Preseason polls are one of the last checkpoints before college football kicks off, and they already paint a pretty clear picture for Minnesota: this fall is going to be a grind.
The Gophers picked up five votes in the AP poll and none from the coaches, but the bigger headline is what waits on the schedule. Minnesota will face five ranked Big Ten opponents this season, a brutal slate that will test this team from September through Thanksgiving.
The first major measuring stick comes Sept. 12 against Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are picked to finish 15th in the 16-team Southeastern Conference after going 5-8 overall and 1-7 in league play last year.
Still, there’s reason to take them seriously. Jeff Lebby made real progress after a 2-10 debut season in Starkville in 2024, and 6-foot-4, 230-pound dual-threat quarterback Kamario Taylor could be a problem for Minnesota’s defense.
Last season’s early road loss at California - a 27-14 defeat in Berkeley - helped put a ceiling on the Gophers’ 8-5 finish, and this SEC matchup will serve as another early read on where they stand.
Then comes the Big Ten opener at Washington on Sept. 26, and that one is no picnic. The Huskies are ranked No. 17 in the AP poll and No. 19 in the coaches poll after a 9-4 season, and they bring back dangerous quarterback Demond Williams.
Minnesota went 0-5 on the road last year, so the Gophers have to find a way to start collecting wins away from Huntington Bank Stadium. It’s also their first trip to Seattle since 1976, which makes Husky Stadium a true bucket-list stop for fans, complete with the shoreline setting on Lake Washington and the sail-gating scene out on the water.
A week later, Minnesota gets its Big Ten home opener against Michigan on Oct. 3.
The Wolverines are ranked No. 16 in both polls and are in transition after the disgraceful exit of head coach Sherrone Moore and the hiring of Kyle Wittingham, who arrives after a long run at Utah. Michigan went 9-4 last season and returns quarterback Bryce Underwood, the former No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class, after an underwhelming year that should improve.
The Wolverines also come in with history on their side, having beaten Minnesota in 11 of the last 12 meetings for the Little Brown Jug. During fall camp, the Gophers have even added a “juggernaut” inside-run period to their trophy-game work, alongside “pig pen” for Iowa and “axe tough” for Wisconsin.
The Iowa game on Oct. 24 is another one Minnesota will have circled. The Gophers were blown out 41-3 at Kinnick Stadium last October, P.J.
Fleck’s worst loss to the Hawkeyes since taking over in 2017. That’s saying plenty, given his 1-8 record against Iowa.
Drake Lindsey threw three interceptions in that game, and the rivalry will again loom large when Floyd of Rosedale is on the line. Iowa’s quarterback battle is still unsettled, though Jeremy Hecklinski took a front-seat position in that competition over the weekend, and the Hawkeyes have long managed to survive shaky play at the position under Kirk Ferentz.
Minnesota then gets a third straight shot at the reigning national champions when it visits Indiana on Oct. 31.
The Hoosiers are ranked No. 6 in both polls after a 16-0 season, and Curt Cignetti is expected to reload quickly. Texas Christian transfer Josh Hoover is set to take over at quarterback for Heisman Trophy-winer Fernando Mendoza.
Last year, Minnesota was routed 43-3 by 2024 champion Ohio State in Columbus, so the question now is whether the Gophers can at least keep this one competitive in Bloomington.
Penn State comes next on Nov. 14, with the Nittany Lions ranked No. 18 in the AP poll and No. 17 in the coaches poll. They, too, are in transition, with first-year head coach Matt Campbell arriving after his successful run at Iowa State.
But Penn State isn’t expected to slide much, and Minnesota knows how tough Happy Valley can be. The U is just 2-6 there since 1993.
The regular season ends at Wisconsin on Nov. 28, and that rivalry could carry real heat if the Badgers make the leap many are expecting. Minnesota has won Paul Bunyan’s Axe in four of the last five meetings, but Wisconsin is considered a trendy pick to jump this fall. Their tough 2025 schedule is behind them, and if quarterback Colton Joseph stays healthy, Black Friday in Madison could get nasty.