Gophers Star RB Out for Real This Time

Last week the Minnesota Gophers went into Kinnick Stadium with a chance to emerge with a victory and likely top 25 ranking. Instead, P.J. Fleck failed to have his team ready and they were embarrassed in a 41-3 laugher.

Notably, Darius Taylor went unmentioned on the Minnesota availability report. He played just three snaps, took one carry, and then spent the rest of the day on the sideline. In the NFL, that sort of injury report manipulation earns you a hefty fine.

At least this week Fleck will be a bit more forthright about his star running back.

Darius Taylor out yet again for Minnesota Gophers

There are two very real truths about Minnesota Gophers star running back Darius Taylor. He is very good. He is also very injured. Taylor has made a habit of standing on the sideline, and his body consistently doesn’t agree with his desire to play. On Saturday against Michigan State, he will be unavailable once again.

Today's availability report. pic.twitter.com/1ThHSoA0jL

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) November 1, 2025

Earlier this season, playing against a severely overmatched Northwestern State team, Taylor pulled his hamstring. He then missed games against Cal and Rutgers before returning against Ohio State. As has been the case throughout his career though, he hasn’t returned to a clean bill of healthy.

Last season Minnesota played 13 games, of which Taylor missed one. As a freshman, the Gophers also played 13, but Taylor factored into just six of them. Now playing their ninth game of the 2025 season, Taylor will have missed three.

Across six games, Taylor has turned 80 carries into 354 yards and a touchdown. His veteran presence in the backfield would certainly help redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey, but he has been consistently unreliable.

Minnesota is 4.5 point favorites against the Spartans, and a win would make them bowl eligible for the seventh straight full season. They can’t reach the heights possible before the season, but a solid showing is still on the table. It’s just unfortunate that Taylor continues to not be a part of it.