Minnesota is getting a rare visitor this weekend, and it’s not the kind the Gophers have seen often. Mississippi State comes to Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday for a Big Ten-SEC matchup, marking the first time since Oct. 31, 1959 that an SEC team has traveled to Minnesota to face the Gophers. The last one was Vanderbilt, which fell 20-6 to a Minnesota defense that was in command that day.
This time, the Bulldogs arrive with some real momentum after opening their season by crushing Louisiana-Monroe 62-13 on Sept. 5.
Mississippi State piled up 762 total yards in that game, a program record, and sophomore quarterback Kamario Taylor was right in the middle of it. He finished 22 of 34 for 354 yards and four touchdowns, added six carries for 59 yards, and scored once on the ground.
His top receiver was Anthony Evans III, who grabbed seven passes for 118 yards and a touchdown.
Minnesota also looked sharp in its opener, rolling past FCS opponent Eastern Illinois 59-7 on Sept. 3, but this is a different level of test. The Gophers held Eastern Illinois to just 110 yards, yet Mississippi State brings a fast-paced offense under third-year coach Jeff Lebby and comes in after going 5-8 overall and 1-7 in the SEC last season.
There were plenty of encouraging signs for Minnesota in that first game, starting with Javon Tracy. The wide receiver made noise on special teams with punt returns of 87 and 69 yards for touchdowns, becoming the first Gophers player to return two punts for scores in a game and tying the program’s career record for punt return touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 98 yards, set up two touchdowns, and piled up 60 yards after the catch.
Up front, the Gophers’ offensive line looked stronger than it did a year ago, and the Pro Football Focus grades backed that up. Left guard Greg Johnson was Minnesota’s highest-graded player at 93.9, while center Ashton Beers checked in at 84.0.
Left tackle Nathan Roy also cracked the top five on offense with an 80.0 grade. Johnson, in particular, was dominant in the run game, earning a 95.9 mark there.
On defense, linebacker Matt Kingsbury posted the best grade among Minnesota starters at 85.0, and safety Zack Harden followed with a 79.2. In all, 15 Gophers defensive players earned grades of 70 or better.
Saturday gives Minnesota a chance to see how all of that translates against an SEC opponent, and Mississippi State’s explosive opener suggests the Bulldogs will ask a lot more questions than Eastern Illinois did.
In Other News...
Cade Tyson's Gophers Return Comes With One Huge Catch
Cade Tyson is back around the Gophers as the legal fight over his college eligibility plays out, giving Minnesota a familiar face in the mix while the offseason keeps moving. His situation stems from the NCAAs new five-year eligibility model, which changed the old redshirt structure and limited most waiver paths for players trying to squeeze out a final season.
Tyson and other athletes from the 2022 recruiting class sued the NCAA to argue for a fifth year under the new system, and they initially won a preliminary injunction. The NCAA appealed, though, and the injunction was temporarily stayed, which leaves Tyson ineligible for now even as he has rejoined the team while the process continues. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Have A Huge Cade Tyson Question Hanging Over This Season
Cade Tyson is back around Minnesota mens basketball, and for a program trying to reset under Niko Medved, that matters. The University of Minnesota announced Tyson has rejoined the Gophers for the 2026-27 season, has enrolled in classes and is already practicing with the team while his eligibility status gets sorted out.
Tyson was Minnesotas leading scorer last year, so his presence adds both familiarity and a real on-court boost to a roster still taking shape. Medved has voiced support for Tyson through the process, but the important part for the Gophers is still unresolved, and it leaves a major question hanging over the season as camp moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Offseason Suddenly Hinges On One Massive Cade Tyson Decision
The offseason picture for Minnesota basketball changed quickly with Cade Tyson back in the fold, at least for now. The University of Minnesota announced that the teams leading scorer from last season has rejoined the program for the 2026-27 campaign pending eligibility, and he has already enrolled in classes and begun practicing with the Gophers while the staff waits for confirmation under the NCAAs new five-year eligibility rules.
For a program trying to build around proven production, Tysons return carries obvious weight because he also led Minnesota in rebounds and assists during the 2025-26 season. The only real question left is whether the eligibility process clears in time to make his comeback official, turning what looked like a straightforward offseason into one of the most important unresolved items on the Gophers board. [Read more 🡒]