Head Coach: PJ Fleck (10th year, 66-44 at Minnesota, 96-66 overall)
2025 Record: 8-5 overall, 5-4 Big Ten
Quick 2025 Recap
Minnesota completed its second straight 8-5 season, thanks to an overtime win over New Mexico in the Rate Bowl. Their most notable wins from the season include a snowy 17-7 win over bitter rival Wisconsin for Paul Bunyan’s Axe and a 24-6 beatdown of a then 25th-ranked Nebraska team, which almost immediately blew up the “Matt Rhule-to-Penn State” hype train. Unfortunately for the Gophers, their other two games against ranked opponents ended rather poorly, suffering a 42-3 shellacking at No.1 Ohio State and a 42-13 beatdown at 7th-ranked Oregon. They also got waxed 41-3 against their other bitter rival, Iowa at Kinnick Stadium and lost a close one at Northwestern, 38-35. Overall though, for program standards under PJ Fleck’s tenure, it was about par for the course.
Offensive Player to Watch: QB Drake Lindsey
Minnesota has always prided itself on being a ground-and-pound type of program, and running back Darius Taylor will feature heavily into the offensive attack. However, whether 2026 ends up being a truly memorable one for the Gophers will hinge upon second-year starter Drake Lindsey’s improvement. Lindsey had a solid debut in 2025, throwing for 18 touchdowns, six interceptions, and 2,382 yards en route to becoming the first freshman quarterback in program history to win eight games.
In order for Lindsey to take the next step though, he will need to move around a little better and limit sacks, as he was sacked 21 times last season. He will have help with veteran receivers Javon Tracy and and Jalen Smith returning, as well as transfer receiver Noah Jennings (Cincinnati) and Kaden Helms (Oklahoma). It will be imperative that Penn State’s bigger, bulkier defensive front is able to contain Taylor on the ground, which will allow the defense to focus in more on not allowing Lindsey to get comfortable and into a rhythm.
Defensive Player to Watch: DE Anthony Smith
Smith is not only Minnesota’s best returning defensive player, he’s also one of the Big Ten’s best returning defensive players, having led conference in sacks last year with 12.5. I can’t emphasize enough just how critical it will be for the offensive line, tight ends, or whoever is assigned to block the guy that they not allow him to do his thing, or it could be a very long afternoon for Penn State.
Minnesota Wins If…
Minnesota almost always gives Penn State a hard time, but when you factor in that the Nittany Lions will be coming off a draining cross-country road trip at Washington, the potential for a rough start that has them staring at an early multiple-score deficit and having to play catch-up the rest of the game is even higher, given the abilities of Darius Taylor to pound the rock and for Smith to wreak havoc with the pass rush. Not to mention, if Lindsey shows vast improvement from his first year as a starter, it will add another dimension to the Gophers’ offense. It wouldn’t exactly be a shocker of a result if Minnesota were to find a way to get out of Happy Valley with a dub.
Penn State Wins If…
First and foremost, Penn State needs to contain Darius Taylor and the Gophers’ rushing attack. While I anticipate Lindsey will be improved at quarterback, I don’t think Minnesota would feel comfortable putting the entire weight of the offense on his shoulders. Also, while Smith will be a handful for the offense to deal with, the Gophers’ back seven has a lot of holes and question marks and could be exploitable by Rocco Becht and the Nittany Lion offense. It also sure would help if PSU is coming back from their trip Seattle beaming from a win instead of hung over after a loss.