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

[Lifeleadership]

New Running Back Coach, New WR Coach, New DL Coach, New Special Teams Coach, Add Limegrover to Offensive Line Coaches, Add Schula as an offensive assistant, retain both of our coordinators. To me, these are some signifcant changes that needed to be made. Yes, we return a good amount of quality players, yes we have some great additions from the portal and a few freshmen that will be able to help us immediately. But I think the changes on the coaching staff might be a huge difference maker for the Gophers in 2026.

 

[GooningGopher]

I suppose maybe

But I still put those two games at 25% to beat Iowa and 75% to beat Wisconsin

That’s 6.25%

Iowa will not be good this year. They returning 6 total starters and have not named a starting qb

 

[Some guy]

Iowa will not be good this year. They returning 6 total starters and have not named a starting qb

Iowa not being good > Wisconsin by a significant margin

 

[MonikerSchmoniker45]

If the O- line figures it out I really think 9 wins is the floor.

 

[mngg11]

New Running Back Coach, New WR Coach, New DL Coach, New Special Teams Coach, Add Limegrover to Offensive Line Coaches, Add Schula as an offensive assistant, retain both of our coordinators. To me, these are some signifcant changes that needed to be made. Yes, we return a good amount of quality players, yes we have some great additions from the portal and a few freshmen that will be able to help us immediately. But I think the changes on the coaching staff might be a huge difference maker for the Gophers in 2026.

I have a slight concern that the new coaching additions will be taken an adjustment come real games and we could see a regression in some of those positions, at least in the first quarter to third of the season. WR, OL, and special teams can't really get much worse, but a step back with the D line in particular would suck.

 

[BTChamp]

It's an extra lazy article because the writer doesn't even have an original thought. It's all based on the CBS Sports piece published earlier. One of use could write the same article based on Sporting News' coverage of CBS Sports' predictions.

According to Sporting News’ article, which itself was based on the 2026 game picks and win-loss predictions from CBS Sports analyst Brad Crawford, Minnesota is projected to finish with a pedestrian 6-6 overall record and a 4-5 mark in conference play. Sporting News reports that CBS Sports predicts Minnesota to take care of business when favored.

^ There. I just did the same thing the Sporting News writer did.

Put it out there and get paid. These idiots are getting money for it, you should too. Then you can buy the beer when the Gophs make the playoffs.

 

[TwistingMyMelon]

Iowa will not be good this year. They returning 6 total starters and have not named a starting qb

But they've had horrible QBs before (remember Deacon Hill?) and still had a good season. We won't know until the season gets going.

 

[Some guy]

But they've had horrible QBs before (remember Deacon Hill?) and still had a good season. We won't know until the season gets going.

I have a hard time seeing Iowa being worse than an annoying as hell 6-6 even if deacon hill comes back for an extra season.

 

[Tech Machine]

Back in the day, I’m older than sh@t, this stuff wasn’t written until late August or early September. Of course now we are playing games by then, but still, just need something to write about, so just go make it up! Sorry, been golfing and drinking.

 

[GooningGopher]

But they've had horrible QBs before (remember Deacon Hill?) and still had a good season. We won't know until the season gets going.

I guess it is a new era with the transfer portal, but I would think the larger issue would be the lack or returning productivity. They also bring back no one on special teams (coordinator took some players with him when he took a position at Michigan State).


We will see, but I like the under of the projected 6.5 win total.