Sporting News: Minnesota football projected for pedestrian finish in 2026 Big Ten predictions

[Gopherchase]

Assuming bowl results remained the same (big assumption) if we flipped the outcome of the Iowa game the last five years. Iowa would have won 8,7,11,7, and 9 games the last five years. Minnesota 9,9,5 (the year we actually won),10, and 10. Just trying to illustrate that the two programs are not far apart outside of head to head results, turn that part around and I think we can say we’ve reached a pretty similar level as them as a program, at least what that program is over the second half of Ferentz’s tenure.

All of us should have PTSD from the last 6 quarters we have played against Iowa, for one. Secondly, if you look at the bowl games say starting in 2016 through last year. It’s an entirely different class than to what we have gone. Still have some work to do.

 

[Some guy]

Is uncertainty at QB something new for Iowa?

Last year they brought in a guy who had started in like 40 FCS wins.
So no, but yes compared to last year

 

[TwistingMyMelon]

Assuming bowl results remained the same (big assumption) if we flipped the outcome of the Iowa game the last five years. Iowa would have won 8,7,11,7, and 9 games the last five years. Minnesota 9,9,5 (the year we actually won),10, and 10. Just trying to illustrate that the two programs are not far apart outside of head to head results, turn that part around and I think we can say we’ve reached a pretty similar level as them as a program, at least what that program is over the second half of Ferentz’s tenure.

Good post. Also, the fact that the last two meetings have been blowouts perhaps has overshadowed the fact that most of those losses in recent history have been close games. It's also fascinating that three of the last four Gopher wins have been accomplished by losing teams (two 3-9 teams in 2010, 2011 and a 5-7 regular season team in 2023).

 

[btowngopher]

Assuming bowl results remained the same (big assumption) if we flipped the outcome of the Iowa game the last five years. Iowa would have won 8,7,11,7, and 9 games the last five years. Minnesota 9,9,5 (the year we actually won),10, and 10. Just trying to illustrate that the two programs are not far apart outside of head to head results, turn that part around and I think we can say we’ve reached a pretty similar level as them as a program, at least what that program is over the second half of Ferentz’s tenure.

Actually that 11 win season for Iowa would have been 7 since they vacated four wins that year.

 

[btowngopher]

All of us should have PTSD from the last 6 quarters we have played against Iowa, for one. Secondly, if you look at the bowl games say starting in 2016 through last year. It’s an entirely different class than to what we have gone. Still have some work to do.

True, but losing to them has been a big part of those bowl selections.

 

[gopherbadgerman]

Assuming bowl results remained the same (big assumption) if we flipped the outcome of the Iowa game the last five years. Iowa would have won 8,7,11,7, and 9 games the last five years. Minnesota 9,9,5 (the year we actually won),10, and 10. Just trying to illustrate that the two programs are not far apart outside of head to head results, turn that part around and I think we can say we’ve reached a pretty similar level as them as a program, at least what that program is over the second half of Ferentz’s tenure.

If MN had beat Iowa 4 of the last 5 years we most likely would have played better teams in bowls too…

 

[btowngopher]

If MN had beat Iowa 4 of the last 5 years we most likely would have played better teams in bowls too…

My first sentence was that it was a big assumption that the bowl results would be the same…But even if they won all the bowls and we lost all of ours we’d still have an equal record 2 of the years and a better record one of the years.

 

[caliGopher]

My first sentence was that it was a big assumption that the bowl results would be the same…But even if they won all the bowls and we lost all of ours we’d still have an equal record 2 of the years and a better record one of the years.

We've played Iowa 2x in the new B1G reality. We looked really good in the second quarter of the 2024 game, but haven't been seen since Max led the team into the locker room at half-time of that game.

Last year, we never even got off the bus.

We're 1-9 against Iowa under PJ. A lot of those have been close games, and many were lost because of poor coaching by PJ and staff. The Last two years have been brutal beatdowns, one in the second half, and one from the opening kick until the final whistle. If PJ could coach against Iowa, we coulda/shoulda/woulda made the B1G championship game in 2019 and possibly one to two other seasons. Temu Trestle < Captain Kirk.