This is Part II of a two-part series where we deep dive the Minnesota Gophers shortened 2020 football schedule. You can find Part I HERE.

*SPOILER ALERT*: I think Minnesota will be 4-0, entering the back-half of their schedule. That means wins at home vs Michigan and Iowa in weeks one and four. So let’s keep rowing along.

Game Five- vs Purdue

The PJ Fleck and Jeff Brohm rivalry continues when Purdue travels to Minneapolis on November 21. The Minnesota Gophers have won the last two matchups against the Boilermakers, beating them 41-10 back in 2018 (after the firing of then DC Robb Smith), before beating them 38-31 last year.

Purdue seems to always have a solid offense, and they return (WR) David Bell, who was a stud for them last year in his freshman campaign. They did lose a good tight end, Brycen Hopkins, but return a solid running back, in King Dorue.

Jack Plummer will start for the Boilermakers at QB, after coming in last year and gaining experience as a freshman. (WR) Rondale Moore opted-out earlier in the offseason, but Jeff Brohm is supposedly doing everything he can to get the stud wide receiver back for one more year.

Jeff Brohm outside of Rondale Moore’s window pic.twitter.com/r2VTIT5FOV

— Nick Baker (@nico_suave3) September 16, 2020

On the defensive side of things, this was a brutally weak unit last year. I don’t see that changing with newly hired, Bob Diaco. Purdue’s offense is going to have to keep them in games (again) this year.

I expect the Gophers to win but definitely believe Purdue will put up points, especially if Rondale Moore comes back. This game could be a 35-28 type battle. For the third year in a row, Purdue’s defense won’t be able to stop this Minnesota offense as many times as the Gopher defense will hold theirs.

Game Six- @ Wisconsin

It’s the Gophers’ turn to travel to Madison where they’ll battle the Badgers for Paul Bunyan’s Axe. It will be the 130th meeting between the two teams, extending the longest rivalry in college football. This one could very-well decide the West Division. In fact, most expect it to.

The Gophers are coming off a bitter loss to the Badgers in 2019. Wisconsin came into Minnesota last season and blasted the Gophers 38-17. A year earlier, the Gophers did the same to the Badgers at Camp Randall, crushing them 37-15. Two West heavyweights trading blows after two-straight blow out games… This one should come down to the wire. It’s only right.

Wisconsin loses key parts to their offense, after record-setting running back, Jonathan Taylor, was drafted in the 1st round of the NFL Draft and (WR) Quintez Cephus was taken in the 5th. This is an offense that likes to abuse the opponents in the trenches, wearing them down with a predictable run game that can seem impossible to slow.

Film Room: How the #Gophers' Defense limited Jonathan Taylor's rushing success. The full video is on our YouTube channel! Dive into @DanielHouseNFL's analysis: https://t.co/XO7UKibNMD pic.twitter.com/kSPFnqv8wm

— GopherHole.com (@GopherHole) November 29, 2018

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Interestingly, the Gophers have done a very good job of containing Taylor over the past two years, so we will see what the game plan looks like without him. Jack Coan returns to take snaps, then handoff and throw the football. He was efficient and effective as a Sophomore, passing for 2727 yards at a 69% clip and adding 18 TDs to just 5 INTs.

He will be aided by another very good offensive line, a Wisconsin staple. Who will be running behind them, though, is a bit of a question mark. Nakia Watson, Garrett Groshek, and Julius Davis could all take handoffs, to start the season. The Badgers also bring in 4-star recruit, Jalen Berger, who could contend for carries right away. At wide receiver, Kendric Pryor and Danny Davis lll will be seeing most of the passes.

On the defensive side of the ball, they return mostly everyone, with the exception of two good linebackers in Zack Baun, and Chris Orr. Linebacker, Jack Sanborn, and safety, Eric Burrell, are two very good players. They also have a mean man on the defensive interior, Keeanu Benton, who can wreak havoc on gameplans.

This is going to be another good game, just like Iowa and Michigan. I’m fairly certain the Badger defense is going to be very good as usual, but the offense does draw question marks. The Gophers are going to have to keep that Badger offense in check because points could be hard to come by.

Game Seven- vs Northwestern

After a very rough 2019 season, Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats hope to bounce back in 2020. They do add former Indiana Quarterback, Payton Ramsey, which should help… but the rest of the Northwestern offense just isn’t very good.

Northwestern’s defense is actually pretty solid, but if you’re on the field all game, you’re going to get worn out eventually.

Minnesota should win this one handily, because I don’t think Northwestern will be able to put up any points. PJ loves to control the football so I expect him to use his big, experienced offensive line to wear down that Northwestern defense.

Game Eight- @ Nebraska

Nebraska had a disappointing year-two under Scott Frost. They can take some solace (and they’re fanbase will) in a seemingly strong finish. They clobbered Maryland, and then lost on a last second field goal to Iowa.

This is another team Minnesota pounded last year, beating them 34-7 at TCF Bank Stadium. The Gophers mainly ran the ball, piling up over 300 yards on the ground alone. They barely needed to use all their star-power at wide receiver. Johnson still pulled in over 100 yards, just for shits and giggles.

Minnesota Wide Zone Cut Up vs Nebraska. Oline and Rb’s do a great job working as one. pic.twitter.com/oCeoDmRAwO

— CoachesCollaborate (@coachescollab) March 22, 2020

Nebraska does return a fair amount of their talent of offense. Starting quarterback, Adrian Martinez, returns for his 17th season. He was injured most of last year. JD Spielman left, which is a big blow, but youngster Wan’Dale Robinson returns for what most expect to be another electric season.

I’m skeptical on the Nebraska offensive line. It wasn’t very good last year and they didn’t do much to improve it. If Nebraska wants to take a step forward, it will have to find a way.

Defensively, Nebraska wasn’t very good either. That’s despite having two NFL defensive lineman and an NFL corner. I don’t know how much this group will improve in 2020… I just don’t see Nebraska in contention for the West Division crown.

Minnesota wins this game in Lincoln for a few reasons:

1.) There will be no home field advantage for Nebraska, in a Stadium that is traditionally holding over 100,000 lunatic Cornhusker fans.

2.) Nebraska is weak along both of their lines and the Gophers should be strong in those areas.

3.) Nebraska can reel in all the big recruits they want. Until Scott Frost proves he can turn that talent into wins, you won’t make a believer out of this guy.

There are three real threats on this schedule and the toughest one comes in the back-half vs. Wisconsin. The Minnesota Gophers are a top-two team in the West and that’s where the expectations should be set. Can they beat Michigan, Iowa and/or Wisconsin, while not tripping anywhere else?

I can’t wait to find out.

Max Carroll | Minnesota Sports Fan

Back in early August, the Big Ten postponed the 2020-2021 Football Season because of COVID concerns. But with the help of fans, players and parents, we once again have a Fall Football season for the Big Ten. They even released a schedule over the weekend. Coming off of their most successful season since the 60’s, PJ Fleck and the Minnesota Golden Gophers are poised for another big season in 2020.

Let’s take a look at the first half of this 8-game conference-only schedule

Game One – vs Michigan

The Gophers will open up the 2020 Football Season battling the Michigan Wolverines for the Little Brown Jug. The last time these two teams met was in 2017, PJ Fleck’s 1st year as Head Coach at the University of Minnesota. Michigan comes into this game with a lot of unknowns on both sides of the ball. Let’s go over the offense first….

1.) Brand new QB, Joe Milton, will be making his first career start.

2.) The Wolverines will be breaking in 4 new Offensive Line starters.

3.) The wolverines lost 2 starting wide receivers. Nico Collins opted out, and Tarik Black transferred to Texas.

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That is a lot of unknowns for Michigan and that’s only on offensive side of the ball. Jalen Mayfield is the lone returning offensive line starter, and he was opted out until this weekend, when he opted back in. Both Michigan running backs from 2019 will be returning as well. Zach Charbonnet and Hassan Haskins combined for 270 carries, 1,348 rushing yards and 15 total touchdowns last season.

Michigan’s defensive strength is their line. They have THREE new linebackers and inexperience in their secondary. Cornerback, Ambry Thomas opted-out (for now) and safety, Josh Matellus, is now in the NFL (with the Vikings). If Tanner Morgan can exploit Michigan’s inexperience in the pass game, the run game should follow.

Who knows… maybe Fleck will establish the run first, no matter what the Wolverine defense looks like. We all know how much our head coach likes to control the clock. Auburn had three D-lineman get drafted in 2020 and the Gophers ran all over them in the Outback Bowl.

In fact, Michigan faced four good offenses in 2019; Wisconsin, Penn State, Ohio State, and Alabama. They surrendered an average of over 5 yards per carry those four games. The new Wolverine linebackers could struggle moving vertically and adapting to the RPO early on, too.

I think Minnesota SHOULD win this game but it all depends on how quickly the Gopher offense can get going and take advantage of an inexperienced Wolverine defense.

Game Two – @ Maryland

The Gophers’ second game will take place at Maryland. This is a team the Gophers absolutely thrashed last season (52-10) and I’m expecting the same to happen this year. Just like Michigan, Maryland will also be breaking in a new QB, Taulia Tagovailoa.

The Terrapin assumed starter, Josh Jackson, opted-out of the season back in August. Before that, Maryland lost start running back, Anthony McFarland, to the NFL draft. I don’t think Maryland’s defense will be able to stop the Gopher offense, whether they run or pass.

If I’m the Gophers, I hand the ball off to Mohamed Ibrahim all day long. There’s no chance Maryland’s front seven will be able to stop it. The Turtle offense, which struggled in Big Ten play last year, can’t score with Minnesota, either. This is a game PJ Fleck and Co should win handily.

Mo Ibrahim is a damn wrecking ball pic.twitter.com/Z6hzO28740

— Dustin Schutte (@SchutteCFB) January 1, 2020

Game Three – @ Illinois

The Gophers hit the road for the second-straight week and this time they’ll be heading to Champaign. This is another team Minnesota buried last season (40-17). In that game, Rossi’s defense only gave up three points to the Illini offense. The other 14 points were courtesy of a pick six and fumble recovery that was returned for a touchdown.

While Minnesota scored 40 points on this Illinois defense last year, they played pretty sloppy. I’m higher than most on this Illinois team, in general. They return starting QB, Brandon Peters, who will be protected by a solid offensive line. Peters will have at least one good wide receiver to throw to, in Josh Imatorbhebhe.

He touched the ball only four times, but he made the most of every one.

Josh Imatorbhebhe is @BTNDaveRevsine‘s Week 11 B1G Standout.@JoshBhebhe | @IlliniFootball pic.twitter.com/qWNdRnX1Xc

— Illinois on BTN (@IllinoisOnBTN) November 10, 2019

They did lose most of their running back production when Reggie Corbin and Dre Brown. On the defensive side of things, they lost some players in the front seven, which could certainly be a concern, but they do return a couple of good linebackers in Milo Eifler and Jake Hansen. They also return some solid pieces in the back end, including Nate Hobbs.

I might like this Illini squad but I’m still expecting Minnesota to win this game. The Gopher offensive line should be able to generate a good push on this inexperienced defensive line of the Illini. They ran all over Lovie’s squad in 2019, racking up 332 yards (!!). I’d like to see that again. Feed Mo.

Game Four- vs Iowa

The Gophers go back home in week four, where they will do battle with the Iowa Hawkeyes for the Floyd of Rosedale. The Gophers fell in a heart breaker last year in Iowa City, 23-19.

On that heart-breaking weekend in November 2019, the defense seemed non-existent in the first half and the offense got off to a terribly slow start. At half time, it was already 20-6 in Iowa’s favor. The Gophers turned it on in the second half, but it was too little too late.

The 2020 Hawkeyes are going to look a lot different. Nate Stanley (also with the Vikings) is gone and it’s now Spencer Petras time. He will be the 3rd new QB (out of 4 games) that the Gophers will see up to this point. Fortunately for Spencer, he has some established skill position players to speed up his learning curve.

Wide Receiver, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, and running back, Tyler Goodson, both showed out in 2019. Tyrone Tracy (RB/Slot WR) and WR, Brandon Smith, will be back as well. They did lose Tackle, Tristan Wirfs, but in classic Iowa fashion, they still have two very good offensive lineman mauling guys, with Alaric Jackson at Tackle and Tyler Linderbaum at Center.

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On defense, the Hawkeyes lost a lot of talent, especially up front. They keep Chauncey Golston but lost the rest of their defensive line. Star, AJ Epenesa, and Cedric Lattimore are both playing in the NFL.

They did add Northern Illinois transfer, Jack Heflin, who looks to be a very solid add to there roster. In the line backing core, they lose Kristian Welch to the draft and Dillon Doyle to transfer. In the secondary Geno Stone and cornerback Micheal Ojemudia both left for the NFL too. Overall, I’m expecting the Hawkeyes defense to be fairly solid, but look for a step back after all of those talented departures.

This game seems to be a toss up, just like the Michigan game. The outcome could depend on whether or not the Gophers can start hot (unlike last year). Iowa’s offense will go by how Spencer Petras goes. On defense, will the Hawkeyes be able to generate pressure with so many new faces on the DL and in the secondary?

If the Gophers can keep Iowa from parading and and out of the end zone, I think Minnesota wins this game and we get to bring the Floyd of Rosedale back to the trophy room at the Athletic’s Village. Let us never forget 2002.

On this day in 2002 Iowa Hawkeyes fans tore down a goal post at the Metrodome after beating the Minnesota Golden Gophers 45-21 to win the Floyd of Rosedale. pic.twitter.com/YqMWsfaLZL

— Carlos Gonzalez (@CarlosGphoto) November 16, 2019

That concludes the first half of the Minnesota Gophers 2020 football schedule. Set notifications and be ready for the back half, which will release in the next 24 hours.

Max Carroll | Minnesota Sports Fan

It’s been a wild Minnesota Gophers football offseason. I think that’s the understatement of our lifetimes… but now our lives are STARTING to get back to normal. We took a big step toward “normal” earlier this week when the Big Ten backpedaled on a postponed/canceled football season, instead reinstating it to start on the weekend of October 23-24. And now, the Big Ten schedule is releasing as I type this. We know our week one opponent… it’s the Michigan Wolverines at TCF Bank Stadium.

B1G Week 1…

Nebraska @ Ohio State
Michigan @ Minnesota
Penn State @ Indiana
Iowa @ Purdue
Illinois @ Wisconsin
Rutgers @ Michigan State
Maryland @ Northwestern

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) September 19, 2020

I can’t wait for Harbaugh and all of his 5-stars to stroll into TCF Bank Stadium on week one, just to lose to a bunch of 3-4 stars. Michigan’s first loss of the season comes on the road in week one and you can book that shit.

In weeks 2 and 3, the Gophers go on the road to play against Maryland and Illinois. Both games should be wins. Week 4, we come back home and get our first chance at 2019 revenge, as the Iowa Hawkeyes come to town!

The first thing that sticks out, now that we are through four weeks; the most difficult games to this point, are at home. Will that matter without fans? I guess we’ll find out.

Week 5

Week 5 brings the Purdue Boilermakers to TCF. Unless Jeff Brohm remembered how to coach all of a sudden, this should be a W. I have the Gophers undefeated, to this point.

This is what 5-0 looks like #Gophers #RTB

1: Michigan
2: @ Maryland
3: @ Illinois
4: Iowa
5: Purdue

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) September 19, 2020

Shit gets real in week 6, when the Gophers hit the road for Camp Randall Stadium in Madison Wisconsin. After enjoying two-straight games at home this game against the Badgers could very well decide the Big Ten West. After what happened last season, this one is personal.

In week 7 (Dec. 5), the Gophers will go back to TCF Bank Stadium, hopefully riding the high after beating the Badgers in Madison, and they will meet the Northwestern Wildcats. PJ Fleck might respect the hell out of Pat Fitzgerald… but he’d better not lose to him.

Week 8 – Nebraska

With only one team left to play in the Big Ten West, the Gophers will end their regular season in Lincoln against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Nebraska has been a pretender in the Big Ten, since their arrival 10 years ago. I expect this season to be no different. Gophers win this one big, especially without fans in the Nebraska stands.

Without much time to comprehend this new schedule, I have to give the Gophers finishing with a 7-1 record, especially if Rashod Bateman is allowed to play. The season-changer will be at Wisconsin. If the Gophers can win it, the West is theirs (hopefully). That would line them up for a December 19 meeting with Ohio State (likely) for the Big Ten Championship.

Minnesota Gophers full 2020 football schedule

1: Michigan (Oct 24)
2: @ Maryland (Oct 31)
3: @ Illinois (Nov 7)
4: Iowa (Nov 14)
5: Purdue (Nov 21)
6: @ Wisconsin (Nov 28)
7: Northwestern (Dec 5)
8: @ Nebraska (Dec 12)
9: vs TBD (Dec 19)

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) September 19, 2020

No matter what happens over these 8-9 games, every B1G team and their fanbase will be thankful. We almost didn’t get football at all. I trust PJ Fleck to have the Minnesota Gophers ready to play a month from now and that should give us a leg up.

I can’t wait. Let’s row.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan