Neal: This smells like an eight-win Gophers team, but it's not going to be easy.

[Iceland12]

And if the Illinois game was week 14 for the division title and we lost on the road to a top 15 team we probably would be even more disappointed but also more impressed with the team. It’s a weird thing to think about.

"Yeah but..." can be used for almost every year.

 

[Some guy]

"Yeah but..." can be used for almost every year.

Who said yeah but?

 

[Otis]

I think it would take injuries to key players for Illinois to collapse (similar to Mo, CrAB, Tanner, etc.).

If Devito or Brown were hurt, they would be toast for that game.

Jeff Gillooly spotted in Illinois.

 

[tjgopher]

So both 2014 and 2016 had the thing gopher for it that the division was in play going into the last week (at least in my memory)

Big Ten title game appearance was not in play in 2016 in that last game vs. Wis. We could have tied for division title with an upset win over #5 Wisconsin, but would have lost all tiebreakers. We were eliminated from title game contention. But, yes, in 2014 and 2019, if we beat Wisconsin, we go to Indy.

 

[swingman]

Agreed.
9-3 or even 8-4 would make this the best four year stretch since 68-71 for the team.

9-3 this year would likely be the 5th best season since 1990
8-4 would be the 6th best season since 1990 in my opinion.

1) 2019 - 11-2 (one win from division title but top 10 in nation final)
2) 2003 - 10-3 (one win from conf title)
3) 1999 - 8-4 (one win from conf title)
4) 2016 - 9-4 (one win from division title)

9-3 - 2022

2014 - 8-5 (one win from division title if I remember correctly, but 5 losses)

8-4 - 2022

9-4 - 2021 (didn’t control own destiny a long portion of season)

2013 was an 8-4 regular season...

team was top 25 in coaches poll two weeks...received votes in AP poll 7 weeks

beat Nebraska which was ranked #21 at time...NE finished 5-3 in Big...
beat PSU which finished 4-4 in Big...
beat IN (3-5; 5-7)
beat NW (1-7; 5-7)
beat David Fales led Fresno team coming off an 11-2 year (finished 6-6)
beat UNLV (7-6; went to Heart of Dallas Bowl), NMSU (2-10), WIU (4-8)

lost to MSU (13-1 Big Ten Champs; Rose Bowl Champs; #3 in Nation)
lost to WI (6-2 in Big; 9-4; #22 in Nation)
lost to Iowa (5-3; 8-5)
lost to MI in AA (ranked #17 at time we played but finished 3-5; 7-6)

Hageman and Vereen drafted high
Cockran 2nd team all Big
Murray, Hill, Campion, Epping, Bak, Mortell HM

lost to Syracuse in Houston Bowl (7-6; 4-4)

 

[Some guy]

2013 was an 8-4 regular season...

team was top 25 in coaches poll two weeks...received votes in AP poll 7 weeks

beat Nebraska which was ranked #21 at time...NE finished 5-3 in Big...
beat PSU which finished 4-4 in Big...
beat IN (3-5; 5-7)
beat NW (1-7; 5-7)
beat David Fales led Fresno team coming off an 11-2 year (finished 6-6)
beat UNLV (7-6; went to Heart of Dallas Bowl), NMSU (2-10), WIU (4-8)

lost to MSU (13-1 Big Ten Champs; Rose Bowl Champs; #3 in Nation)
lost to WI (6-2 in Big; 9-4; #22 in Nation)
lost to Iowa (5-3; 8-5)
lost to MI in AA (ranked #17 at time we played but finished 3-5; 7-6)

Hageman and Vereen drafted high
Cockran 2nd team all Big
Murray, Hill, Campion, Epping, Bak, Mortell HM

lost to Syracuse in Houston Bowl (7-6; 4-4)

Yeah.

 

[Some guy]

Big Ten title game appearance was not in play in 2016 in that last game vs. Wis. We could have tied for division title with an upset win over #5 Wisconsin, but would have lost all tiebreakers. We were eliminated from title game contention. But, yes, in 2014 and 2019, if we beat Wisconsin, we go to Indy.

Got it. I should flip flop my 14 and 16 if that is the case