’t set up yet and Gable had a contract with WWE. However, no one knew what was in the contract so no one knew what he actually got paid.

 

[PMWinSTP]

Why do people think it’s not difficult? What coach has ever shown that it’s easy?

Why does it have to be an either/or?

 

[WindyCityGopher]

Nobody has scored more than 9 points against Ohio State this season. They have allowed 2 TD through 5 games. Only scoring 3 is frustrating but this Ohio State defense is unreal.

Ohio State is the clear favorite to win the National Championship this year. There might be a few teams out there that can hang with them but there are not many.

For us to compete in a game with a team like that we need them to make some mistakes and they didn't. That goes for us and 95% of the other teams in college football. There are very few (might not be any) teams that can line it up and beat Ohio State straightup right now.

Patricia has been the DC for 2 Super Bowl champions (plus another ring as a defensive assistant). He’s gone up against the greatest offensive minds in the world and won…multiple times. I don’t think he sweats facing the Fleck/Harbaugh brain wizards, or pretty much anyone else in college football. And it sure helps that he effectively has NFL personnel to scheme with. It’s just unfair.

 

[BilldGopher]

I sure didn't know what the tOSU defense was going to do for most plays. Pretty sure it was pretty much guesses for Drake too.

 

[GopherVotary]

This team is young. They have talent but nearly all of their impact players are Freshman, Sophomores, and a few Juniors. They will likely return nearly everyone of importance next season. Ohio St is currently the best team in the country coming off of a national championship. Relax.

I wish I could take solace in the youth of the team, but with the flood of players rushing through the portal each year, who knows what the roster will look like next year.

 

[Mulligan]

I sure didn't know what the tOSU defense was going to do for most plays. Pretty sure it was pretty much guesses for Drake too.

And there were multiple plays where it looked like we going to gain some yards only to have them swarm to the ball, and we ended up with no gain or even a loss. Not sure I've seen a faster overall defense.

 

[mngg11]

I wish I could take solace in the youth of the team, but with the flood of players rushing through the portal each year, who knows what the roster will look like next year.

Valid point, but we've been pretty stable in terms of losses. Bucky and Daniels are our two major portal losses and those were to the conference big dawgs. Otherwise we've benefitted from the portal

 

[BilldGopher]

Valid point, but we've been pretty stable in terms of losses. Bucky and Daniels are our two major portal losses and those were to the conference big dawgs. Otherwise we've benefitted from the portal

Utilizing The Portal effectively to identify and bring in good players is something that Coach Fleck and staff have done pretty well.

However, this does require really a "plug in and play" mentality that has to have some degree of challenge no matter how good the player or system. The risk vs reward element is off the charts with any given player. Then of course you've got to manage the egos of the youngsters trying to earn their spot on the field. Yikes.

I can see why a lot of middle tier HCs seem to be less than enthusiastic.

 

[MNVCGUY]

And there were multiple plays where it looked like we going to gain some yards only to have them swarm to the ball, and we ended up with no gain or even a loss. Not sure I've seen a faster overall defense.

There were times it felt like there were 15 guys out there on D....that unit is special.

 

[btowngopher]

Why does it have to be an either/or?

Well it has to land somewhere on the scale. I’d love to hear an argument about how it’s not more towards the difficult end.

 

[Ope3]

Go ahead and quote one stat or illogical thing I've said during this discussion that indicates the fanning of flames.
I've been a Gopher football fan for 40 plus years including 16 as a season ticket holder. My question is rooted in frustration and embarrassment. How anyone could have watched that game last night and not felt some of the same embarrassment and frustration is mind boggling to me.
Like I said earlier I didnt expect them to win but I expected more than that.

Embarrassing is Nebraska in 1983.

I could probably name at least 50 losses since then that were far more embarrassing than last night, including several in the Fleck era.

There's 3 losses to the Illini alone that were more embarrassing under PJ, especially 2018.

They rebounded the next week against Purdue. Hopefully the same happens in 2025.

 

[Tech Machine]

Ohio State, Maybe Oregon, Possibly Indiana could be National Contenders.

The rest of the conference fighting for 4-8 place. That includes Michigan and Penn State, neither of whom usually kick our @sses like OSU. It isn’t just a Minnesota problem, it’s just that we had some horrible losses in the 90’s until the Kill regime started to change the feeling a bit.
Now the last 14 years or so, we have gotten bored with being OK, want the next step. With a quality QB, maybe we can jump a notch. Obviously with the lack of separation, receivers is a must and O-line needs upgrading. It sucks to get squished, but I think the whole college football structure has gone downhill, although there are a lot of good games every week, so there is that.

OSU right now, I believe is just head and shoulders over probably everyone. The way it is in 2025.

 

[gopherphil]

My guess is no. But a performance like yesterday disinterests in college fb. I went to a weeding and am glad I had something else to do then watch that shit show. I won’t even watch YouTube highlights

 

[Outsider]

I was at the game last night. If you ever get the chance to go to a game there do it and drink in the money machine that is Ohio St football. They get 105,000 in that stadium . Twice what ours seats and we rarely fill it. My son goes and I was there yesterday morning at 10:30 and the volume of people there at that time tailgating was ridiculous. The police presence between state troopers, sheriffs patrols and locals is wild. They have many large boosters that spend money everywhere at that school. Not just sports but on campus at the medical center and elsewhere. I don’t think we have anyone with the kind of money being thrown about there. While the average fan spend money you need several large donation type boosters like the Wexner’s and others to pony up to buy, and that is the correct term, players of the caliber they have. It is one of the bigger spectacles I have ever been to. While the revenue sharing from tv will help, our ability to pay players, unless the system changes, will probably always pale in comparison to what that football machine produces. You can be embarrassed by that performance if you want, but the talent differential is real. I saw it up close and personal.

 

[DEGopher]

Ohio State, Maybe Oregon, Possibly Indiana could be National Contenders.

The rest of the conference fighting for 4-8 place. That includes Michigan and Penn State, neither of whom usually kick our @sses like OSU. It isn’t just a Minnesota problem, it’s just that we had some horrible losses in the 90’s until the Kill regime started to change the feeling a bit.
Now the last 14 years or so, we have gotten bored with being OK, want the next step. With a quality QB, maybe we can jump a notch. Obviously with the lack of separation, receivers is a must and O-line needs upgrading. It sucks to get squished, but I think the whole college football structure has gone downhill, although there are a lot of good games every week, so there is that.

OSU right now, I believe is just head and shoulders over probably everyone. The way it is in 2025.

I was at the game last night. If you ever get the chance to go to a game there do it and drink in the money machine that is Ohio St football. They get 105,000 in that stadium . Twice what ours seats and we rarely fill it. My son goes and I was there yesterday morning at 10:30 and the volume of people there at that time tailgating was ridiculous. The police presence between state troopers, sheriffs patrols and locals is wild. They have many large boosters that spend money everywhere at that school. Not just sports but on campus at the medical center and elsewhere. I don’t think we have anyone with the kind of money being thrown about there. While the average fan spend money you need several large donation type boosters like the Wexner’s and others to pony up to buy, and that is the correct term, players of the caliber they have. It is one of the bigger spectacles I have ever been to. While the revenue sharing from tv will help, our ability to pay players, unless the system changes, will probably always pale in comparison to what that football machine produces. You can be embarrassed by that performance if you want, but the talent differential is real. I saw it up close and personal.

The economy of the twin cities is bigger than Columbus, but the Gopher’s fan base isn’t as large. I think we could be like OhSt if the Twin Cities got behind the Gophers like Columbus get’s behind the Buckeyes, but we are far from that.

 

[Crosby]

Im sorry but the fact that Minnesota who is in the same conference as OSU cant even score one TD is embarrassing and a telling sign of how far apart they are from OSU. The Gophers will never make up that difference and their stat line just confirms that.

You should just quit watching it I guess

 

[BilldGopher]

I was at the game last night. If you ever get the chance to go to a game there do it and drink in the money machine that is Ohio St football. They get 105,000 in that stadium . Twice what ours seats and we rarely fill it. My son goes and I was there yesterday morning at 10:30 and the volume of people there at that time tailgating was ridiculous. The police presence between state troopers, sheriffs patrols and locals is wild. They have many large boosters that spend money everywhere at that school. Not just sports but on campus at the medical center and elsewhere. I don’t think we have anyone with the kind of money being thrown about there. While the average fan spend money you need several large donation type boosters like the Wexner’s and others to pony up to buy, and that is the correct term, players of the caliber they have. It is one of the bigger spectacles I have ever been to. While the revenue sharing from tv will help, our ability to pay players, unless the system changes, will probably always pale in comparison to what that football machine produces. You can be embarrassed by that performance if you want, but the talent differential is real. I saw it up close and personal.

Said it last evening...talent gonna talent.

We think it's different now but it's always been the case. Winners and losers get counted for individual games, but at the program level it's really who's the top, who's the middle, and who's the bottom in each conference at any given time.

What us modern Gopher fans have never experienced is that in the glorious history of our program since 1896 is that Minnesota was at the top for several periods. Unfortunately not for 60+ years and certainly not now. Nebraska, Wisconsin, I-O-W-A, and even OH-IO State used to have to go through Minnesota for any recognition; how that must have sucked for them.

But those days are gone and the current system makes it increasingly unlikely to happen again until the money collapses and a new system comes forward. And to be sure the current money will collapse at some point unless someone figures out how to monetize watching 5 minute game summaries on your phone as generating the same revenue as the commercials for a 3 hour cable or national network broadcast. It's certainly possible but not any time soon.

So, step back and enjoy what we do have. Which is a lot actually. Just have to take a minute and see it. Programs in the ACC or Big 12 are not where we are. Think about it.

Be grateful but yes last night still sucked. The disparity from the B1G+ top is real down to the Gophers but it can only be addressed to a point. It doesn't have to spoil the rest of the games, let alone the season.

On to Purdue. Ski U Mah.

 

[NotAFanOfBecky]

I was at the game last night. If you ever get the chance to go to a game there do it and drink in the money machine that is Ohio St football. They get 105,000 in that stadium . Twice what ours seats and we rarely fill it. My son goes and I was there yesterday morning at 10:30 and the volume of people there at that time tailgating was ridiculous. The police presence between state troopers, sheriffs patrols and locals is wild. They have many large boosters that spend money everywhere at that school. Not just sports but on campus at the medical center and elsewhere. I don’t think we have anyone with the kind of money being thrown about there. While the average fan spend money you need several large donation type boosters like the Wexner’s and others to pony up to buy, and that is the correct term, players of the caliber they have. It is one of the bigger spectacles I have ever been to. While the revenue sharing from tv will help, our ability to pay players, unless the system changes, will probably always pale in comparison to what that football machine produces. You can be embarrassed by that performance if you want, but the talent differential is real. I saw it up close and personal.

I was there last night too and 100% agree with everything you said. It’s just something on a whole other level. The stadium is old and not great, but everything else is just so far beyond anything I’ve seen. Maybe Lambeau rivals it now that they have blocks shut off for tailgating but OSU scene was something else. Hell the intro and fireworks and all that was better than an NFL game and that includes the Vikes new stadium. Other than the outright ass kicking on the field it was/is a very worthwhile and impressive experience.

 

[Schnauzer]

Will the Gophers ever be able to compete against a team like OSU.

Few things irritate me more than comments like this.

This is straight out of the Strib or Bring Me The News comments section.

The Gophers have NOT been competitive vs OSU the last two meetings (2023 and this past Saturday). The Gophers are 7-48 all time vs Ohio State.

But, rather than asking a loaded question on a public forum to stir the pot, one only needs to look at head to head results and past games to quickly see objectively and demonstratably that the Gophers are competitive with OSU, a bit more than occasionally.

10/4/25 - not competitive
11/18/23 - not competitive
09/02/21 - Competitive
10/13/18 - Competitive
11/07/15 - Competitive
11/15/14 - Competitive
10/24/09 - not competitive
09/27/08 - Competitive
09/29/07 - not competitive
10/28/06 - not competitive
10/29/05 - Competitive
11/02/02 - not competitive
11/03/01 - Competitive
11/03/01 - Competitive, WIN
10/14/00 - Competitive

Although the Gophers rarely beat OSU, the OP was asking about being able to compete and in terms of competitiveness, in the 2000's the Gophers have been competitive with OSU more than they haven't.

Asking a loaded question where you likely suspect the truth is frustrating to me. It is actually worse than flipping a coin and asking "Will it ever be tails?" after it has been tails 9 of the last 15 flips.

 

[USAF]

Few things irritate me more than comments like this.

This is straight out of the Strib or Bring Me The News comments section.

The Gophers have NOT been competitive vs OSU the last two meetings (2023 and this past Saturday). The Gophers are 7-48 all time vs Ohio State.

But, rather than asking a loaded question on a public forum to stir the pot, one only needs to look at head to head results and past games to quickly see objectively and demonstratably that the Gophers are competitive with OSU, a bit more than occasionally.

10/4/25 - not competitive
11/18/23 - not competitive
09/02/21 - Competitive
10/13/18 - Competitive
11/07/15 - Competitive
11/15/14 - Competitive
10/24/09 - not competitive
09/27/08 - Competitive
09/29/07 - not competitive
10/28/06 - not competitive
10/29/05 - Competitive
11/02/02 - not competitive
11/03/01 - Competitive
11/03/01 - Competitive, WIN
10/14/00 - Competitive

Although the Gophers rarely beat OSU, the OP was asking about being able to compete and in terms of competitiveness, in the 2000's the Gophers have been competitive with OSU more than they haven't.

Asking a loaded question where you likely suspect the truth is frustrating to me. It is actually worse than flipping a coin and asking "Will it ever be tails?" after it has been tails 9 of the last 15 flips.

Well when YOU get to determine what the definition of "competitive" is, it's pretty easy to arrive at whatever conclusion you've predetermined.

The Gophers are 1-30 against tOSU since the early 80s. 8 of those 31 games, including the one win, were within 2 touchdowns.

If that's your idea of competitive, good for you. The rest of us live in the real world.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

When it gets to the point where you have to set your expectation level of winning 8 or 9 games is a great season it gets harder to justify watching.

No one’s forcing you to watch, are they??

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Embarrassing is Nebraska in 1983.

I could probably name at least 50 losses since then that were far more embarrassing than last night, including several in the Fleck era.

Bowling Green comes to mind.

There's 3 losses to the Illini alone that were more embarrassing under PJ, especially 2018.

They rebounded the next week against Purdue. Hopefully the same happens in 2025.

 

[BronkosGhost]

Few things irritate me more than comments like this.

This is straight out of the Strib or Bring Me The News comments section.

The Gophers have NOT been competitive vs OSU the last two meetings (2023 and this past Saturday). The Gophers are 7-48 all time vs Ohio State.

But, rather than asking a loaded question on a public forum to stir the pot, one only needs to look at head to head results and past games to quickly see objectively and demonstratably that the Gophers are competitive with OSU, a bit more than occasionally.

10/4/25 - not competitive
11/18/23 - not competitive
09/02/21 - Competitive
10/13/18 - Competitive
11/07/15 - Competitive
11/15/14 - Competitive
10/24/09 - not competitive
09/27/08 - Competitive
09/29/07 - not competitive
10/28/06 - not competitive
10/29/05 - Competitive
11/02/02 - not competitive
11/03/01 - Competitive
11/03/01 - Competitive, WIN
10/14/00 - Competitive

Although the Gophers rarely beat OSU, the OP was asking about being able to compete and in terms of competitiveness, in the 2000's the Gophers have been competitive with OSU more than they haven't.

Asking a loaded question where you likely suspect the truth is frustrating to me. It is actually worse than flipping a coin and asking "Will it ever be tails?" after it has been tails 9 of the last 15 flips.

Yeah well you consider it a loaded question while I consider it a legitimate one. After 40 years of watching the Gopher play football I think I have the right to ask. Plus its only a loaded question when you dont like the answer.

So you’re admitting you weren’t really interested in hearing responses to your question regarding the talent gap with OSU, you just really wanted to vent your frustrations and embarrassment. Fair enough.

I was neither frustrated nor embarrassed after last night’s game—since 1966 the Gophers are 2-42 against OSUU and I don’t believe we’ve been ranked in the top 20/25 during any of those games.

Penn State fans are a different story. Despite being ranked in the top 10 almost every time they play OSU, PSU is riding an 8 game losing streak to OSU—the longest losing streak in the series between the schools.

PSU fans have every right to be frustrated and perhaps embarrassed that they’ve been unable to close the talent gap with OSU.

Us Gopher fans? Not so much.

No I think after 40 years of watching and attending Gopher games its a legitimate question that a lot of Gopher fans dont like to be asked.

 

[Ope3]

Bowling Green comes to mind.

Amongst several others.

 

[BronkosGhost]

No one’s forcing you to watch, are they??

Why is it so hard for some people to face tough questions they dont like the answers to?

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Why is it so hard for some people to face tough questions they dont like the answers to?

Assuming facts not in evidence - if we win great, if not it’s not a big deal to me and I’ll focus on real life, not entertainment; if this is such a bother for you, don’t watch kiddo.



l

 

[BronkosGhost]

Assuming facts not in evidence - if we win great, if not it’s not a big deal to me and I’ll focus on real life, not entertainment; if this is such a bother for you, don’t watch kiddo.



l

I always love it when people don't like or can't answer a question they use deflection and condescension as a means of communication.
So the Gophers getting embarrassed on national tv is no big deal to you but some random fan commenting on it is somehow bothersome.
I will keep watching and commenting and obviously tormenting those of you who take breaks from real life to scroll a forum page. Oh and im far from a kiddo pops.

 

[disco]

Difficult to recruit to Mpls. I'd say he's done better than other recent coaches.

Minneapolis is a more desirable place than say, Lincoln, NE.