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Gopher 2020 schedule overview Where to watch Gopher football Last time we met History of Row the Boat Offensive breakdown Defensive breakdown College GameDay A different, but real season Bateman returns Gopher year in review Games from a fan’s perspective
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A look at the Gophers’ 2020 schedule The Gophers face a week-one test against No. 18 Michigan in a shortened 2020 season. By Matthew Kennedy mkennedy@mndaily.com
WEEK 1: vs. No. 18 Michigan
Arguably the toughest test on the Gophers’ schedule arrives first. Michigan has plenty of experience on both sides of the ball. Last season, the Wolverines defense finished 11th in the nation and allowed just 21 points per game to opposing offenses. They return defensive ends Kwity Paye and Aidan Hutchinson who combined for 10 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss and also return star safeties Daxton Hill and Brad Hawkins. Another reason why this game could prove troublesome for the Gophers is the Wolverines running back depth. As a freshman, Zach Charbonnet racked up 726 yards and 11 touchdowns on 4.9 yards per carry. Alongside Charbonnet, proven rushers Hassan Haskins and Chris Evans will return to the fold for the Wolverines. Yet a question mark for Michigan going into the season is the quarterback position. Michigan has had adept defenses and talent on the team, but the team’s quarterback play has been its Achilles’ heel since Jim Harbaugh took the head coaching job. Junior Joe Milton is a dual-threat quarterback who has earned the trust of Harbaugh and has earned high praise in training camp, inadvertently making Dylan McCaffrey opt out and enter the transfer portal. Milton has a cannon of an arm and can scramble, but his accuracy needs work. Keeping Milton uncomfortable and stopping the Wolverines’ rushing attack will be key to a Gophers win against a formidable Michigan team.
WEEK 2: @ Maryland
Of any Big Ten team, Maryland has more question marks on the team than answers currently. Maryland’s leading rushers from last season Javon Leake
and Anthony McFarland are gone, and the Terrapins still haven’t decided which former four-star recruit will lead its offense: Taulia Tagovailoa — the brother of former Alabama star Tua Tagovailoa — or redshirt freshman Lance LeGendre. Another big issue for Maryland is on the defensive front where the team was abysmal in 2019; the Terrapins’ defense was ranked second to last in the Big Ten last season. Expect the Gophers to pounce on this leaky defense and shut down the Terrapins offense, playing against a team without a clear identity.
WEEK 3: @ Illinois
Expect Josh Imatorbhebhe, a senior wide receiver and a 2019 All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2019, to give Gophers’ cornerback Coney Durr a challenge in this game. In his standout 2019 season, Imatorbhebhe finished the year with 634 yards and nine touchdowns. Without him, Illinois would not have upset Wisconsin last year, as Imatorbhebhe hauled in a key touchdown late in the contest. If the Gophers can stop the Illinis’ passing attack, Minnesota should have no problem in Champagne. Alongside Durr in the secondary, the Gophers return safety Jordan Howden and cornerback Benjamin StJuste, all key defenders who had plenty of experience in 2019. In 2019, Illinois had one of the worst rush defenses in the country and gave up 211 yards to Gophers’ running back Rodney Smith in a 40-17 blowout last season. Despite returning a star receiver in Imatorbhebhe, Minnesota is the clear favorite in this matchup.
WEEK 4: vs. Iowa
The Gophers will play for Floyd of Rosedale in a favorable location at TCF Bank Stadium, as opposed to last season’s matchup in Iowa City. The Gophers are 3-3 playing the Hawkeyes in Minneapolis compared to 0-4 on the road since 2010. Iowa’s defensive front from last year that bottled up the Gophers’ rushing attack has lost key pieces to the NFL Draft, only returning defensive end Chauncey Golston. Without those pieces on the defensive line,
expect Gophers’ running back Mohamed Ibrahim to have a better day running behind an experienced offensive line, even if Golston is the best returning edge rusher in the Big Ten West Division. Iowa also lost three starters in its secondary and will be starting sophomore quarterback Spencer Petras who could rise or fold in his first career start against a ranked rival team.
in 2018 — turnovers could be another key to victory. The Badgers’ starting quarterback Jack Coan is out for the season with a foot injury, putting redshirt freshman Graham Mertz into a starting role. A turnover could be the difference in an evenly matched contest, so look for the Gophers to try and force younger Wisconsin players to make mistakes.
WEEK 5: vs. Purdue
WEEK 7: vs. Northwestern
Trap game? Purdue has a powerful passing attack that could surprise Minnesota if its secondary isn’t fully awake. The Boilermakers led the Big Ten last year in passing offense and was No. 12 in the nation, averaging 310 passing yards per game. Slot wide receiver Rondale Moore will be a pesky player in this game — the only receiver that will catch as many headlines as Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman is Moore, who’s shifty and has tremendous speed. Another player difficult to handle in pass coverage will be sophomore receiver David Bell who was the 2019 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. If the Gophers’ secondary can prevent Moore and Bell from wreaking havoc, Minnesota should be able to handle a Boilermakers team that allowed a whopping 30.6 points per game last year. If the Gophers cannot contain Purdue’s elite pass catchers, it will be in a shootout, which could go either way. But with more offensive weapons — particularly in the run game – the Gophers would be favored.
WEEK 6: @ No. 14 Wisconsin While Zach Baun and Chris Orr, who shut down the Gophers’ run in last year’s Border Battle, are gone, 18 of Wisconsin’s 20 leading tacklers return. True freshman Jalen Berger has a chance to become the next Badger great at running back, running behind an always stout offensive line. Minnesota’s front seven will need to play tough to stop the Badgers’ run. Stopping Berger and veteran running back Garrett Groshek from running over the team like Jonathan Taylor did in 2019 is paramount for the Gophers. If Minnesota cannot stop the run — like
Coming off a 3-9 season, Northwestern hired Mike Bajakian as its new offensive coordinator who was previously in the same position at Boston College, leading the Eagles to the best running game in the ACC behind running back AJ Dillon. With Bajakian leading the offense and the Wildcats adding a dual-threat transfer quarterback in Peyton Ramsey, Northwestern’s offense could be much improved in 2020. Still, the Wildcats’ revamped offense might not be enough to walk into TCF Bank Stadium and upset Minnesota. Minnesota’s offense had success against a similar looking Northwestern secondary last season and should have success again. Northwestern also has an inexperienced defensive line, which could open up the run game.
WEEK 8: @ Nebraska
The Cornhuskers boast raw talent but have yet to show for it. This is especially true at the quarterback position in former four-star standout recruit Adrian Martinez who had an up-anddown 2019. He had an inconsistent 2019, completing 59% of his passes with 10 TD and 9 INT. Without Martinez, the Gophers rolled past the Huskers last season in a 34-7 victory. Don’t expect as easy a win for the Gophers this season, particularly if Martinez stays healthy. He’ll have a strong receiver duo in four-star incoming freshman Zavier Betts and sophomore Wan’Dale Robinson who set program records for receptions and receiving yards by a true-freshman. While Nebraska should be an improved team from last season, if the Gophers can avoid mistakes on offense, it should be smooth sailing for Minnesota in Lincoln.
Where to watch Gopher football
Gophers Head Coach PJ Fleck surveys the field at Raymond James Stadium on Wednesday, Jan. 1. (MN Daily file photo) By Tony Liebert aliebert@mndaily.com The Gophers’ football season is nearly upon us. This year’s campaign will obviously look a little different. Not only will the Gophers’ schedule look different – with an eight game conference-only schedule followed by a Big Ten East/West crossover game – there also won’t be fans permitted inside TCF Bank Stadium, making this season’s television schedule an even bigger focus. Dating back to last season, Minnesota will have played five of its six most recent games on national television, as they are set to open the season on ABC against No. 18 Michigan. While some games are yet to announce a time and network, there will be plenty of viewing options for students. Here’s where and how to watch the Gophers this season. For students in an on-campus residence, there will be no
issues accessing the Gophers games with access to UMN-TV, a cable and streaming service that provides 120+ channels of high definition content on multiple mediums – streaming, coaxial cable and mobile applications. The Big Ten Network, ABC, ESPN, FOX and FS1 – where most of the Gophers games will be televised – are all included in the 120 channels offered via UMN-TV. For students living off campus, you still have access to BTN+ – the Big Ten Network’s online streaming platform – if connected to the University’s WiFi network. There are also a number of subscription-based streaming services, including YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu Live TV and FuboTV that would provide access to most or all of the Gophers games. All games can be listened to on the University athletics website, gophersports.com. Here’s the Gophers’ 2020 schedule and where you can look to watch or listen to the team’s games:
Michigan at TCF Bank Stadium Oct. 24 (Saturday) 6:30 p.m.
Televised: BTN Radio: KFAN 100.3 FM
Televised: ABC Radio: KFAN 100.3 FM
Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin Nov. 28 (Saturday) Time: TBA
Maryland in College Park, Maryland Oct. 30 (Friday) 6:30 p.m.
Televised: TBA Radio: TBA
Televised: ESPN Radio: KFAN 100.3 FM
Northwestern at TCF Bank Stadium Dec. 5 (Saturday) Time: TBA
Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Nov. 7 (Saturday) Time: TBA
Televised: TBA Radio: TBA
Televised: TBA Radio: TBA
Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska Dec. 12 (Saturday) Time: TBA
Iowa at TCF Bank Stadium Nov. 13 (Friday) 6:00 p.m.
Televised: TBA Radio: TBA
Televised: FS1 Radio: KFAN 100.3 FM
East Divison opponent: TBA Dec. 19 (Saturday) Time: TBA
Purdue at TCF Bank Stadium Nov. 20 (Friday) Time: TBA
Televised: TBA Radio: TBA
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An opponent breakdown Here is a look at how the Gophers fared in their last matchup with each 2020 conference foe. By Nolan O’Hara nohara@mndaily.com Every game matters for the Gophers’ football team, playing in a shortened, conference-only, 2020 football season. And Minnesota will be quite familiar with its opponents, having played seven of the eight teams last season. Here’s a look at Minnesota’s schedule and how the team fared in its last matchup with each 2020 conference foe. Michigan: Nov. 4, 2017, 10-33 Michigan remains in possession of the Little Brown Jug after an abysmal showing from the Gophers in the last matchup between long-time conference rivals. Minnesota tied the game 7-7 early on a 10-yard scamper from running back Rodney Smith, but nothing went well for the Gophers after the first quarter. Michigan running back Karan Higdon had a field day with the Gophers offense, carrying the ball 16 times for 200 yards and two scores. Michigan has won the last two matchups with Minnesota and holds a 75-25-3 all-time series lead. Maryland: Oct. 26, 2019, 52-10 The Gophers breezed past Maryland in last year’s matchup behind a rushing attack that amassed over 300 yards and found the endzone four times. Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan found receiver Rashod Bateman for the game’s opening score and the Gophers offense rolled from there, having no issues finding the endzone on a 50-point scoring day. Defensively, Minnesota was just as strong, as the Terrapins couldn’t find the endzone until the fourth quarter and were held to 210 total yards of
Gophers wide receiver Rashod Bateman carries the ball at the 2020 Outback Bowl on Wednesday, Jan. 1. The Gophers went on to take the game 31-24 over the Auburn Tigers. (Kamaan Richards / Minnesota Daily) offense. While Minnesota won last year’s contest with ease, Maryland leads the alltime series 3-2. Illinois: Oct. 5, 2019, 40-17 While not indicated by the score, this was a tightly contested matchup in the first half. The Illini secured the game’s first score on an interception off the hand of Morgan that was returned 40 yards for a touchdown. But Morgan bounced back, throwing three touchdowns in the contest and the Gophers offense rolled behind Smith’s career-best 211 yards on the ground. Minnesota holds the last victory and the all time series lead, 39-30-3. Iowa: Nov. 16, 2019, 19-23 Iowa was the first team to beat Minnesota in 2019. Iowa dominated the first half as quarterback Nate Stanely threw a pair of touchdown passes to go into the break with a 20-6 lead. Minnesota crawled back in the second half behind a strong passing attack from Morgan who threw for 368 yards and a touchdown. Minnesota got the ball back late, giving the team the chance to stay undefeated on the
season, but Morgan was sacked on backto-back plays and exited the game due to injury. Backup quarterback Cole Kramer entered the game and threw an interception that sealed the game for Iowa. Iowa has remained in possession of the Floyd of Rosedale since 2015, winning the last five matchups against the Gophers. But, Minnesota holds the all-time series lead 62-49-2. Purdue: Sept. 28, 2019, 38-31 Everything was working for the Gophers offense against Purdue in last season’s matchup. Morgan was nearly perfect completing 21 of 22 passes for 396 yards and four touchdowns. Smith ran for 115 yards and a score. And Bateman demonstrated why he’s a potential first round pick, catching six passes for 177 yards and hauled in two touchdowns. Purdue added a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to keep things close, but the Gophers ran out the last four minutes of gametime to secure the win. Minnesota has won the last two matchups against Purdue and holds the all-time series lead 39-33-3.
Wisconsin: Nov. 30, 2019, 17-38 College GameDay made the trek to a snowy Minneapolis for the first time ever for a matchup with heavy significance. The winner would take the Big Ten West and play Ohio State for a shot at a conference title. And the game started off with a bang when Morgan hit Bateman early in the first for a 51-yard score. But the game quickly got out of hand for the Gophers, as Wisconsin’s offense started to roll behind quarterback Jack Coan and star running back Jonathan Taylor. By the time Minnesota found the endzone for the second time in the fourth quarter, it was too little too late. The Badgers reclaimed Paul Bunyan’s Axe after Minnesota carried it out of Madison in 2018 for the first time since 2003. Last year’s win gives Wisconsin the all-time series lead 61-60-8. Northwestern: Nov. 23, 2019, 38-22 A week before the Gophers matchup with Wisconsin, Minnesota kept its chances for a Big Ten West title alive by beating the Wildcats. Morgan threw four touchdowns on the day, three of which ended up in the hands of Bateman. The Wildcats added a late fourth quarter touchdown to make the final score look closer than the game really was. The Gophers have the last victory against Northwestern, and lead the all-time series, 54-36-5. Nebraska: Oct. 12, 2019, 34-7 The Gophers blew out Nebraska to stay undefeated at 6-0 last season. Led by Smith, the Gophers ran for over 300 yards and four touchdowns on the day. Mohomed Ibrahim – who will be leading the Minnesota rushing attack this season – accounted for three of those scores. Nebraska’s lone touchdown came in the fourth quarter when the team was already facing a 34-point deficit. Playing for the unofficial $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy, the Gophers took the last matchup and hold a 33-25-2 series lead.
A history of ‘Row the Boat’ at Minnesota Three seasons ago was the beginning of the “Row the Boat” era under P.J. Fleck. By Brendan O’Brien bobrien@mndaily.com This season marks the fourth season P.J. Fleck will be the head coach for the Gophers football program, and his time at Minnesota has been anything but boring. With year four approaching, let’s take a look back at the first three seasons of the “Row the Boat” culture at Minnesota. 2017: 5-7, 6th in the Big Ten West Like any program with a new head coach and culture, growing pains were a part of Fleck’s first season at the helm. After starting the season 3-0 against non-conference opponents, Minnesota lost five of its next six games against the Big Ten. With three games remaining, the Gophers needed to win two games to become bowl eligible but failed to do so, losing the last two weeks of the season against #17 Northwestern and #7 Wisconsin. Minnesota finished 2-7 in the conference, giving up 30 or more points in six of those games. Despite the team’s finish, a silver lining for Fleck was his standing among former Gophers head coaches in their first seasons. Excluding Tracy Claeys who took over as the head coach midway through the 2015 season after Jerry Kill retired, Fleck is the only coach to win at least five games in his first season at Minnesota since John Gutekunst in 1986. 2018: 7-6, 5th in the Big Ten West Fleck’s second season had similar shades as the first as the Gophers
struggled against Big Ten foes. Minnesota again went 3-0 in the non-conference but also lost five of its first six conference games, giving up an average of 43.2 points during the stretch. After below average quarterback play from Connor Rhoda and Demry Croft the previous season, the Gophers started Fleck’s second year with true freshman Zack Annexstad as the man under center. But Fleck had to make a switch to redshirt freshman Tanner Morgan in the midst of the losing streak after Annexstad injured his midsection in a 53-28 loss at Nebraska. Morgan has not missed a game as the starter since taking over. On Nov. 3, Fleck decided more permanent change was necessary. Immediately coming off a 55-31 loss at Illinois, he fired defensive coordinator Robb Smith and tabbed Joe Rossi as the interim. In the final three games, the defense began to look different, giving up less points. Being in the same position as it was the season prior, Minnesota not only won two of its final three games to become bowl eligible but also accomplished what seemed to be the impossible: beating WisconsintobringPaulBunyan’sAxebackto Minnesota. The Gophers ended the season on a high note with the win in Madison and a victory in the QuickLane Bowl against Georgia Tech. 2019: 11-2, 2nd in the Big Ten West If they believed in momentum of any kind, Fleck and the Gophers had plenty to work with heading into the third season of the ‘Row the Boat’ era. While the undefeated streak in nonconference games continued, Gophers fans were left holding their collective breath to the bitter end in each of these three games. Minnesota beat South Dakota State by only
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Gophers defensiveback Benjamin St-Juste leaps for an Auburn pass at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Wednesday, Jan. 1. Minnesota took the bowl game with a 31-24 win over the Auburn Tigers. (Kamaan Richards / Minnesota Daily) a touchdown in the opening week, stole a win on the final play of double overtime at Fresno State and barely escaped with a victory over Georgia Southern. After the unconventional 3-0 start, the Gophers appeared to click on all phases once they began Big Ten play. The team rolled through its first five conferencegamestosetupamatchupagainst fellow undefeated Penn State. With an upset ending in fans rushing the field and players securing the Governor’sVictory Bell, Minnesota moved to 9-0 and began to gain attention from the national polls and College Football Selection Committee like never before. Only a week later was the hope of an undefeated season shattered for the team, as the Gophers fell to rival Iowa. But the Gophers still had several prizes in front of them – the Axe, the West Division crown and a chance at the Big Ten Champion-
ship as well as an appearance in the Rose Bowl. With all of this on the line against Wisconsin, the Gophers fell in an underwhelming 38-17 loss to end the regular season. Minnesota went on to beat Auburn in the Outback Bowl to finish 11-2 and capped off a season with many accomplishments the program had not had in recent memory. 2020: Check back in January Minnesota will most certainly have the highest expectations it has seen since the beginning of Fleck’s tenure. While 2020 will be quite different compared to past years, the Gophers still face off against familiar foes with eight Big Ten games in its schedule. Fleck also has the opportunity to accomplish feats he has never reached before, including winning two trophy games against Michigan and Iowa.
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Offensive breakdown
In an era of a pandemic, the coach and players need to play it safe so they can play this season. By Brenden O’Brien bobrien@mndaily.com
“Next man up” is a cliché mentality for many football teams to adopt over the course of a season when players get injured. But Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck said Tuesday that this could be more important than ever in a season with COVID-19. Fleck acknowledged that any player who’s low on the depth chart could be thrust into a starting role at any time given the circumstances. With that in mind, here is what the Gophers offense is projected to look like when the team kicks off against Michigan at TCF Bank Stadium on Oct. 24. Quarterback Tanner Morgan will be playing his second full season as the starter under center, the first Gophers quarterback to start consecutive seasons since Mitch Leidner from 2014-16. The redshirt junior is coming off a record-setting 2019 season in which he set several single season records at Minnesota, including passing yards, touchdowns and completion percentage. Morgan and the other Gophers’ quarterbacks used the extended offseason to focus on details specific to the position, like recognizing defensive fronts and coverages as well as improving footwork. If he takes another step forward, Morgan and the Gophers could be in for another explosive season on offense. Redshirt sophomore Zack Annexstad projects to be the backup while redshirt senior Seth Green
adds a unique element to the Gophers offense as the goalline and short-yardage wildcat quarterback.
Running Backs A running game that gained yardage and controlled the clock was a key component to the Gophers’ success in 2019. Minnesota rotated between Rodney Smith, Shannon Brooks and Mohamed Ibrahim throughout the season to form a powerful three-headed backfield. Losing Smith and Brooks to graduation, Ibrahim returns as the leader in the running back room and is already 24th on Minnesota’s rushing list with 1,764 career rushing yards after playing in 21 games. Plenty of carries are up for grabs now following the departure of Smith and Brooks. Redshirt sophomore Bryce Williams appears to be a prime candidate to get part of the workload after playing a significant role in 2018. Williams played in all 13 games two seasons ago, running the ball 117 times for 502 yards and four touchdowns. He only played in two games before being redshirted last season. If the Gophers are to use the same approach as previous seasons, the team will rely on someone with little or no game experience in college to fill that third spot in the backfield rotation. The player could come from a trio of redshirt freshmen in Cam Wiley, Treyson Potts or Jason Williamson. Wide Receivers Of course, one of the biggest questions remaining for the Gophers is whether junior Rashod Bateman will be able to return to play. Shortly after the Big Ten announced the conference would be starting in October, Bateman decided he wanted to return to the Gophers, after originally deciding to forgo the season due to
On Saturay, Nov. 9, 2019, the Gophers defeated Penn State 31-26 to bring their record to 9-0, a first since 1904. (Liam Armstrong / Minnesota Daily) health concerns over COVID-19. If Bateman is able to suit up for the maroon and gold, the 2019 Big Ten Wide Receiver of the Year will be a dynamic option for Morgan on the outside. With the departure of Tyler Johnson and with or without Bateman, redshirt juniors Chris Autman-Bell and Demetrius Douglas are two receivers poised for more work this season. Autman-Bell caught 28 passes in each of the last two seasons and contributed 371 yards with five touchdowns last season. Douglas has spent some time on the field as a receiver and made his mark as a return specialist. The Gophers have some youth at the position as well, with five redshirt freshmen. Offensive Line An integral role in Minnesota’s rushing attack and protecting Morgan, the Gophers should be stout again up front with all five primary starters returning. Continuity at the line of scrimmage could be key for the Gophers to continue to have offensive success in a shortened season as the running backs and linemen are all familiar with each other and the scheme.
Junior right tackle Daniel Faalele will continue to be a staple in the run game with redshirt senior Sam Schlueter protecting the left side at tackle. Redshirt senior Conner Olson and redshirt junior Blaise Andries both are able to move around with Olson playing nine games at center and three at left guard while Andries played 10 at left guard, two at right tackle and one at left tackle. Redshirt sophomore Curtis Dunlap Jr. entered the transfer portal this offseason but quickly returned to the Gophers and will continue to play right guard. Redshirt juniors John Michael Schmitz and Axel Ruschmeyer are two reserves Morgan mentioned as players who will also be important to the offensive line. Tight Ends An extension of the offensive line for much of last season, Minnesota returns most of its primary contributors at this position. Redshirt junior Jake Paulson returns after missing four games to injury in 2019. Redshirt seniors Bryce Witham and Ko Kieft, along with redshirt sophomore Brevyn Spann-Ford, look to play significant snaps and add depth at tight end.
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Defensive breakdown
With less than a month until kickoff at TCF Bank Stadium, the Gophers finalize their defense. By Brenden O’Brien bobrien@mndaily.com
With kickoff at TCF Bank Stadium less than a month away, the Gophers will use the remaining time to make final decisions on what the defensive lineup will look like for the 2020 season. New faces will definitely play a significant role from the start, as the Gophers lost a total of eight primary contributors from the 2019 squad, four of whom were selected in the NFL draft this April. And as head coach P.J. Fleck said, this unique season could lead to anyone leaping up the depth chart into a starting role. Here is what the depth chart could look like come Oct. 24 in the season opener against Michigan. Defensive Line After losing key contributors Carter Coughlin, Winston DeLattiboudere and Sam Renner, the Gophers will turn to returning players to step up on the defensive line. Redshirt juniors Esezi Otomewo and Boye Mafe look to be the starting defensive ends after both were second on the depth chart last season. Both played in every game last season, with Otomewo finishing with 22 tackles, five of which were for loss, and Mafe added 14 tackles and three sacks. At defensive tackle, the Gophers bring back three players who contributed in 2019, two of whom transferred into the program. Senior Keonte Schad started his career at Ellsworth Community College and recorded 21 tackles last season with the Gophers, while graduate transfer Micah
Gophers Defensive back Benjamin St-Juste leaps for an Auburn pass at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Wednesday, Jan. 1. (Kamaan Richards / Minnesota Daily) Dew-Treadway had 13 tackles throughout the season. Junior Jamaal Teague also should be a factor on the defensive line as he played in all 13 games and had 16 tackles last season. Linebackers For the past few seasons, the Gophers have had great continuity at the linebacker position with Kamal Martin and Thomas Barber. Replacing the defensive production from Martin and Barber will be challenging, as the two combined for 451 career tackles in the past four seasons. Juniors Mariano Sori-Marin and Thomas Rush both saw playing time
last season, with Sori-Marin starting seven games and finishing with 42 tackles. Redshirt sophomore Braelen Oliver also should see some more snaps at the position, after recording 22 tackles in 2019. Defensive Backs The Gophers lose arguably their most valuable defensive player from 2019 in Antoine Winfield Jr. along with another key contributor in Chris Williamson but return plenty of experienced players to rotate through the defensive backfield. Redshirt senior Coney Durr will look to continue the individual success he
had last season, recording 33 tackles and tying the team lead with 10 pass breakups. Durr also had a 72-yard interception return for a touchdown against Maryland. Graduate student Benjamin St-Juste also had 10 pass breakups and added 45 tackles. Minnesota also has a trio of juniors in Jordan Howden, Terell Smith and Benny Sapp III, who all saw game action throughout the season. Howden had the biggest impact of the three, recording 57 tackles and breaking up six passes with one interception. Redshirt seniors Calvin Swenson and Phillip Howard also look to play roles on the team.
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ESPN’s College GameDay set to return to University of Minnesota After visiting the University for the first time ever last year, ESPN College GameDay will return for the Gophers first game of the 2020 season. By Tony Liebert tliebert@mndaily.com
Above, Wide receiver Rashod Bateman reaches to catch a pass at TCF Bank Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 29. Minnesota defeated South Dakota State 28-21. Right, Gophers Head Coach P.J. Fleck dons his headset at Raymond James stadium on Wednesday, Jan. 1. The Gophers went on to take victory in the 2020 Outback Bowl. (MN Daily File Photo)
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n Saturday, ESPN announced that it will bring back College GameDay to the University of Minnesota for the Gophers season opener against
Michigan. To open the 2020 football season, No. 24 Minnesota is scheduled to welcome No. 19 Michigan to TCF Bank Stadium on Oct. 24. Before the game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on ABC, the Gophers’ football program will once again be in the national spotlight. ESPN’s College GameDay is a weekly college
football preview show that travels across the country, broadcasting the show from where they believe to be the week’s top matchup. Next week’s show will air from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday. GameDay visited Minnesota for the first time ever in last year’s regular-season finale, a 38-17 loss to Wisconsin. This year’s College GameDay program has a much different feel. Last November when Minnesota hosted Wisconsin, Gophers fans packed the Northrop Mall on campus to see Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Kirk Herbstreit,
Lee Corso and guest picker Eric Decker break down the matchup. This year, no fans are present and Corso makes his mascot headgear selection from his Florida home, where the rest of the on-air crew will be seated at their typical desk setting inside the stadium to maintain social distancing. No fans is quite a change from the show’s typical atmosphere, but fans can participate virtually through their website, www.collegegameday.com.
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Gophers face ‘real’ 2020 season Head coach P.J. Fleck said the football is still real as long as they are on the playing field. By Brendan O’Brien bobrien@mndaily.com 2020 has been unlike any other year in many ways, and the college football season for Minnesota and other programs across the country will be different because of it. Several conferences decided to either reduce or completely eliminate its non-conference schedule for the season. Instead of the normal 12 game schedule during the regular season, Big Ten teams will have an eight game conference-only schedule in which teams will face their six divisional opponents as well as two teams from the opposing division. Why does this matter for the Gophers? Lack of non-conference games has already led to some sloppy play against better conference competition for teams across the country. In 2019, despite winning all three non-conference games, Minnesota looked like a team that could have been 0-3 instead of 3-0. But these games turned out to be tune-up opportunities, as the Gophers rolled through its Big Ten schedule with its only losses coming against Iowa and Wisconsin. Non-conference victories have also been practically automatic for Minnesota, as the program is 11-0 under head coach P.J. Fleck. The season could also present issues involving roster depth and COVID-19. According to the Big Ten’s policies and procedures, players who test positive must remain out of play for at least 21 days. This could present problems for teams during that stretch given that players could miss three games of an already shortened season. Injuries
Gophers Runningback Mohamed Ibrahim carries the ball for a touchdown at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Wednesday, Jan. 1. (Kamaan Richards / Minnesota Daily) are already problems dealt with in a normal season, but players potentially testing positive presents completely different challenges to teams and coaches. “You’ve got to be able to adjust and adapt on the run very differently if there’s an ankle or an injury,” Fleck said. “You test positive on a Friday — somehow, someway, no matter the test they have to back it up — you’re out. Usually you know [with] injury status if a guy is going to make it or not.”
Following a trend found in many sports at various levels, Minnesota’s athletics department announced it would not be allowing general fans at home games and would only have family members of the team present. One of the most noticeable differences in a lack of a crowd at the college and professional levels is the ability for road teams to communicate better when on offense and use a hard count to draw defenses offsides. It also means there will be no fans rushing the field
if the Gophers pull off another victory like they did a season ago against Penn State. Despite all of these differences, Fleck has made one thing clear since the Big Ten announced it would be restarting: This season is still real football. “The one thing that has stood out is football in 2020 is going to be different from what people have seen at times,” Fleck said. “It’s not any less real than it’s been because it’s real and it counts.”
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Bateman returns for the season Bateman showed interest in returning after he opted out due to health concerns. By AJ Condon acondon@mndaily.com On Aug. 4, Gophers’ star receiver Rashod Bateman announced he would be opting out of the 2020 college football season. He intended to start preparing for the 2021 NFL draft and cited health concerns as his reason for opting out. That was just a week before the Big Ten announced it intended to pursue a spring season. But, on Sept. 16, the uncertainty of the Big Ten season came to an end, as the schools’ presidents reversed action and voted to start the season. However, it still seemed Minnesota would go into its season without Bateman. But shortly after the announcement, Bateman was back on campus and practicing with the team. “When you ask where is [Bateman] at, it’s not like he ever lost that. He came back the first day, took some reps and you could see that Rashod is back,” head coach P.J. Fleck said. “All we can do today is prepare him the best we can for his future.” Fleck said he had no impact on Bateman’s original decision nor his desire to come back. But Bateman was the first person he called when he heard the season was back on. “This was strictly his decision. This was all Rashod — he didn’t need much convincing … I said ‘Rashod, whatever you decide, I support you 100%,’” Fleck said. It isn’t going to be easy for Bateman to return, and there are hurdles he must overcome. Between his opt out and wanting to come back, Bateman signed with agent Blake Baratz of IFA. Bateman will have to go through the Student-Athlete Reinstatement Process to play this season. “If [Bateman] decides to come back, it’s not guaranteed that [he’s] going to come back,” Fleck said, adding that he told
Gophers Wide Receiver Rashod Bateman carries the ball at the 2020 Outback Bowl on Wednesday, Jan. 1. The Gophers went on to take the game 31-24 over the Auburn Tigers. (Kamaan Richards / Minnesota Daily) Bateman the athlete could go five weeks without playing. “Without hesitation he said, ‘It’s worth it, I really wanna come back,’” Fleck said. The team knew Bateman’s original decision wasn’t selfish. Bateman has asthma and noted health concerns as the reason for his opt out. “When he made that decision, every single person knew why … and it was strictly based on the health concerns and his future,” Fleck said. “He didn’t come back for Rashod Bateman, he came back for his teammates too. I think that’s really exciting about him ‘cause he made that comment. When you have a team player like that, that’s what you feel on the field.” Redshirt junior quarterback Tanner Morgan talked to Bateman on Sunday. Morgan was taken aback when Bateman
told him he wanted to return to the Gophers this fall. “He told me right away, ‘Hey, I think I’m gonna be able to come back.’ I thought he was joking at first,” Morgan said. “It’s something that we’re really excited about because he wanted to do it for the team, not for Rashod.” Redshirt junior running back Mohamed Ibrahim had a similar reaction to hearing his teammate’s desire to come back this fall. “When Rashod opted out, he was never really gone. He was always around the team, so I’ve seen [Bateman] very often. And that Sunday I talked to him, and he told me he wanted to come back. I thought he was joking, I didn’t think it was a possibility,” Ibrahim said. Bateman has stayed involved with the
team since he opted out. He has been granted a waiver to practice with the team, keeping the connection with his fellow teammates. “He’s done everything the right way: he’s come to work every single day ready to be better and be a good leader. It’s great to have him back in the locker room, see his face, see him smile. It’s really exciting — we really hope that he is able to come back,” Morgan said. The energy Bateman brings back is contagious, and the team has felt his presence on and off the field “Just understanding that he can come back was a big boost to the whole team. Just him being in the locker room now, everybody is happy to see him, his smile. When you get out on the field, you can just feel the energy come back,” Ibrahim said.
A Gopher Timeline
Big Ten announces that fall sports will be postponed for the 2020
The Gophers’ 2020 football season schedule was announced,
The Gophers were ranked No. 19 in the country in the preseason AP Poll.
College GameDay announced they would return to Minneapolis and host GameDay as the Gophers host the Wolverines. This will mark consecutive home games that the Gophers have hosted GameDay.
The Big Ten football season is back. They announced they have enough safety procedures to safely start the fall football season. The season is set to start the weekend of Oct. 23-24.
The Gophers ranked No. 21 in the country in the most recent AP poll. Heading into their first-week matchup, the Wolverines are ranked No. 18.
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Game days are going to look different for the Gophers The atmosphere of game day will not be the same, but fans will make due. By AJ Condon acondon@mndaily.com
Above, Gophers Fans cheer at TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9. The Gophers bested the Penn State Nittany Lions 31-26 to remain undefeated. (Kamaan Richards / Minnesota Daily) Below, Students relax in the new student tailgate parking lot before the Gophers’ first football game of the season against Nevada-Las Vegas on Thursday night. (Chelsea Gortmaker / Minnesota Daily)
The Gophers’ football season finally gets underway when they host the Michigan Wolverines Saturday, Oct. 24. A long awaited day for Gophers’ fans won’t look anything close to past years. Tailgating pregame has been a popular activity as fans anticipate watching the Gophers take the field. This year, the University of Minnesota has banned tailgating on its property and fans will not be allowed in the stadium because of COVID-19. Senior Carly Cassidy hasn’t been to many games at TCF, but she did enjoy walking down University Ave. on the way to TCF Bank Stadium. Her favorite aspect about the games was the stadium itself. “I do like how open it is and depending on where you are in the stadium, you can see the skyline of Minneapolis. Also, it being a newer stadium combined with the skyline is super nice,” she said. Junior Kyle Nosbisch has been in the stadium a handful of times, whether he is working in the operations department, or cheering from the student section. His favorite part of the stadium
is the atmosphere. “I think that’s what’s definitely going to be hurt the most this year. Just not having fans, that’s half of college football, the atmosphere,” Nosbisch said. “I definitely love the atmosphere and the energy the fans give off.” Though he was working during it, the Penn State game will always be remembered as his favorite moment in TCF. “I was working during the Penn State game, and I was in charge of three student workers and I told those guys ‘If you wanna storm the field, you go storm the field,’” Nosbisch said. “I have Snapchat memories saved on my phone and I’ll always remember the mass of everybody out on the field.” Cassidy’s favorite part of game days are finding a bar close to the stadium and still being close enough to feel the atmosphere of the fans. “Going to Stubs and Herbs is like our go to spot. Just being near the stadium where you can hear all of it,” Cassidy said. Game days definitely will be different this season, but Cassidy and Nosbisch will still continue to spend the day with their friends cheering on the Gophers. “A lot of my friends live in apartments and we’ve already started to plan on this upcoming game day. We’re still going to try and do that whole game day feel and depending on the weather try and grill out,” Cassidy said.