Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. CDT, the Golden Gophers are back at Huntington Bank Stadium for their 2025 homecoming matchup against a much more comparable Big Ten foe, the (2-3, 0-2) Purdue Boilermakers.

Minnesota Gophers vs Purdue Boilermakers (Oct 11, 2025)

If you are looking for how the Gophers and Boilermakers matchup on paper, you are in the right spot. Below, you will find all the worthwhile comparables between Purdue and Minnesota, heading into Saturday night’s primetime matchup on Big Ten Network.

Included below, you will find Minnesota Gophers vs Purdue Boilermakers betting odds, basic/advanced tale of the tape (team stats) and top performers to watch from both teams. If you believe there are other statistics or categories that should be added to this post for future matchups, please let us know.

Gophers vs Boilermakers Betting Odds

Obviously, the oddsmakers are all in on the Minnesota Gophers winning by two scores on homecoming, against a Purdue Boilermakers team that PJ Fleck & Co have lost two straight games against (49-30 in 2023, 20-10 in 2022).

But the 2025 Boilermakers come into this one having lost three-straight (USC, @ Notre Dame, Illinois), and as you will see in the tale of the tape below, they are one of the worst teams in the Big Ten on defense and their offense has been unreliable, at best.

On the other side, the Minnesota Gophers defense looks a lot better on paper than it has with the eye test, but you can see in some of the advanced metrics below, that there are plenty of cracks in their armor. Offensively, let’s just say the Gophers move the ball a lot better through the air than they do on the ground.

Minnesota vs Purdue Tale of the Tape (Basic)

MN Gophers vs PUR Boilermakers Tale of the Tape (Advanced)

Lastly, here are some of the players from both teams that you can expect to see a lot on Saturday evening. For the Gophers, redshirt sophomore Drake Lindsey looks to bounce back off of a step-back performance against the Buckeyes in which he went from Ohio State killer in the first drive to Horseshoe loser for the rest of the 3.5 quarters.

Minnesota Gophers vs Purdue Boilermakers players to watch

Without a doubt, this is a get-right game for the young right-handed gunslinger, if he can take advantage of an incredibly leaky Purdue pass defense that only takes the ball away 0.2 times per game.

Defensively, the Gophers will look to hold down Purdue QB Ryan Browne, who has thrown almost as many interceptions through five games, as he has touchdowns.

Darius Taylor will lead Minnesota run game, which has been incredibly pedestrian so far in 2025. Again, the Boilermaker defense will give them a chance to change their best on the ground too.

Purdue’s mediocre run game is led by Devin Mockobee, who is averaging just 3.8 yards per carry this season. Minnesota won’t let that fool them, however, as Mockobee has run all over the Gophers during the past two matchups (265 yds, 2 TD total) between these two Big Ten rivals.

All that anxiousness locally has only grown heavier over the last few days, while MN Vikings fans watched and waited impatiently for 30 other teams to play out week one of the 2025 NFL regular season.

Minnesota Vikings vs Chicago Bears Cheatsheet

But now we are finally here, just hours away from week 1’s Monday Night Football grand finale in the Windy City between the Vikings and one of three NFC North rivals to the east, the Chicago Bears.

Below is a pregame cheat sheet that includes how to watch/listen to the game, along with up-to-date injuries and uniform numbers for each new Minnesota Vikings player. Below that, we will get into tonight’s key storylines and matchups.

How to watch and/or listen to MNF: Vikings vs Bears

• Kickoff Time: 7:15 PM
• Channel: ESPN, ABC | ESPN2 (Alternate “Manningcast”)
  • PBP: Joe Buck, Analyst: Troy Aikman
• Stream: ESPN App
• Listen: KFAN Radio – 100.3 FM
  • *Stream radio broadcast on iHeartRadio

** For more, visit our Minnesota Vikings game today post, which includes current betting lines, how to watch and more

Vikings vs Bears latest injury updates

The Minnesota Vikings have been dealing with injuries up and down the roster, throughout training camp and the preseason. After sitting out with a hamstring injury for most of the summer, Justin Jefferson was not on any of the Vikings injury reports that came out this week.

Others starters who have been banged up — including Jalen Nailor and Andrew Van Ginkel — all plan to play, asa well. The only starter officially ruled out due to illness/injury is veteran safety Harrison Smith, while left tackle Christian Darrisaw enters the day as “questionable”.

S Harrison Smith (illness) has been downgraded to out and will not travel with the team. pic.twitter.com/ZU92QFc9rk

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 7, 2025

#MINvsCHI final injury report

OUT: Zavier Scott and Elijah Williams

DOUBTFUL: Harrison Smith

QUESTIONABLE: Christian Darrisaw pic.twitter.com/7IbuPOIiDB

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 6, 2025

Harrison Smith tried, but failed to get his body ready for week one, following a weeks-long battle with a mysterious illness that we still know very little about. By all accounts, he’s fine mentally and should be ready to go for week two. Any injury updates throughout the day will be added to this article.

New Minnesota Vikings uniform numbers

MN Vikings uniform number changes for 2025

• WR Myles Price: #4 (was #31)
• CB Dwight McGlothern: #6 (was #29)
• OLB Bo Richter: #98 (was #54)

Vikings vs Bears Top Storylines and Keys to Victory

Before this one kicks off at 7:15 PM, here is a quick preview/review of key matchups, storylines and other items to help Minnesota Vikings fans catch up on anything should know and watch for, heading into this division matchup against the Bears.

The debut of JJ McCarthy

There is no arguing tonight’s top storyline. After sitting out all of 2024 due to a torn meniscus, Minnesota’s No. 10 overall pick from last year’s NFL Draft will finally take his first regular season snap tonight vs the Chicago Bears, the team the grew up cheering for as a kid, just 30 minutes outside Chicago.

McCarthy has looked good during training camp and in the little preseason work he was allowed. Still, people fear the unknown. The Vikings have one of the best overall rosters in the NFL, but until JJ proves he can competently lead them, your belief in the Vikings resides in your blind faith in the redshirt rookie QB.

JJ McCarthy last 5 games played:

•Snapped Vikings’ 10-game preseason losing streak

•Won the natty

•Sent Nick Saban into retirement

•Won B1G title

•Beat Ohio State. Again.

pic.twitter.com/WMYFwOWZNd

— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) August 9, 2025

Related: How JJ McCarthy Saved Himself from Pandemic-Induced Depression

Before you let that MN sports fan anxiety kick in, though, let’s remember that Kevin O’Connell might be the greatest QB coaching mind in the league right now. And he essentially stiff armed three current starting quarterbacks, in favor of McCarthy — Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones and Aaron Rodgers.

So if KOC believes, then we should too… right? Those kinds of questions will finally start to die off tonight, when we get to see our new franchise QB throw the ball, make pre-snap decisions, post-snap reads and finally show the world for himself whether or not he is cut out for this job.

Kevin O’Connell’s “New Look” Offense (with Adam Thielen)

Knowing JJ McCarthy was taking over under center, MN Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has committed very publicly to run the ball more. McCarthy wasn’t a volume passer at Michigan and the Vikings want to bring him along slowly.

To help ensure the historically pass-happy play-caller keeps his ground and pound promise, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah rebuilt Minnesota’s offensive line and traded another starting running back, Jordan Mason, to help tag-team carries with now 30-year-old Aaron Jones.

Vikings RB Jordan Mason pic.twitter.com/s3APE2xYVt

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) July 20, 2025

Related: NFL Insider Officially OUT on Vikings

But as the saying goes, it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Once bodies start flying around on Monday night, does KOC stick to the ground game, or revert back to old habits? And how does JJ McCarthy’s live performance make an impact on playcalling? Tonight, we’ll get some answers to that 2025 question, and much more.

Minnesota would’ve been forced to rely even heavier on the ground attack, had they not pulled off a last-minute trade with the Carolina Panthers at the end of training camp, that brought Adam Thielen back home. With Jordan Addison out serving a three-game suspension, Thielen will lineup opposite Jefferson, as WR2.

There have been whispers that he might be washed and retirement is reportedly right around the corner, as we all wait with baited breath to find out how open a 35-year-old overachiever can still get in KOC’s offense.

Brian Flores vs Ben Johnson

Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores is widely considered one of the two or three best defensive coordinators in the NFL. Ben Johnson, after three very successful seasons as Detroit Lions offensive coordinator, is in his first year as Chicago Bears head coach.

While in Detroit, Johnson was one of the only offensive play-callers in the NFL who seemed to have Brian Flores’ defense figured out. The Lions scored 30 points on the Vikings in both of their 2023 matchups, then put up 31 in both games last season. Oh, and Minnesota took L’s in all four.

Brian Flores VS. Ben Johnson

I LOVE THE NFL pic.twitter.com/taeNYaJa0p

— Albear (@ChicagoBears_mx) January 6, 2025

To make the matchup scarier, the Vikings enter tonight’s game with just four cornerbacks on the active 53-man roster, only one of which was a starter last season. Can the new-look Minnesota pass rush get home and create enough havoc to make life difficult on Williams? If not, all signs point to a tough day on defense for the Vikings.

To add some fuel onto a fire that doesn’t need any extra, it’s worth noting that there has been very little interest in Brian Flores on the head coaching carousel in recent years, despite his semi-successful head coaching background and smothering defensive schemes.

Related: It’s Pretty Much a Contract Year for One Key Vikings Pass-Catcher

An active lawsuit against the league and past QB coaching drama will do that even to the best coaches. Nonetheless, it has to bother Flores a bit that Ben Johnson was the Bell of last offseason’s head coaching carousel.

Unlike Flores, who got a couple preliminary interviews only, Ben had his choice of just about any head coaching vacancy in the league. Ultimately, he chose the Bears and 2024 No. 1 overall pick, Caleb Williams. I can’t imagine Flores would love anything more than to show up Johnson with the entire nation and league watching.

Both clubs are headed in very different directions right now. Minnesota enters NFL games today scoring the fourth-most points per game and it ranks fourth in scoring defense, per ESPN.com. Meanwhile, New York is 2-2 and coming off a brutal 10-9 home loss to the Denver Broncos.

Related: NFL defense rankings, see where the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets land

Ahead of Sunday’s early morning kickoff, let’s dive into the stats you need to know for Sunday’s Jets vs Vikings game in London.

35% – New York Jets’ ESPN pass-rush win rate this season

After losing Bryce Huff to the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Jets recognized they needed another edge rusher to bolster their pass defense. It led to the Haason Reddick trade, but the Pro Bowl edge defender still hasn’t played a snap in New York. With Reddick sitting out regular-season games and Jermaine Johnson (Achilles) lost for the season, New York’s pass rush has been far less effective than it was in 2023.

Related: Stats to Know for Minnesota Golden Gophers vs USC Trojans, Why They Matter

Last season, the Jets had the fourth-highest pressure rate (26.5 percent) and the sixth-highest sack rate (8.4 percent) in the NFL. Heading to Londo, New York ranks 25th in ESPN pass-rush win rate (35 percent). Of the team’s 14 sacks, half of those came against the worst offensive line in the NFL (New England Patriots).

For comparison, Minnesota’s offensive line has a 55% pass-block win rate this season whereas New England is dead last by a wide margin at 40 percent. The Vikings’ offensive line is just 26th in Pro Football Focus‘ Pass Blocking Efficiency (81.1) with the 12th-most pressures (40) allowed.

In comparison, New England has allowed 62 pressures this season and is last with a PFF PBE of 73.0. It all suggests this could be a lot more like the Monday Night Football game in Week 1, when the Jets generated just 9 pressures on 31 pass attempts by Brock Purdy. Of note, the Jets defense has the 11th-lowest blitz rate (22.3% this year.

Related: Minnesota Vikings draft picks 2025, Vikings future draft picks

127.1 – Sam Darnold’s NFL QB rating when not pressured

We first highlighted some stats for the trenches ahead of the Jets vs Vikings game because of what it means for Sam Darnold. He’s playing near an MVP-caliber level this season, which is a credit to both him and the phenomenal supporting cast around him. The Jets’ ability to pressure Darnold and Minnesota’s approach to keeping the pocket clean will have a significant impact on this matchup.

• Sam Darnold stats vs clean pocket (PFF): 127.1 QB rating (1st), 80.6% Adjusted Completion rate (11th), 3.7% Turnover-Worthy Play rate (6th-highest), 4.9% Big-Time Throw rate (5th), 82.6 PFF grade (9th), 10.0 yards per attempt (2nd), 7 passing touchdowns (T-1st), 2 interceptions

Everyone knows how good this Jets’ secondary is and it’s why this could be a lower-scoring game than expected. New York has allowed the lowest net yards per attempt (4.2), the fifth-lowest completion rate (61.1%) and the sixth-lowest average QB rating (78.6) this year.

Related: USC Trojans vs Minnesota Golden Gophers, More Stats to Know

• Sam Darnold stats vs pressure (PFF): 95.7 NFL QB rating (8th), 69.2% Adjusted Completion rate (10th), 4.2% Turnover-Worthy Play rate (10th-highest), 3% Big-Time Throw rate (13th), 59.2 PFF grade (13th), 5.9 yards per attempt (15th), 4 passing touchdowns (1st), 1 interception

When this Jets pass rush can’t get home, that gives Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison time to find space against these cornerbacks. Coverage can only hold up for so long, especially with how well Kevin O’Connell is designing passing concepts this year. While this is the best defense Darnold has faced in 2024 and it is his former team, he could shine if Minnesota keeps a clean pocket.

Also Read: Minnesota Gophers Football Commits 2025

3.7 – Yards Per Carry allowed by the Minnesota Vikings defense

It will come as no surprise that an Aaron Rodgers-led Jets team doesn’t run the football a ton, entering Week 5 with the 12th-lowest rushing rate (40.41 percent) in the NFL. New York also hasn’t been particularly effective on the ground, averaging the sixth-lowest yards per carry average (3.7) in the NFL. That doesn’t bode well for Breece Hall and Braelon Allen against this Vikings defense.

• New York Jets rushing stats: 3.7 yards per carry (27th), 5.5 rushing first downs per game (24th), -0.109 Rush EPA (20th), 39.3% Rushing Success rate (17th)

Related: Bold Predictions for New York Jets vs Minnesota Vikings

• Minnesota Vikings run defense stats: 3.7 yards per carry average (4th-best), 75 rushing yards per game allowed (2nd-best),-0.714 Rush EPA allowed (5th-best), 35.1% Rush Success Rate allowed (7th-best)

The Vikings have allowed just one opponent (San Francisco 49ers) to rush for 100 yards this season and that’s also the only game Minnesota has allowed a rushing touchdown. While there is important context to consider – the Vikings take two-score leads early and faced Devin Singletary (Week 1) and Cam Akers (Week 3) – this has still been one of the best run defenses in the NFL using basic and advanced stats.

Also Read: Best NFL players of all time

75.6 – Aaron Rodgers’ QB rating when pressured

Once the escape artist who navigated pressure like few others in NFL history and slipped out of sacks to launch downfield touchdown strikes, Rodgers isn’t the quarterback he used to be. Through four games, the Jets’ signal-caller ranks 11th in QB rating (75.6) when pressured, just ahead of Daniel Jones. Alarmingly, Rodgers is also tied with Jones, Gardner Minshew and Bo Nix with 0 big-time throws, per PFF, when pressured.

• Minnesota Vikings defense stats: 40.8% blitz rate (2nd in NFL), 34.2% pressure rate (2nd), 14.9% hurry rate (1st), 12.5% QB knockdown rate (6th), 8.8% sack rate (9th)

Just a week ago, we saw this same Vikings defense generate 13 pressures (fifth-most in Week 4) against a good Packers offensive line. While Jordan Love was playing on an MCL tear, Rodgers is now 40 years old and looks like a quarterback a year removed from a torn Achilles. Pressure on Rodgers will be critical, especially with him not being on the same page as the Jets’ receiving corps right now.