Howard Sinker: You want another raise, P.J. Fleck? Do better in 2026.

[BleedGopher]

Per Sinker, verbatim:

THAT LOPSIDED LOSS: The Gophers 41-3 loss at Iowa pretty much solidified my opinion that they’ll finish with a 9-4 record — wins over all the teams remaining on the schedule except for Oregon, as well as against whatever opponent they’ll face in a middle-tier bowl game. The optics will be good. The reality will include thrashings by Ohio State and Iowa, as well as a likely one at Oregon in two weeks. The other loss, which will be lamented as the one that kept them from a 10-win season, was the avoidable one at Cal in Week 3. It’s a good season, but anyone who thinks the Gophers have reached another level will be fooling themselves. You want a pretty good team? Minnesota has that. You want next level? Watch Indiana. You want another raise, P.J. Fleck? Do better in 2026.

sports take | Failures, Injuries and an All-Around Rotten Week

10.30.25

www.thedailyagenda.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[Eastside Forever]

I hope he's correct on the final record and finishing to the season; but MSU, Northwestern and Wisconsin are all capable of defeating the Gophers and cannot be taken for granted. And the bowl game? Only the football gods know.

 

[Unregistered User]

You want next level? Watch Indiana.

Indiana has beaten 1 good team over the past 2 seasons, and no one is even sure how good Oregon is.

 

[PMWinSTP]

Indiana has beaten 1 good team over the past 2 seasons, and no one is even sure how good Oregon is.

Before last season, Indiana struggled to win, not withstanding against "good" teams.

 

[WHB Brewer]

Indiana has beaten 1 good team over the past 2 seasons, and no one is even sure how good Oregon is.

check your info. Indiana beat 6 ranked teams in 2024. they beat Iowa who just destroyed us.

 

[Unregistered User]

Before last season, Indiana struggled to win, not withstanding against "good" teams.

Yup, no argument there. They are beating up on teams the past season and a half that a lot of good team should beat, even if that means keeping their starters in way longer than they need to, to make them look better.

In 2024 they beat a 5 loss Michigan 20-15 at IU.
Got pounded by tOSU, and pounded by Notre Dame 27-17...that game was 27-3 until there was about 3 minutes left in the game...worthless points

In 2025 they beat a then #9 Illinois which is not looking like a great win this year, but a nice win.
They snuck by iowa at iowa 20-15 scoring in the last two minutes.
And they beat Oregon in Oregon...a team that need OT to beat PSU, who then went on to lose to UCLA and Northwestern.

All other wins have been bottom of the barrel teams.

 

[HitMeAgainIAmStillMoving]

Indiana has beaten 1 good team over the past 2 seasons, and no one is even sure how good Oregon is.

I am sure. Gophers will win that game.

 

[Panthadad2]

Indiana has beaten 1 good team over the past 2 seasons, and no one is even sure how good Oregon is.

check your info. Indiana beat 6 ranked teams in 2024. they beat Iowa who just destroyed us.

I'd recheck your info. I think Unregistered User is right. Oregon was a very good ranked win. Illinois is no longer ranked.

 

[LeftofThaDial]

Yup, no argument there. They are beating up on teams the past season and a half that a lot of good team should beat, even if that means keeping their starters in way longer than they need to, to make them look better.

In 2024 they beat a 5 loss Michigan 20-15 at IU.
Got pounded by tOSU, and pounded by Notre Dame 27-17...that game was 27-3 until there was about 3 minutes left in the game...worthless points

In 2025 they beat a then #9 Illinois which is not looking like a great win this year, but a nice win.
They snuck by iowa at iowa 20-15 scoring in the last two minutes.
And they beat Oregon in Oregon...a team that need OT to beat PSU, who then went on to lose to UCLA and Northwestern.

All other wins have been bottom of the barrel teams.

They are 19-2 in the last two seasons, with their only loses being to the National Champs, and the runners up.

 

[gopherbadgerman]

lol at people still disrespecting Indiana’s last season and a half.

 

[Some guy]

Before last season, Indiana struggled to win, not withstanding against "good" teams.

True.
Cignetti deserves all the credit

 

[maroonfive]

It is all about the money.

 

[PMWinSTP]

They are 19-2 in the last two seasons, with their only loses being to the National Champs, and the runners up.

I really don't get the posters who are downplaying what has happened at Indiana. The program has literally been a dormat and Cignetti changed that in his first season.

 

[Some guy]

I really don't get the posters who are downplaying what has happened at Indiana. The program has literally been a dormat and Cignetti changed that in his first season.

Agree
Also don’t get the posters downplaying that the roster money investment is equally responsible as cignetti

 

[mngg11]

I am sure. Gophers will win that game.

I will be totally unsurprised if we beat Oregon or take them down to the wire. This team is fucking weird every year with games we shouldn't lose and lose, as well as shouldn't win and win or make inexplicably close

 

[corcorangopher]

Replace ‘Change your best’ to ‘Do Better.’

 

[Pompous Elitist]

Agree
Also don’t get the posters downplaying that the roster money investment is equally responsible as cignetti

What roster money

Indiana had the 25th ranked transfer class. Three 4 stars and 18 three stars.

MN was 29.

 

[Some guy]

What roster money

Indiana had the 25th ranked transfer class. Three 4 stars and 18 three stars.

MN was 29.

Their roster I’ve seen reports of it being a top 15 highest paid in college football

Maybe I’ve seen wrong

 

[Pompous Elitist]

Their roster I’ve seen reports of it being a top 15 highest paid in college football

Maybe I’ve seen wrong

Based on what?

Total BS. All of it. I ****ing hate the NIL talk. Nobody knows nothing and everyone is playing some kind of angle. Partly why I’d prefer they just transition to a full CBA pro model so everyone knows what’s what rather than this stupid (and likely illegal) capitated Frankenstein. Adding in the sports betting idiocy clouding competition legitimacy and my already cynical outlook is going to need some emergency infusions of delusion. Have a nice night

 

[Some guy]

Based on what?

Total BS. All of it. I ****ing hate the NIL talk. Nobody knows nothing and everyone is playing some kind of angle. Partly why I’d prefer they just transition to a full CBA pro model so everyone knows what’s what rather than this stupid (and likely illegal) capitated Frankenstein. Adding in the sports betting idiocy clouding competition legitimacy and my already cynical outlook is going to need some emergency infusions of delusion. Have a nice night

Well they don’t want a pro CBA model because it would limit their compensation

Do you think Minnesota’s roster is making the same money as Indiana?

 

[West Fargo Gopher Fan]

Indiana is paying more than Minnesota

 

[Ski-U-Ham]

Nobody knows nothing

So everybody knows something

 

[minnyrules11]

Wisconsin ain’t capable of beating anybody…

 

[NotAFanOfBecky]

Indiana is paying more than Minnesota

 

[Pompous Elitist]

So:

Indiana could have saved Tom Allen’s 15.5M guaranteed salary payout? This place is bonkers sometimes.

 

[Pompous Elitist]

Well they don’t want a pro CBA model because it would limit their compensation

Do you think Minnesota’s roster is making the same money as Indiana?

I don’t know.

Probably not in 2025. 2024? Maybe.

As mentioned the only people privy to the collective or any relevant NIL numbers are certain people in the collective-sphere, big money boosters operating independently, and purportedly at the schools and NCAA but last I saw the clearinghouse was laughably behind and/or the NIL amounts are a hundredth of the floated numbers. I’d guess some schools have more, some less, and on field results will vary wildly.

 

[Some guy]

I don’t know.

Probably not in 2025. 2024? Maybe.

As mentioned the only people privy to the collective or any relevant NIL numbers are certain people in the collective-sphere, big money boosters operating independently, and purportedly at the schools and NCAA but last I saw the clearinghouse was laughably behind and/or the NIL amounts are a hundredth of the floated numbers. I’d guess some schools have more, some less, and on field results will vary wildly.

If you don’t think Indiana has upped their football money significantly you’re dreaming

 

[PMWinSTP]

Their roster I’ve seen reports of it being a top 15 highest paid in college football

Maybe I’ve seen wrong

Sort of moving the goal posts here from his point, which is that on paper the talent level between the two programs is very close.

 

[Pompous Elitist]

If you don’t think Indiana has upped their football money significantly you’re dreaming

Ok, give me a number and source

Yes, it’s probably way up but to what? And if so why was their transfer class rated in the 20s? That suggests on balance the big boys didn’t want the same players as much, or the raters are way off. Both could be true.

 

[West Fargo Gopher Fan]

Ok, give me a number and source

Yes, it’s probably way up but to what? And if so why was their transfer class rated in the 20s? That suggests on balance the big boys didn’t want the same players as much, or the raters are way off. Both could be true.

I can tell you their quarterback alone makes $2.6 Million this year.

https://www.on3.com/nil/rankings/player/college/football/?team-key=8776

A simple Google search revealed Mark Cuban was a big donor to the program. He wouldn't say how much he donated but said "Its a big number:.