Official 2026 Roster Movement Thread - Who's In and Who's Out?

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LeftofThaDial said:
Kaba would put us at 50 new players next year.
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If the Gophers continue to take large HS classes, it seems likely this amount of turnover will be relatively common. I'm not saying that's the wrong way to run the program, but I would think it is difficult to maintain the culture PJ wants if half the roster turns over every season. Presumably that's why the portal focus has been on multi-year players.

I don't suppose anyone has kept track of annual roster churn since PJ started? :unsure:
 

Scottsdale Gopher said:
If the Gophers continue to take large HS classes, it seems likely this amount of turnover will be relatively common. I'm not saying that's the wrong way to run the program, but I would think it is difficult to maintain the culture PJ wants if half the roster turns over every season. Presumably that's why the portal focus has been on multi-year players.

I don't suppose anyone has kept track of annual roster churn since PJ started? :unsure:
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Off the top guess...this year is the most churn (50 new guys? neighborhood) but the past two years would have been in the neighborhood of 40 plus different guys.
The rules keep changing.
 

Scottsdale Gopher said:
If the Gophers continue to take large HS classes, it seems likely this amount of turnover will be relatively common. I'm not saying that's the wrong way to run the program, but I would think it is difficult to maintain the culture PJ wants if half the roster turns over every season. Presumably that's why the portal focus has been on multi-year players.

I don't suppose anyone has kept track of annual roster churn since PJ started? :unsure:
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Did a quick look at the current number of new faces Big Ten teams have coming in right now.....when the portal window closes, if I am motivated enough, I will look at number of recruits, number of portal additions, and number of portal departures but not really worth doing that until the dust settles because these numbers will keep changing over the next 10 days or so. But as of right now (1/12 9:00 am)

Combined number of incoming recruits and portal additions:
Nebraska - 23
Oregon - 23
Maryland - 24
Iowa - 29
Michigan - 31
Northwestern - 32
Rutgers - 32
Washington - 32
Ohio State - 34
Indiana - 35
Wisconsin - 39
Michigan State - 41
USC - 41
Purdue - 42
Illinois - 43
Penn State - 45
Minnesota - 50
UCLA - 52

So as it stands today we are on the higher end in terms of the number of new faces for 2026. Not sure what if anything can really be drawn from that. Will be interesting to see what the final numbers look like because good chance they will change a lot as players continue to find new homes.
 

Bob_Loblaw said:
I don't know I missed the discussion about him, but the RB from Elon was their primary KR/PR.
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And we’ve got a new special teams coach. The one who torched the Gophs with a KO return for a touchdown in the Rate Bowl. Two fold benefit: we might get better at KO returns, and our KO team can practice against somebody with speed and moves.
 


MNVCGUY said:
Did a quick look at the current number of new faces Big Ten teams have coming in right now.....when the portal window closes, if I am motivated enough, I will look at number of recruits, number of portal additions, and number of portal departures but not really worth doing that until the dust settles because these numbers will keep changing over the next 10 days or so. But as of right now (1/12 9:00 am)

Combined number of incoming recruits and portal additions:
Nebraska - 23
Oregon - 23
Maryland - 24
Iowa - 29
Michigan - 31
Northwestern - 32
Rutgers - 32
Washington - 32
Ohio State - 34
Indiana - 35
Wisconsin - 39
Michigan State - 41
USC - 41
Purdue - 42
Illinois - 43
Penn State - 45
Minnesota - 50
UCLA - 52

So as it stands today we are on the higher end in terms of the number of new faces for 2026. Not sure what if anything can really be drawn from that. Will be interesting to see what the final numbers look like because good chance they will change a lot as players continue to find new homes.
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I continue to think that PJ is cleaning house a bit this year (though, in fairness, we did have a lot off guys move on because of eligibility this past season). For developmental programs in the B1G, I think the new ethic is “up or out.” If you’ve not developed much after two years, and aren’t contributing much (at least on STs or the scout team), you’ll be politely shown the door.
 

MNVCGUY said:
Did a quick look at the current number of new faces Big Ten teams have coming in right now.....when the portal window closes, if I am motivated enough, I will look at number of recruits, number of portal additions, and number of portal departures but not really worth doing that until the dust settles because these numbers will keep changing over the next 10 days or so. But as of right now (1/12 9:00 am)

Combined number of incoming recruits and portal additions:
Nebraska - 23
Oregon - 23
Maryland - 24
Iowa - 29
Michigan - 31
Northwestern - 32
Rutgers - 32
Washington - 32
Ohio State - 34
Indiana - 35
Wisconsin - 39
Michigan State - 41
USC - 41
Purdue - 42
Illinois - 43
Penn State - 45
Minnesota - 50
UCLA - 52

So as it stands today we are on the higher end in terms of the number of new faces for 2026. Not sure what if anything can really be drawn from that. Will be interesting to see what the final numbers look like because good chance they will change a lot as players continue to find new homes.
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With 50 new players this year, I think Fleck can drop the ‘We’re a developmental program’ bit.
 

Gophergrandpa said:
I continue to think that PJ is cleaning house a bit this year (though, in fairness, we did have a lot off guys move on because of eligibility this past season). For developmental programs in the B1G, I think the new ethic is “up or out.” If you’ve not developed much after two years, and aren’t contributing much (at least on STs or the scout team), you’ll be politely shown the door.
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We’re thinking nearly the same.
 




WAGopher said:
With 50 new players this year, I think Fleck can drop the ‘We’re a developmental program’ bit.
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Still bringing in 31 true freshman which is on the higher end but not by a ton compared to other teams in the conference.

If you are not in a position to go buy the top talent year in and year out you are still a developmental program, but have to adjust with the times and guessing in general teams will not be as patient with players who don't seem likely to become contributors after a couple years in their system.
 


Gophergrandpa said:
That's about what Deion did at Colorado several years ago, in his initial season. Now it's becoming the norm ... for teams that want to speed up the identity change.
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Well with the increased roster sizes it’s more normal this year. We only have a few more transferring out compared to last year and the year before, but we have more available spots to fill. I believe some of the churn is due to shedding most of the walk ons as well.
 
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Gophergrandpa said:
We’re just letting other schools do some of the development for us … 😏
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I think that's the way it's going to be for most programs going forward, especially as informal tiers are established. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of 4-star players (especially QBs) enroll to play at programs perceived to be lower in the pecking order in order to hit the field right away as freshmen. If and when the perform well, they move up to programs perceived to be more prestigious. Just my take and I could be completely wrong.

I am also wondering about whether top-tier players will stay in school longer if they are getting huge NIL deals. If you are a QB who will be a Day 2 or Day 3 pick and are getting upwards of $1 MM to play college ball, why roll the dice and go into the draft? I think it's going to take a couple of years for everything to shake out. Clearly a brand new world.
 


50PoundHead said:
Maybe it's just me, but I always laugh when I see a kid who grew up in the suburbs wearing a cowboy hat. Probably a lot of ropin' and brandin' out in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District #196.
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pretty sure that’s and NDSU thing, not the kid


Also punters and kickers are strange as hell usually
 






USAF said:
Couldn't understand the underutilization of Coleman. Hated seeing him leave. Dread seeing him shine for Bucky.
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Luckily they’ve been about as bad as us with transfer WRs it seems.
 

USAF said:
Couldn't understand the underutilization of Coleman. Hated seeing him leave. Dread seeing him shine for Bucky.
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I'm not too worried. Failed at Nebraska and failed here. I wish him the best though. He seems like a quality human being.
 


USAF said:
Couldn't understand the underutilization of Coleman. Hated seeing him leave. Dread seeing him shine for Bucky.
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In addition to the games he played, how many practices did you watch when he was on the team? Not being a smart-ass, just curious. I watched all the games, and realistically, 5-6 practices. The “underutilization” was fully understandable, imho. Wisconsin will need to improve their passing attack markedly, which of course is possible. Unless the venue change and other skills, habits, also change for MC, shine chances - while non-zero - I have to believe are very low.
 

boozer said:
Coleman to Bucky

View attachment 41509
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Low risk, high reward move for Wisconsin. Coleman has the physical tools that will guarantee him opportunities as every coaching staff will think they can fix him and tap into those abilities. If they can, they get a great player for a pretty small investment and if they can't he just goes back into the portal and someone else tries to fix him the following season.
 

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