Michigan’s first road trip of 2026 is now set, and it comes with an early wake-up call.
The Wolverines will head to Minnesota the following weekend after opening Big Ten play against Iowa at The Big House, and the league announced Monday afternoon that the Week 5 matchup will kick off at noon and air on FOX. For Michigan fans, that’s the kind of slot that usually lands pretty high on the approval list.
Minnesota enters the game at 2-1, with lopsided wins over Eastern Illinois, 59-7, and Akron, 41-7, bookending a heavy loss to Mississippi State, 38-13, two weeks ago.
P.J. Fleck’s team has leaned on the ground game again.
The Golden Gophers are averaging 4.4 yards per carry in 2026, and TJ Thomas has been the early statistical leader in the backfield with 23 carries for 173 yards and one touchdown. Drake Lindsey has also opened the year efficiently at quarterback, going 67-of-103 for 747 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
He has been sacked only three times in three games, a sign that Minnesota’s line has done a solid job protecting him.
Michigan has had the upper hand in this series for a while now, riding a five-game winning streak against the Golden Gophers. The most recent meeting came in 2024 at The Big House, when the Wolverines escaped with a 27-24 win.
The last trip to Minneapolis was much more comfortable for Michigan, which rolled to a 52-10 victory in 2023. In that game, Will Johnson and Keon Sabb each returned interceptions for touchdowns, with Johnson’s coming on the first play from scrimmage, and J.J.
McCarthy finished with three total touchdowns.
Minnesota’s last win over Michigan came in Ann Arbor in 2014, a 30-14 result.
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