Explore every episode of the podcast Minnesota Golden Gophers Football Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are loaded with new transfers this season, and several standouts could redefine their 2024 campaign. Wide receiver Noah Jennings, a “freak athlete,” joins a revamped receiving corps alongside Jalen Smith and Javon Tracy—potentially forming a lethal trio. On the offensive line, Bennett Warren battles for the starting right tackle spot, a critical need after last year’s struggles. Defensive tackle Naquan Crowder, a Marshall transfer, brings size and athleticism to plug holes in the middle. And at defensive end, T.J. Bush—Cal’s top pass rusher—teams up with Karter Menz to form a fearsome front seven. This roster overhaul could be the catalyst Minnesota needs to make noise in the Big Ten.

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Gopher defensive ends are poised for a breakout season with Anthony Smith’s return — the 12.5-sack, 17.5-tackle-for-loss standout skipping the draft — joined by breakout Karter Menz, four-star recruit Jaxon Howard, and Cal transfer TJ Bush, who led his team in sacks. With depth from Adam Kissayi and promising freshmen on the horizon, this unit is stacked with talent that could start for other Big Ten teams. Smith’s dominance is expected to continue, potentially shattering program records, while the entire group is primed to dominate and pressure opposing offenses — making this one of the conference’s most fearsome defensive lines.

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"Call your mom." - A Message From Corey

The Minnesota Gophers are poised for a breakout 2026 season, armed with a veteran roster, a rising NFL-bound QB, and NIL-fueled returns from stars like Darius Taylor and Anthony Smith. Despite low preseason expectations and oddsmakers predicting just seven wins, this squad may be more talented than the 11-win 2019 team. Analyst Stewart Mandel believes head coach PJ Fleck has a golden opportunity to push Minnesota back into Big Ten contention—and possibly the playoff picture. With Fleck’s proven track record, including an undefeated bowl streak and fourth-most wins in school history, the Gophers have the foundation to answer fans’ growing question: “Why not us?”

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"Only Rock With Real Ones." - A Message from Corey

Drake Lindsey’s freshman year showed flashes of potential, ranking second in completion percentage and third in touchdowns while leading the team in fewest interceptions — stats that even rival Max Brosmer’s senior year. With a stronger receiving corps returning and a more open playbook expected, Lindsey is poised for a breakout sophomore season. Backed by a deeper, more experienced depth chart and promising freshman Owen Lansu, the Gophers’ offense looks set to take a major leap — turning the quarterback position into a true strength.

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The Giants could be in need of a new left guard in 2027 if Jon Runyan Jr. leaves after his contract expires, and Minnesota’s Greg Johnson emerges as a top candidate. Standing 6’6” and 325 lbs, Johnson combines massive size with surprising athleticism, capable of playing both guard and tackle. He’s quick off the snap, powerful in the run game, and tough in pass protection—always finishing blocks with a nasty edge. While his technique needs refinement—especially consistency, hand placement, and avoiding overextension—his blend of strength, speed, and competitiveness makes him a high-upside draft prospect, possibly a second-round steal.

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"Someone’s Life Is Changing Today..." - A message from Corey

Happy 4th of July! - A message of Corey

Anthony Smith is already dominating preseason hype as Minnesota’s defensive anchor, earning Walter Camp Second Team and Phil Steele First Team All-American honors before kickoff. With 17.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks last season, he’s closing in on school records—and he’s just getting started. At 6’6”, 285 lbs, Smith brings relentless disruption and leadership, earning First Team All-Big Ten honors. He’ll join teammates like Greg Johnson, Maverick Baranowski, and John Nestor, who also landed preseason All-Big Ten nods, showcasing Minnesota’s depth. The Gophers hit the field Sept. 3 against Eastern Illinois, with Smith and crew set to shine at Big Ten Media Days next month.

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Advertise with The Daily News Now! - A Message from Corey

The Gophers’ 2026 season hinges on ceiling vs. floor: best case, a nine-win campaign fueled by home-field dominance and road upsets; worst case, a six-win minimum thanks to key early advantages. Coach Fleck’s steady foundation makes this a thrilling, high-stakes projection.

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Minnesota’s Big Ten football season looks like a brutal gauntlet, with even a local columnist who’s not usually a P.J. Fleck fan predicting a six-win conference campaign — a tall order against road tests like Washington, Michigan, and Iowa, plus tough home games against Penn State and Indiana. With UCLA on the rise and Northwestern looming as an upset threat, the Gophers need to pull off some unlikely wins just to hit that six-win mark — and even then, it might be tougher than expected in a conference where showing up every Saturday is non-negotiable.

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Five New Cities, One Big Mission - A Message from Corey

Jaxon Howard, Gophers defensive lineman and community hero, is back for his third annual free summer football camp at Robbinsdale Cooper High—complete with pizza, drills, and Gopher teammates volunteering as coaches. Formerly a player at the same school, Howard’s camp isn’t just about skills—it’s about mentorship, giving back, and building the next generation of athletes right where it all started.

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Trust The Process - A Message from Corey

EA Sports just dropped the player ratings for their upcoming college football game, igniting debate among Gophers fans. Darius Taylor and Javon Tracy lead with elite 87 and 86 scores, while quarterback Drake Lindsey’s 81 rating sparks discussion despite his potential. Anchoring the defense, Greg Johnson and Anthony Smith both earn 92s, showcasing top-tier talent. But some ratings raise eyebrows—Karter Menz, with six and a half sacks, gets a 72, leaving fans questioning EA’s evaluation. With the game launching next month, these ratings fuel hype and anticipation as virtual Gophers prepare to take the field.

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The Gophers’ defense is primed for a breakout season with a stacked edge rush quartet, a rising redshirt sophomore, and fresh interior talent. Look out for Gerlach’s return at linebacker and don’t overlook Parrish, the freshman cornerback with breakout potential. With key roles open at safety and nickel, Monroe could seize his moment — this unit is hungry, deep, and ready to dominate.

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The team’s resilience is on full display as they gear up for a championship-caliber season, fueled by returning talent and Coach Fleck’s steady leadership—complete with memorable goldfish stories. Players credit him for instilling discipline through role clarity and team-building activities, while off the field, he’s also a surprisingly competitive golfer. One player reflects deeply on the mentorship of former teammate Max Brosmer, who shaped his leadership and film study habits during his freshman year. Now, that dedication drives his routine as fall camp kicks in, all with one goal: set the tone for week one and chase four rivalry trophies starting September third.

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Coach P.J. Fleck is convinced the Minnesota Golden Gophers are primed for a College Football Playoff berth, especially with the expanded 24-team format—where a nine-win Big Ten team could make the cut. He stresses winning close games and highlights the program’s elite bowl record, three ranked wins in two seasons, and stellar academic performance. Fleck credits his stable leadership team and long-term culture as the real keys to success, while praising QB Drake Lindsey’s growth and using Artemis II as a motivational benchmark. The rivalry win against Wisconsin? That’s not just pride—it’s legacy, and after four straight victories, it’s reigniting the spirit of college football across the state.

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The Gophers are poised for a wide receiver revolution, blending proven stars like Javon Tracy and Jalen Smith—last year’s bowl MVP—with high-impact transfers including Noah Jennings, Perry Thompson, and Zion Steptoe. With key departures from last season’s rotation, this revamped corps aims to deliver explosive playmaking, deep chemistry, and consistent production—a potential cornerstone of their offense as they chase a breakout campaign.

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Despite media polls predicting a tenth-place finish in the Big Ten, the Gophers are poised for a breakout season thanks to a stacked returning roster ranked seventh nationally in production, featuring a strong QB, top RB, elite linemen, key receivers, and All-Big Ten defenders — history shows they’ve outperformed expectations before, and this year could be their time to shine.

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Coach P.J. Fleck’s Minnesota Gophers are turning up the intensity with wild motivational tactics—players penned personal goals on dollar bills and stashed them in a jar as a daily reminder, while team meetings featured Artemis 2 clips and JFK’s moon speech to spark big-picture thinking. It’s all about forging unity and individual drive, and we’ll see if these unconventional methods pay off when the season opens Sept. 3 against Eastern Illinois.

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Michigan’s dominance in the Little Brown Jug rivalry is under threat as Minnesota, led by coach P.J. Fleck and fueled by home-field grit, returns with renewed momentum. After 43 straight wins since 1969, Michigan’s recent close calls—like a 21-point fourth-quarter lead slipping away in 2024—hint at vulnerability. With Minnesota’s 8-5 record and 5-4 Big Ten showing, the Gophers could pull off the upset if Michigan’s focus falters.

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Anthony Smith, the Gophers’ defensive end, is dominating preseason hype after being named Big Ten’s preseason defensive player of the year—beating out Oregon’s top contenders. Last season, he led the conference with 12.5 sacks and 38 tackles while playing all 13 games. Standing 6’6” and weighing 285 lbs, Smith rejects the “power rusher” label, calling himself a “unicorn” to emphasize his all-around pass-rushing versatility. Meanwhile, quarterback Drake Lindsey, a redshirt freshman who threw for 2K yards and 18 TDs last year, earned just one vote for offensive player of the year—going to Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith. The Gophers were picked to finish tenth in the Big Ten, and while Lindsey’s name is already trending in NFL Draft circles, he’s also navigating the fallout from a recent arrest he’s publicly addressed.

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