Non-Conference Scheduling

[Ope3]

Moving on from the Cyclones...I'd like to see a Home and Home against Navy and/or Army.

I think the Gophers were locked in against Navy but it was sunk somehow due to the Middies joining a conference.

 

[Scottsdale Gopher]

They are the team that we've played the most outside of the B1G conference at 23 games. MN is 21-1-1 in those games and last playing in 2009.

Next:
Pittsburgh 12
Missouri 9

I'd like to see some sort of P4 non-conference rotating system where you play teams based on previous season finish.

B1G1 vs SEC1 and B12 1 vs ACC1
ACC2 vs B1G2 and SEC2 vs B12 2
SEC3 vs ACC3 and B1G3 vs B12 3
and so on...
BIG 17 and ACC 17 will play each other. B1G 18 will find any opponent.

Create auto qualifiers to 24 team playoff with some at-large.

That's true, but they've only played four times in the last 100 years and one of those was the 2009 bowl game. I'm sure the Gophers have played several non-conference opponents more than thrice in the last 100 years.

I love the idea of creating non-conference games based on the previous year's finish. It would create bowl-like matchups that I think all fans would like to see more frequently.

 

[tjgopher]

They are the team that we've played the most outside of the B1G conference at 23 games. MN is 21-1-1 in those games and last playing in 2009.

According to Gopher sports webpage, we've actually played Iowa State 26 times with a 22-3-1 record.

Next:
Pittsburgh 12
Missouri 9

I realize you meant P4 opponents here.

But for the heck of it I spent wasted time looking through the opponents. (Just for something interesting to see, not to suggest possible future opponents LOL)

By my count (may have missed something), here are the most played non-conference series (FBS bolded):
Iowa State 26 times
North Dakota 19 times (last played 51 years ago)
Grinnell 16 times (last played 100 years ago)
Pittsburgh 12 times
South Dakota 11times
Ohio 10 times
Carleton 10 times (last played 121 years ago)
Missouri 9 times
North Dakota State 9 times

 

[GophEnEspaña]

Moving on from the Cyclones...I'd like to see a Home and Home against Navy and/or Army.

I think the Gophers were locked in against Navy but it was sunk somehow due to the Middies joining a conference.

Agreed, but I doubt that happens now with B1G and SEC shuffling their non-con's to avoid having high-risk, low-reward games with non power teams. For example, I heard today that NDSU only has one power 4 game in the next several years lined up, nobody wants to schedule them.

 

[Zeppelin Gopher]

I think the Gophers were locked in against Navy but it was sunk somehow due to the Middies joining a conference.

I don't recall that whatsoever, and am a pretty big future scheduling nerd haha.

We did have our BYU home & home wiped out by COVID unfortunately.

 

[caliGopher]

Yesterday served a purpose.

• It allowed 76 players game action
• It allowed the coaches to evaluate all those players
• It was family weekend and allowed people to bring young fans to the game for a reasonable price.
• It show cased the band and spirit squads to numerous HS kids providing them a great opportunity to be on the field

These experiences all offer opportunities and engage the state in Gopher football. Seeing your team win 66-0 doesn’t hurt.

I think you can get all of this, and still schedule an FCS team that wouldn't have been blown out by the decimiated VaTech team we played in the Mayo Bowl.....

We don't have to play NDSU, but the chance to earn a win you don't have to work to hard for lies in between NDSU and St. Sebastian's School for the Blind. We're scraping the bottom of the barrel in the FCS the next two seasons as well.

 

[Ope3]

I don't recall that whatsoever, and am a pretty big future scheduling nerd haha.

We did have our BYU home & home wiped out by COVID unfortunately.

Looking at the Google, it was scheduled for 2019 & 2020 but nixed way back in 2012 as Navy needed to make room for entering the Big East (now the AAC).

Navy pushes back series vs. Marshall, cancels series vs. Minnesota

Navy has pushed back a football series with Marshall and canceled a series with Minnesota.

fbschedules.com

 

[highwayman]

If the money is right, "never" could be "occasionally", like once or twice a decade.

The Cyclones went Dublin this year. I presume the dough made it worth their while.

Iowa State has played both the Gophers and Hawkeyes as recently as 1997.

1997 Football Schedule - Iowa State Athletics

The official 1997 Football schedule for the Iowa State Cyclones

cyclones.com

Hypothetically, in future FBS Playoff formats, it might behoove Iowa St to schedule multiple Big 10 opponents to bolster their Strength of Schedule

nope

 

[MaxyJR1]

I think you can get all of this, and still schedule an FCS team that wouldn't have been blown out by the decimiated VaTech team we played in the Mayo Bowl.....

We don't have to play NDSU, but the chance to earn a win you don't have to work to hard for lies in between NDSU and St. Sebastian's School for the Blind. We're scraping the bottom of the barrel in the FCS the next two seasons as well.

It takes 2 to dance.

 

[disco]

According to Gopher sports webpage, we've actually played Iowa State 26 times with a 22-3-1 record.



I realize you meant P4 opponents here.

But for the heck of it I spent wasted time looking through the opponents. (Just for something interesting to see, not to suggest possible future opponents LOL)

By my count (may have missed something), here are the most played non-conference series (FBS bolded):
Iowa State 26 times
North Dakota 19 times (last played 51 years ago)
Chicago 18 times (last played 91 years ago)
Grinnell 16 times (last played 100 years ago)
Pittsburgh 12 times
South Dakota 11times
Ohio 10 times
Carleton 10 times (last played 121 years ago)
Missouri 9 times
North Dakota State 9 times

Wouldn't Chicago have been a conference opponent at that time?
How many times did we play Nebraska when they would have been a non-conference opponent? I thought they were the most.

 

[highwayman]

At no point was the word "tradition" used with regards to playing Iowa State. Sporadic 1 or 2 games per decade should be self-explanatory that there was was not even a remote reference.

NEVER replaced by OCCAISIONAL does not equate to "tradition".

NEVER replaced by OCCAISIONAL is just bad spelling.

 

[MaxyJR1]

Wouldn't Chicago have been a conference opponent at that time?
How many times did we play Nebraska when they would have been a non-conference opponent? I thought they were the most.

13 Conference and 51 as non conference. Played then nearly every year up until 1950 and then about 4 times each decade to 1990.

 

[highwayman]

Since the Trice tragedies in the 1920s, they did play 3 regular season games from 1989-1997. So, it has been put aside multiple times since it occurred.

Playing again would provide a good opportunity to shed light on the incident, as it did in 1989. Back then as a student, I read an article about it in the Minnesota Daily.

Your obsession has now degraded to the ridiculous. I understand you know how to read.

I'll place a $100 bet right here that Minnesota will not ever play a regular season game against ISU again unless they become members of the B1G or Iowa leaves.

That way someone is putting up the right "money".

 

[Crosby]

Agreed, but I doubt that happens now with B1G and SEC shuffling their non-con's to avoid having high-risk, low-reward games with non power teams. For example, I heard today that NDSU only has one power 4 game in the next several years lined up, nobody wants to schedule them.

I agree with this. I'd like to see those opponents and they would probably draw well. But there is not much upside for the Gophers. You should win, but... these kinds of teams are more likely to bite you in the butt than a MAC team or something. As much as I'd like to see them, I'll take a pass on the service academies and NDSU. Air Force was a scary opponent in the first game at TCF.

 

[tjgopher]

Wouldn't Chicago have been a conference opponent at that time?
How many times did we play Nebraska when they would have been a non-conference opponent? I thought they were the most.

Yes, good point. Chicago would have been a B1G game.

Nebraska was easily the most-played non-conference rival and Washington (17 games) was up there, too. Both now Big Ten teams.

 

[Ope3]

Your obsession has now degraded to the ridiculous. I understand you know how to read.

I'll place a $100 bet right here that Minnesota will not ever play a regular season game against ISU again unless they become members of the B1G or Iowa leaves.

That way someone is putting up the right "money".

You are misreading it as an "obsession" as opposed me just replying to posts as asked & answered. That's how it works here.

As for a bet, I have never said it was likely, just that it should happen every once in a while.

Additionally, there are several other possibilities besides Iowa St joining the Big 10 or Iowa leaving...such as a merger with the SEC and/or some super conference being formed or football completely breaking off with the NCAA, which is highly likely or even probable by 2040.

 

[caliGopher]

It takes 2 to dance.

and a competent AD

 

[salzie]

Yeah, there is no upside to playing NDSU or SDSU

If you beat them, it's no big deal
if they beat you, you hear about it for weeks. It also promotes the brand here in the metro area and, while I don't think we should be worried about NDSU out recruiting us, could impact PWO players

And while I think we'd beat NDSU more often than not, they could definitely pull off the upset.

NDSU really needs to join FBS, but regionally they don't make sense for a lot of schools and travel budgets and other issues arise, but I think they should.

 

[swede2]

I agree with this. I'd like to see those opponents and they would probably draw well. But there is not much upside for the Gophers. You should win, but... these kinds of teams are more likely to bite you in the butt than a MAC team or something. As much as I'd like to see them, I'll take a pass on the service academies and NDSU. Air Force was a scary opponent in the first game at TCF.

My preference is for interesting football. I turned off NWSt at the quarterand turned on the big Iowa matchup. I would prefer no FCS but if FCS is going to be scheduled, by far the most interesting matchups would be xDSU followed by UxD obviously because of regional interest and program strength. It would make for a great game day atmosphere and put butts in the seats.

I don't think the U, at this point in time, should be afraid to take on a strong FCS team. The reality is that we are a better program than days past when a victory over a Dakota school was no sure thing and not much better than an even bet. At the same time, the portal is savaging even the strongest FCS programs. I think that last truly dominate FCS team will have been the '23 SDSU Jackrabbits and it will be next to impossible for these schools to keep the talent necessary to challenge a solid B1G team, even for one Saturday.

But as I've mentioned before, my preference is for better football among peer institutions but until there's an avulsion of B1G/SEC + top ACC Big 12 teams into a separate division with an NFL style format, that probably isn't going to happen.

 

[MaxyJR1]

My preference is for interesting football. I turned off NWSt at the quarterand turned on the big Iowa matchup. I would prefer no FCS but if FCS is going to be scheduled, by far the most interesting matchups would be xDSU followed by UxD obviously because of regional interest and program strength. It would make for a great game day atmosphere and put butts in the seats.

I don't think the U, at this point in time, should be afraid to take on a strong FCS team. The reality is that we are a better program than days past when a victory over a Dakota school was no sure thing and not much better than an even bet. At the same time, the portal is savaging even the strongest FCS programs. I think that last truly dominate FCS team will have been the '23 SDSU Jackrabbits and it will be next to impossible for these schools to keep the talent necessary to challenge a solid B1G team, even for one Saturday.

But as I've mentioned before, my preference is for better football among peer institutions but until there's an avulsion of B1G/SEC + top ACC Big 12 teams into a separate division with an NFL style format, that probably isn't going to happen.

It should be FBS vs FBS, FCS vs FCS, D2 vs D2, D3 vs D3, and NAIA vs NAIA.

 

[RodentRampage]

The game easily could have been well over 100 points if we hadn't been playing 2nd and 3rd string players. It's a great opportunity to give some of these players a chance to play. I looked at the Media Guide: https://gophersports.com/documents/2025/8/18/2025_FB_MediaGuide_forWeb.pdf

And it was the most points scored since a 66-10 win over Murray State in 2001 (Another game where we were scrambling for a replacement opponent). The last time we scored more than 66 was in 1937, when the Gophers beat NDSU 69-7. It was the largest margin of victory since a 67-0 win over Iowa in 1916. (The week before that game, the Gophers beat South Dakota 81-0.

Sure, not a strong opponent, but there weren't a lot of mistakes. Yardage 484 to 42. Maybe a game against Saint Thomas if they're looking for another lower-level appointment.

 

[Some guy]

Yeah, there is no upside to playing NDSU or SDSU

If you beat them, it's no big deal
if they beat you, you hear about it for decades. If you beat them close you hear about it for years. It also promotes the brand here in the metro area and, while I don't think we should be worried about NDSU out recruiting us, could impact PWO players

And while I think we'd beat NDSU more often than not, they could definitely pull off the upset.

NDSU really needs to join FBS, but regionally they don't make sense for a lot of schools and travel budgets and other issues arise, but I think they should.

FIFY

 

[Some guy]

The game easily could have been well over 100 points if we hadn't been playing 2nd and 3rd string players. It's a great opportunity to give some of these players a chance to play. I looked at the Media Guide: https://gophersports.com/documents/2025/8/18/2025_FB_MediaGuide_forWeb.pdf

And it was the most points scored since a 66-10 win over Murray State in 2001 (Another game where we were scrambling for a replacement opponent). The last time we scored more than 66 was in 1937, when the Gophers beat NDSU 69-7. It was the largest margin of victory since a 67-0 win over Iowa in 1916. (The week before that game, the Gophers beat South Dakota 81-0.

Sure, not a strong opponent, but there weren't a lot of mistakes. Yardage 484 to 42. Maybe a game against Saint Thomas if they're looking for another lower-level appointment.

In two years we play lindenwood who just lost by 22 to st Thomas in week 1

 

[disco]

Yeah, there is no upside to playing NDSU or SDSU

If you beat them, it's no big deal
if they beat you, you hear about it for weeks. It also promotes the brand here in the metro area and, while I don't think we should be worried about NDSU out recruiting us, could impact PWO players

And while I think we'd beat NDSU more often than not, they could definitely pull off the upset.

NDSU really needs to join FBS, but regionally they don't make sense for a lot of schools and travel budgets and other issues arise, but I think they should.

PWO's not really a thing anymore with expanded rosters and scholarships I believe.

The NDSU to FBS discussion has gone on for years. There's no home for the xDSU's and UxD's due to geographic isolation.

 

[RodentRampage]

In two years we play lindenwood who just lost by 22 to st Thomas in week 1

I can't imagine Lindenwood bringing in any visiting fans. St. Thomas would at least be interesting. It would be a real mismatch, but you'd have some St. Thomas fans finding their way across the river to watch.

 

[Some guy]

I can't imagine Lindenwood bringing in any visiting fans. St. Thomas would at least be interesting. It would be a real mismatch, but you'd have some St. Thomas fans finding their way across the river to watch.

You wouldn’t. All the st Thomas fans (Me) are already at the game cheering for the gophers

 

[Ope3]

I can't imagine Lindenwood bringing in any visiting fans. St. Thomas would at least be interesting. It would be a real mismatch, but you'd have some St. Thomas fans finding their way across the river to watch.

Aren't both the St Thomas & Minnesota Stadiums on the East side of the Mississippi?

 

[GoldRush]

Aren't both the St Thomas & Minnesota Stadiums on the East side of the Mississippi?

They like to park on West Bank.

 

[swede2]

PWO's not really a thing anymore with expanded rosters and scholarships I believe.

The NDSU to FBS discussion has gone on for years. There's no home for the xDSU's and UxD's due to geographic isolation.

There are somewhat reliable sources of xDSUs to MWC, with the move funded by MWC exit fees but MWC ended up paying significant sums to AF and UNLV to stay put.

 

[Some guy]

There are somewhat reliable sources of xDSUs to MWC, with the move funded by MWC exit fees but MWC ended up paying significant sums to AF and UNLV to stay put.

To me, the move just doesn’t make sense for the MWC….they split their pie two more ways. They have to compete with good programs. To gain what?