Finally, the country is starting to see the stupidity of “amateurism” in college athletics. Football and basketball players in power-5 conferences across the United States have made billions upon billions of dollars for their athletic departments over the decades. In return, they’ve been paid nothing but free school, food and board from their universities (publicly).

Not only have schools refused to pay these money-making “amateur” athletes, but they’ve outlawed them from benefiting financially off of their own name, image and likeness (NIL) too. While major universities across the country have been collecting fat stacks of cash and building entire campuses off of unpaid football players, those same athletes haven’t been able to sign autographs, do car commercials or even eat a free quarter pounder from McDonalds without being damned by the NCAA for life.

But that’s all set to change at midnight, July 1. Last week, the Supreme Court ruled (in a 9-0 vote) that it’s illegal and unconstitutional for the NCAA to ban student athletes from making money off of their own NIL. If someone wants to pay a student athlete for an endorsement, the NCAA can’t punish them for it.

The history books will have a chapter specifically for July 1st.

Buckle up. The NIL era starts tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/wZWr5AK9FK

— Dan Lust ???? (@SportsLawLust) June 30, 2021

Working on the terms for a lot of potential #NIL deals today.

Athletes, please don't sign anything until after midnight.

Not worth risking your eligibility.

— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) June 30, 2021

Impotent NCAA leaves NIL guidelines up to individual schools and states

We’re walking into the wild wild west of the NIL age tomorrow. In most states, Minnesota included, there are no laws surrounding NIL. The NCAA was expected to hand down nation-wide rules for schools and student athletes to follow, starting July 1. In fact, Mark Emmert and Co had been working on a plan for the last two years on how it would all unfold (according to Dan Murphy – ESPN).

But when shit started hitting the fan over the last few weeks, the NCAA came to a realization. The U.S. court system wasn’t going to allow them any wiggle room on the NIL rollout. The time for change was now, which meant the NCAA couldn’t police the rollout without violating anti-trust laws. So that’s when Mark Emmert gave up on handing down over-arching NCAA guidelines or rules surrounding NIL by July 1, instead telling schools that they were on their own if their individual state didn’t have legislation in place.

Does state legislation make a difference?

Some states have prepped for and passed legislation addressing the historic changes for student athletes and their NIL rights. The others, about 36 states in total, currently have no guidelines for student athletes surrounding name, image and likeness. Minnesota is among those 36(ish) states without NIL legislation but that might not be a bad thing for the Gophers or other universities in the same boat.

New: @SInow's updated state-by-state NIL map as of 6/28.

Almost half of the US has passed an NIL law, with 12 of them taking effect as early as Thursday, in a sweeping political movement that's triggered NCAA change. pic.twitter.com/WX26NoabCb

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) June 29, 2021

If I were a parent/college athlete in the 36 remaining states without NIL laws July 1, I would be actively lobbying legislators NOT to pass legislation. The NCAA's NIL "rules" now are so passive they are less restrictive than any state law.

— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) June 29, 2021

States without legislation (like Minnesota)

States without NIL legislation will not be hampered in any way tomorrow. Not having state guidelines in place just means more responsibility on individual universities to create their own rules addressing NIL. Any future disputes by players, surrounding the rules or guidelines setup by schools, could prove more difficult to navigate, however.

I’m sure the University and Mark Coyle have confronted NIL from every angle with their student athletes. This morning, I reached out to the Minnesota Gophers athletic department for any guidelines or rules they’ve handed down. I haven’t heard back yet but they didn’t have much time to respond before I posted this blog.

Around the country, you can see things other schools are doing to provide guidelines, rules and opportunities for student athletes. Remember, some schools have state guidance to fall back on and some don’t. The state of Alabama has passed laws addressing NIL and the University released a memo clarifying things for their athletes.

Here are some of them:

• It is not permissible for compensation to be provided in exchange for athletic performance or attendance at The University of Alabama.
• Compensation can come in the form of money, goods or services.
• Use of any registered marks, logos, verbiage or designs owned and protected by The University of Alabama is not permitted unless receiving prior written permission.
• Student-athletes are permitted to obtain professional representation to assist with securing opportunities for compensation. Representation must be for name, image, likeness only and not for future professional contract negotiations.

Many schools are also developing platforms, classes and software that can help their athletes operate, organize and maximize the profitability of their new personal brands. According to ESPN, USC has created something they hope will be a one stop shop for athletes and their money-making brand. I’d imagine they aren’t the only ones forward thinking like this.

USC, for example, built its own in-house creative lab called BLVD Studios that will educate the student-athletes on branding, provide a full-service platform to track content with metrics and help with brand management and narrative. The studio will help create content for their student-athletes that will include things such as logos, photos, videos and podcasts.

Tom VanHaaren – ESPN

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Big Ten football has been trying to clean up its own mess since its decision to postpone the 2020 season earlier this month. The move has made the conference look extremely foolish, to say the least. Not only have PJ Fleck, the Gophers, and every other team in the conference been scrambling to figure out how to get ready for a season they don’t know will ever start.

We also have players’ parents sending in letters and statements to the league, stating concerns. Some have even gone as far as traveling to Chicago to literally knock on the commissioner’s (office) door.

See ya “Early Friday Morning” We gotta Fight and we can’t let these young men FIGHT ALONE…. ALL BIG TEN FANS STAND UP…. pic.twitter.com/qjbaQVcRSX

— Randy L Wade?%? f@❌ℹLy….. (@gslsff) August 18, 2020

Yet the cancelation and subsequent anger within the Big Ten states and fan bases are only one part of the story. What many aren’t talking about, is recruiting and how coaches are juggling their incoming 2021 class amid all these moving parts. Most importantly, what is Minnesota head coach, PJ Fleck, doing to keep his commits’ oars in the water?

Sadly, the bitter reality: The Big Ten better hope the SEC, ACC and Big 12 eventually cancel fall football as well. If not, Big Ten is damaged in so many ways, financially, competitively, recruiting-wise, etc. Lots and lots of important people ticked off by the suddenness.

— Bob Wojnowski (@bobwojnowski) August 12, 2020

IF the SEC, ACC and Big 12 play (and it’s a big if) and it is successful and with no problems, the recruiting fallout for the Big Ten will last for a decade

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) August 11, 2020

Mass Recruiting Exodus Unlikely

In all reality, a mass exodus of recruits from any Big Ten school is unlikely. These players, like Steven Ortiz, committed for reasons too big to die this easily. You’d sure hope it would take more than one season of no competition for incoming players to start defecting. Southern schools are still going to try their damndest…

One of Minnesota’s top commitments for the 2021 class, Steven Ortiz is already feeling the heat. It doesn’t seem to weigh on him though. Ortiz told me he isn’t going anywhere. The communication and trust he has in PJ Fleck and RTB culture shows.

“Schools try to talk to me, but I am 100% committed to Minnesota, and I let them know that… I am focused on my season right now and I hope those guys get to have a season.”

“I talk to coach Fleck all the time and he pretty much always tells me just to stay positive and control what I can control.”

Steven Ortiz Jr.

From all accounts, Fleck has shown nothing but genuine care and interest in his players. That’s a trait that’s becoming even more crucial during this pandemic and shifting college football landscape.

Recruiting in the Future

While it may not hurt the Gophers on the recruiting trail in 2021, not playing football this year could impact PJ Fleck’s ability to recruit the south going forward. The Gophers haven’t been a national powerhouse since the 60’s but Fleck has still done a good job recruiting against helmet schools in the south.

Minnesota has pulled the likes of Rashod Bateman (GA), Daniel Faalele (FL) and Curtis Dunlap (FL) from the area in recent years. Those individuals may not have been the five-stars more established schools attract, but to pull southern four-stars to Minnesota when nobody down there even knows we exist, is a feat in itself.

So how does the Big Ten’s postponement impact the Gopher’s future? According to 247Sports Composite Ratings from Southern states, the Gophers rank only behind Nebraska for Big Ten West schools who most often lure Top-1000 recruits up from the south.

Top 1000 National Recruits from Southern States in Big Ten West (2018-2021)

Fleck has made clear how important recruiting the south is. If the Big Ten isn’t playing football and southern universities are, Fleck’s footprint in football country could shrink…. but I don’t see it.

Flecknotized recruits are likely to see through the “Minnesota doesn’t care about football” charade, even years from now. Yes, the decision to postpone hits hard but if the University of Minnesota didn’t care about athletics (especially football), Fleck wouldn’t be the head coach and Mark Coyle wouldn’t be Athletic Director. The team also wouldn’t be primed to build off their 11-2 record in 2019.

Not the End of the World

This is not the end of the world for the Big Ten or the University of Minnesota football program…. at least not yet. If the pandemic takes a prolonged time to end and the conference doesn’t make better decisions leading into the 2021 season, then all bets are off. But as of right now, Fleck’s constant positive energy should be enough to keep his recruits in the boat.

How to get a major college football program through a pandemic, per #Gophers HC PJ Fleck:

1. Communication
2. Focus on the now (#RTB)
3. Trust pic.twitter.com/MTFMb8wNMG

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) August 15, 2020

It highlights how great of a player’s coach Fleck is and how he has rebuilt the program’s image from scratch. If there is anything Fleck’s recruits have shown, it is empathy. With the likes of Steven Ortiz wanting the current group of guys to play the season they deserve.

Recruits like Steven Ortiz get it. They are going through similar situations, themselves, unsure about their last high school seasons. It will take more than an opportunistic pitch from Dabo Swinney to sway recruits away from the Gophers. Just keep rowing the boat and everything will be fine.

Keep an Eye Out for the “Two For One”…

With the postponement of the 2020 season being potentially moved to early 2021, questions have arisen regarding early enrollees for the upcoming class. Could one player be eligible for two seasons in one calendar year if football is played in the spring after freshman enroll early? If they were to play that year (2 seasons), would it eat up one year of eligibility or two?

Both Ohio State’s Ryan Day and Purdue’s Jeff Brohm, have come out with differing plans for a spring or winter season. There is a lot of politicking going on.

Purdue Coach Jeff Brohm has released a football plan for 2021. pic.twitter.com/USYPxNmoOq

— Sam McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) August 13, 2020

Ryan Day pitched the idea of incoming players playing a two-for-one calendar year, last week. This may be a non-starter for leagues that are playing in the fall but you can’t fault him for trying. The pitch makes even more sense when SEC, ACC, and Big XII schools are trying to poach top incoming recruits.

The question is whether 2021 recruits are playing this fall and thinking of enrolling early.

Jack Kewitsch | Minnesota Sports Fan

The Big Ten is a mess right now when it comes to football. After initially planning on a ten-game, conference-only season, the conference’s university presidents voted to punt the season to 2021 earlier this week. This has brought up questions as to what the conference’s next move will be with COVID-19 still being an ever-present “threat“.

Spring Season?

At the moment, it looks like the Big Ten wants to try and hold a spring season. Yet after sitting on their hands for three months trying to decide what to do, it wouldn’t be surprising if there is no football at all in the 2020-21 school year.

Had it been up to the players, the chances of a fall season would have increased. But in a world where college athletes continually have their voices suppressed, that was never on the table. Shocker!

#Michigan coach @CoachJim4UM on reports of #BigTen canceling fall football and the #WeWantToPlay movement. pic.twitter.com/TLrDCgBxuy

— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) August 10, 2020

Yet the current objective is to play in the spring. That in and of itself brings up a slew of questions that the league (and god forbid, the NCAA) needs to figure out ASAP. How long will the season be? Will teams be playing in a pseudo-bubble? What about early enrollees and players wanting to retain eligibility? There is even the whole issue of those players who are draft eligible.

Looking solely at a spring season, Purdue’s head coach Jeff Brohm came out with what a preliminary season could look like. It is highlighted by an eight-game season with NO BYES and running from late February to May. I bet Brohm feels like he is such a smart guy right now.

Purdue Coach Jeff Brohm has released a football plan for 2021. pic.twitter.com/USYPxNmoOq

— Sam McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) August 13, 2020

But this would be an absolute shit show plan to go with. Players need more than three months between seasons and those with NFL aspirations likely wouldn’t play. Thus creating a power vacuum within the conference. So what does the Big Ten do?

Winter Season?

They should go with a winter season. Ohio State’s Ryan Day candidly discussed plans for a season more focused during the winter months. Beginning on, or shortly after January 1st and extending through February. This would give plenty of time to adjust dates, potentially allow early enrollees and NFL prospects the chance to play, while also maintaining season integrity.

It makes sense why Day would spearhead this idea too. With the Buckeyes ranked second in the preseason Coaches’ Poll, he and his players want to win it all. Having only one year of star quarterback Justin Fields likely plays into his cause too. Yet his plan makes sense.

Sure, teams would have to play in frigid temperatures or find a nearby domed facility to play, but it is the best course of action for everybody. It gives every player a chance to play, if they want to, while also protecting their bodies from two full seasons in a shortened calendar year.

“We’ve got some work to do. I don’t know the answer, but I’m going to fight like heck for these guys to push for what we think is right. There will be some back and forth and conceding some points, but as I sit here right now, I feel pretty strongly about what I’ve said and I’m going to work hard to get it done.”

Ohio State coach Ryan Day on pushing for a winter season

Day’s, and even Brohm’s, leadership is exactly what the Big Ten needs right now. With new commissioner and former Vikings executive Kevin Warren and most university presidents screwing the pooch on each athletic decision, they should incorporate those actually playing and coaching into their meetings.

I am absolutely on board with a winter season. While it is worse than playing in the fall and watching the other conferences play on without a likely hitch, it is better than seeing top talent succumb to piss-poor decisions. It will give fans of the most prestigious conference in the country something to warm those cold winters.

Cancelling fall sports will take a toll physically and mentally on our student athletes. How heavily did that weigh into conversations with the Big Ten heads?

I asked and here is how Gabel and Coyle answered #Gophers: pic.twitter.com/8qvu1O9UGr

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) August 12, 2020

How Do the Gophers Line Up?

The Gophers would benefit from this plan too. If they chose to move indoors, the Vikings would likely be willing to offer US Bank Stadium as an option. But even if they had to play at TCF Bank Stadium, the opportunity to potentially have fans and to play nullifies having to play in freezing weather. These players want to play, damn it!

This plan also allows for those players who may be under-the-radar for the NFL to make a statement. Look at the Gophers’ Tyler Johnson and Antoine Winfield Jr. or LSU’s Joe Burrow last year. They were all arguably NFL talents, and if they were, it was to be as projects or roster depth to start. But after putting up spectacular seasons, it shot them up the boards. Which led to Johnson being drafted in the fifth round, Winfield Jr. in the second, and Burrow as the first overall pick.

While the 2020 Gophers are more of a household name after their 2019 campaign, the likes of and Tanner Morgan and others would have one final opportunity to impress scouts and better their futures.

Questionable Decision Making

What is even more baffling is the data they used to make the cancellation decision. The Big Ten cited ten players known to have underlying conditions that could be impacted by the pandemic. Yet as I mentioned previously, those players can opt-out and leave the young, healthy, and hungry players to carry on. Even with older coaches, other leagues have found ways to protect those most vulnerable. So why can’t the Big Ten?

A winter season makes too much sense. But so did a fall season. Yet a lack of facts and transparency has ruled the day for the Big Ten. This has allowed for fear and misplaced judgments to postpone one of the most anticipated sports years in history.

That’s before you even get into the jobs lost and millions, even billions, of dollars lost. If you think that won’t effect lives, then you’re not being honest. The fight isn’t over yet (for winter football), but knowing how stubborn university presidents are, it is likely to be a bloodbath.

Jack Kewitsch | Minnesota Sports Fan

College football is in a tough spot. Schools, players, and fans alike all want the 2020 season to happen. With or without fans, we all just want to cheer our Papa Fleck and the Minnesota Gophers.

Yet COVID-19 is putting universities into sticky situations. Whether it is figuring out how to deal with positive coronavirus tests (like Clemson or Kansas State) or how schools will handle fan attendance, there is a lot to pin down before the season begins… if it starts at all.

THE GOPHERS’ PLAN

It is no different for the University of Minnesota. Coming off a stellar 11-2 season which saw them climb all the way to 7th in the AP poll and 8th in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Gophers were hoping for sellout crowds at TCF Bank Stadium in 2020. They were likely to get it too, because the Gophers saw 81.6% of tickets used in 2019 compared to 59.8% in 2018.

But we live in a “new normal” (what a crappy phrase) and the Gophers have to anticipate the best and the worst. They are planning for every scenario, with regard to attendance at TCF Bank Stadium. Whether it is 100% capacity, 75%, 50%, or 25%, they want some form of fans in the stands.

The latter two capacity limitations would drastically impact who gets to see the Minnesota Gophers play in-person. Especially when looking at their stadium capacity of 50,805.

So how does the athletic department decide who gets to come and who has to watch from the couch? With a season ticket base of around 22,000, any capacity limitation under 50% would likely lead to some being turned away.

According to associate athletic director Mike Wierbicki, they could look towards the department’s “Gopher Score” loyalty program. The program grants points to ticket holders based off everything from donation levels to tenure. So while the department is likely to want students in the stands too, money talks.

via GIPHY

IS THIS FAIR?

Absolutely. While having students in the stands is an integral factor of game day atmosphere, they aren’t the big money donors. Granted they pay tuition and fees on top of their tickets, it is important to keep your donors happy.

As Wierzbicki told the Star Tribune, “the reality that [fan attendance] is probably dwindling by the day as we get closer [to the season].” So to maintain any form of revenue is important.

“Hopefully, we’re in a spot where we can take care of season-ticket holders and then still have the ability to leverage that Gopher Score system for single-game sales. With the season we had last year and where the momentum is at, there’s tons of positivity. So we were on pace to sell our largest number of new season tickets than we ever have with Gopher football. And I think that we’ll still hit that. Last year, we finished renewals right around the 90% mark. That’s kind of where we’re trending at right now.”

Mike Wierzbicki, Gopher Associate Athletic Director to the Star Tribune

While the university was expecting a $1 million surplus for the 2019-20 year, they are now anticipating a $4 million deficit. With an annual budget of around $123 million (8th in the Big Ten), football accounts for over $9.3 million in ticket sales alone. That does not include media rights, bowl games, or guarantees.

Some may complain, saying the students deserve the first shot at tickets… but they aren’t the ones bringing in the money that floats non-revenue sports such as rowing, swimming and diving, or tennis.

LIMBO

Obviously, it isn’t an ideal situation… but nothing is “ideal” this year and every university is having to adjust. It will be important for the university to prepare for both the best and worst scenarios. And it will be interesting to see how they go about each. Either way, the Minnesota Gophers will just have to plan ahead and figure out every possible avenue for their fans to remain engaged. Whether it is in TCF Bank Stadium or at home.

All we can hope for is the ability to watch college football in any form come Labor Day weekend… so we can see the Gophers take down Wisconsin.

via GIPHY

Jack Kewitsch | Minnesota Sports Fan

Last week, betMGM (New Jersey) updated their Big Ten West odds for 2020. For whatever reason, the Scott Frost (over)hype train is still going strong, Purdue still paid way too much for Brohm and everyone is still sleeping on Minnesota.

Odds will likely move again, before the season kicks off. Oddsmakers still haven’t learned from last year, when they picked the Gophers to finish 6th in the West. After going 11-2 and coming one win over Iowa OR Wisconsin away from winning the division last year, Vegas shows that the disrespect for Minnesota continues to run deep.

The Big Ten East has absolutely dominated in Indianapolis recently, winning the past seven title games. The West seems to be up for grabs this year, after Wisconsin lost Jonathan Taylor to the draft and many others to graduation. So, which team will bring the title back west? Let’s break down what Vegas thinks.

Best Bet

Minnesota +525

Of course it’s Minnesota. Are you kidding me? A $100 bet pays $550… We’re talking long-shot odds on a team returns weapons Rashad Bateman, Mohamad Ibrahim and Heisman favorite, Tanner Morgan? In the trenches, the Gophers also return five starters on the Offensive line.

The gophers schedule is also extremely favorable because it lacks Ohio State and Penn State. The Iowa and Michigan games are both at home, which could be massive (coronavirus pending). Meanwhile, Wisconsin has a trip to the Big House and Iowa has to play Penn State and Ohio State on the road.

Worst Bet

There is no other choice other than Nebraska +325.

We’re talking about a team that lost to Purdue’s backup QB last year, missed a bowl game (is that possible these days?), AND had an elite offensive weapon enter the transfer portal. Their head coach also despises hooded sweatshirts.

Yet, Vegas says Nebraska still has 3rd-best odds to win the West, at +325. The oddsmakers were clearly impressed with wins over South Alabama, Northern Illinois and that close loss to Purdue. Oh, and don’t forget their brutal schedule in November. The line should be more like +800 at best for the Huskers… but I still wouldn’t take it.

Happy New Year!

The 2020 Nebraska football schedule:

Sept. 5 Purdue
Sept. 12 Central Michigan
Sept. 19 SDSU
Sept. 26 Cincinnati
Oct. 3 at NW
Oct. 10 Illinois
Oct. 24 at Rutgers
Oct. 31 at Ohio St.
Nov. 7 Penn St.
Nov. 14 at Iowa
Nov. 21 at Wisconsin
Nov. 27 Minnesota pic.twitter.com/xkhrdpFOcx

— Sam McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) January 1, 2020

Sleeper

National experts would put Minnesota as their sleeper here, but we didn’t sleep on the Gophers last year and we won’t this year, either. Finding a legit sleeper in this group is tough. Northwestern is rolling in with IU transfer Peyton Ramsey at QB, a new OC and some optimism.

Illinois has momentum, after their first bowl game since 2014… but PJ Fleck keeps swiping all Lovie’s best in-state recruits, and Purdue…. well, never mind. Purdue beat Ohio State at home once in 2018, then they paid Brohm a ton of money… and they haven’t done anything since.

I guess, we’ll take Illinois and the momentum at +3000. Maybe Brandon Peters can finally be the reliable QB Jim Harbaugh thought he could be at Michigan (probably not). Maybe the Illini defense will continue to progress (probably not). Really, it’s a 3-horse race between Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota.

While the oddsmakers are still sleeping, some national outlets that have already grabbed an oar. 247Sports recently put the Minnesota Gophers in their conversation for national title contenders..

Sorting college football’s 2020 national title contenders into tiershttps://t.co/0DsPMNnbM8 pic.twitter.com/TIs3ZD9CE7

— 247Sports (@247Sports) June 18, 2020

GoldyLocks | Minnesota Sports Fan

The University of St. Thomas has been anxiously awaiting an answer from the NCAA, for their request to jump from Division III athletics to Division I. After more than a year of waiting, a decision is finally coming this week.

The Tommie’s current conference, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), voted almost unanimously to remove St. Thomas from all athletic competitions. The MIAC cited the university’s “competitive” advantages as the reason. I’m citing, bullshit.

Sources on the boards of MIAC member schools Gustavus and St. Olaf mentioned the move was a strong-arming, from college presidents, over unsubstantiated fears that they couldn’t compete. The presidents didn’t even gather input from their stakeholders.

Yet St. Thomas has taken it in stride.

The @MIACathletics has released a statement that we will be involuntarily removed from the league. Grateful for our proud past, excited for a bright future #RollToms #ProudPast #BrightFuture

MIAC Statement: https://t.co/AhW1tRi4iS
More Information: https://t.co/hJv4Dv6nUZ pic.twitter.com/vfyy4DMZwX

— St. Thomas Athletics (@TommieAthletics) May 22, 2019

The NCAA planned to discuss St. Thomas’ reclassification back in April. But ever since COVID-19 paused nearly all NCAA operations, St. Thomas has been in limbo.

The NCAA’s Division I council, made up of 40 representatives from Division I schools, will vote on whether Division III schools can immediately reclassify to Division I. The traditional route involves jumping to Division II before Division I.

“There’s not an hour that’s gone by that this hasn’t been on my mind at some point. We’ve spent an incredible amount of time assessing the options available to us. It ultimately came down to membership in the Summit League, which gives us a great chance to accomplish things we’d like to pursue as a university.”

Phil Esten, St. Thomas Athletic Director

HISTORY LEFT BEHIND

St. Thomas has been dominant in the MIAC and willing to spend unlike other DIII schools ($1.1 million on football alone). They’ve also won hundreds of titles. The history they leave behind will be the worst part.

This includes their storied rivalry with historic rival, St. John’s University. The annual Tommie-Johnnie game, as its known, has become one of the most attended events in Division III athletics. It is so popular that the schools moved the game to Target Field and Allianz Field in 2017 and 2019. In 2020, the game is scheduled to be played at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Losing out on 500 MIAC championships and 16 national championships across all sports is a shame, as is losing storied rivalries. It’s the right move for both sides, though.

via GIPHY

WHAT’S NEXT?

St. Thomas should know more about their future this week with the council meeting Tuesday and Wednesday. If approved, St. Thomas is poised to join the Summit League in most sports, excluding football. That league includes the likes of both NDSU and SDSU.

For football, St. Thomas’ most dominant sport, they appear to be looking at the Missouri Valley Conference or the Pioneer League. If they join the former, you know our staff here at Minnesota Sports Fan can’t wait to see sad NDSU fans flood our mentions in the coming years.

via GIPHY

Jack Kewitsch | Minnesota Sports Fan

They received 5 less (2 total) in the AP Poll this week: pic.twitter.com/CuIIN6lHLJ

The latest CFB rankings came out today and the Gophers football team received two top 25 votes in the new AP Top 25 and three in the coaches poll. That’s 5 less votes in the AP and 2 more in the Coaches, compared to the week prior. 

Coming off of a too-close-for-comfort game against one of FCS’ best, South Dakota State Jackrabbits, it’s nice to see these polls acknowledge that SDSU was no cake-walk (like the South Alabama Jaguars should have been for the far less talented Nebraska Cornhuskers). 

However, the Gophers will have their hands full once again on Saturday night in Fresno, California, where they take on the Fresno State Bulldogs. The Gophers barely beat the Bulldogs at TCF last season. If the Gophers are able to beat Fresno, they’d certainly receive more votes next week. An added bonus would be Nebraska struggling or maybe even losing to the powerhouse that is the Colorado Buffaloes.

The Gophers havn’t been ranked since the 2014 season, when they were ranked 22 in the country.  This was when David Cobb, Max Williams, and Mitch Leidner were leading the team. 

This is by far P.J. Fleck’s most talented team, since arriving in Minnesota. With worthy NFL talent on both sides of the ball. Senior leaders Tyler Johnson and Carter Coughlin will look to carry young Sophomore Quarterback Tanner Morgan and the rest of the Gophers while rowing the boat to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California. 

Cam Thompson | Minnesota Sports Fan

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EPISODE 57 SUMMARY

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It’s been another big week in the sports “abyss”.

Eric heard details on the new Madden and it looks like EA is going big this year… that’s what we discuss during a well-read 1st segment before transitioning to the Twins being back. They beat the Rays in game 1 of a 3 gamer in Target Field this week. Are we worried about Miguel Sano???

Then, shit gets real controversial when we start discussing the NCAA’s latest fight. It’s with Brandon’s favorite (and Eric’s least favorite) state, California. Cali is woke and wants to be abot to pay players for their likeness… how do you think the NCAA feels about that?

Gopher Football got their best recruits so far for 2020 on Tuesday… but Eric and Brandon want to see more.

Then, we finish up with a conversation about this whole D’Angelo Russel to Minnesota buzz around town. People… he is going to get near-max money… how are we going to pay that AND would we want to?

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EPISODE 46 SUMMARY

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In episode 46, we get ready for the NCAA Tournament by doing the NCAA a favor and round-tabling how to fix the “non-profit” organization with Brandon’s old friend, David Queck who drops all sorts of knowledge. After some calm discussion, we think we may have fixed it.

After fixing the NCAA with Queck, Brandon and I discuss the upcoming tournament for the Gophers. Can they win a game in the dance? Can the beat Louisville? Does it matter? Then, we have a calm discussion about Richard Pitino and why Brandon is a dumbass for wanting him fired still.

We can’t get through an episode without talking about the Vikings and with the NFL offseason burning wild, there’s plenty to talk about… well.. plenty to talk about on the offensive line…

After a long episode, we make 10 minutes for the Twins because they have us so jacked up for this summer. Sure, they could use another pitcher but this team is hitting so many bombs it might not matter…

Eddie Rosario for MVP!

ANNOUNCEMENT: Stay on the lookout today for the Minnesota Sports Fan NCAA Bracket Challenge! It’s sponsored by our friends over at Pro Image Sports in the Mall of America! You’ll have a chance to win $100 gift cards NEW Minnesota Sports Fan T-Shirts!

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Episode Chapters

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