Minnesota heads to State College on Saturday night with a chance to make a little program history while also trying to snap a skid in one of its familiar rivalry games.
The Gophers, listed at 5-4 and 3-3 in the Big Ten, meet Penn State at 6 p.m. CT at Beaver Stadium on FS1.
It’s the first trip to State College since 2022, and Minnesota is still chasing a breakthrough in the series, where it trails 6-11 overall and has dropped the last two meetings. At Penn State, the Gophers are 2-6 all-time and have lost four straight.
This is the 18th game for the Governor’s Victory Bell, and the trophy is currently sitting with the Nittany Lions after Penn State’s 26-25 win in Minneapolis last season. Minnesota has not lost three in a row in the series since a four-game stretch from 2005 to 2010.
There’s more on the line than just the Bell. A win would give Minnesota possession of all four of its rivalry trophies at the same time for the first time in program history.
The Gophers already have Paul Bunyan’s Axe after beating Wisconsin 17-7 last season. They grabbed the Little Brown Jug with a 20-14 win over then-RV/24 Michigan on Oct. 3, ending an 18-game home losing streak in that series.
Then came Floyd of Rosedale, taken with a 13-10 win over then-No. 15/14 Iowa on Oct. 24, which also snapped a five-game home losing streak to the Hawkeyes.
Minnesota has not owned Floyd, the Jug and the Axe together since October of 1978.
The challenge in front of the Gophers is a steep one. Since the start of October, they’ve already gone through Michigan, Iowa, Indiana and UCLA, finishing 2-2 against that run.
Each of those defenses came into its game ranked 22nd or better nationally in total defense, with three sitting eighth or higher. All four were also top-23 in scoring defense, and three were in the top eight, with Indiana at No. 2 and UCLA at No.
- In yards per play allowed, all four ranked in the top 15, and in rush defense and rush yards allowed per attempt, every one of them was top-18 and top-14 respectively, including Indiana at No.
- Penn State brings another tough test, entering ranked 19th in total defense, third in passing yards allowed per game and No. 1 in pass yards allowed per attempt.
Saturday is also another marker in P.J. Fleck’s Minnesota tenure.
The 2026 season is his 10th with the Gophers, tying him for the fourth-longest tenured coach in program history. He is the second-longest active tenured coach in the Big Ten and the 10th-longest tenured head coach in the FBS.
Fleck is 71-48 at Minnesota, which ranks fourth in program history for wins, and his 42 Big Ten wins are also fourth in school history. He has coached 119 games at Minnesota, fifth most in program history.
His .597 winning percentage with the Gophers is third among Minnesota coaches with more than 40 games, behind only Henry L. Williams and Bernie Bierman.
In his 14th season as a college head coach, Fleck is 101-70 overall, making him one of 21 active FBS head coaches with 100 wins.
In Other News...
Gophers Face A Season Pressure Point At Penn State
Minnesota heads to Beaver Stadium on Saturday night with more than just another Big Ten road test on the schedule. The Gophers are trying to snap a two-game conference skid and keep themselves on track for bowl eligibility for a sixth straight season, which gives this trip to Penn State a little extra weight even before kickoff at 6 p.m.
The matchup will be on FOX Sports 1, with FOX 9 carrying the pregame and coach shows, giving fans a full day of coverage around a game that could shape the final stretch of Minnesotas season. Penn State has been a difficult place for visitors, and the Gophers will be looking to handle the pressure point of November with their postseason goals still in reach. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Smith's Penn State Return Gives This Gophers Trip Extra Juice
A trip to Penn State already carries plenty of weight for Minnesota, but Anthony Smiths return to Beaver Stadium adds a personal layer to the matchup. The Gophers defensive lineman is expecting a sizable Minnesota presence in the stands, which should give the road game a little extra energy beyond the usual Big Ten backdrop.
Drake Lindsey is trying to keep the focus where it belongs, on the current season rather than any talk about 2027, while Greg Johnson is already looking ahead in a different way. The offensive lineman voiced support for the College Football Playoff expanding to 24 teams next year, a reminder that even as Minnesota prepares for one of its biggest road tests, the conversation around the sport keeps stretching into what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Land A Recruit Who Signals Bigger Plans Ahead
Minnesota added another piece to its future frontcourt when Isaiah Santos officially signed with the Gophers, giving Niko Medved a 6-foot-5 forward with a rsum that stretches well beyond Katy, Texas. Santos has played for Seven Lakes High School, Team Brazil and AB Elite AAU, and the programs announcement underscored the kind of versatility that has made him one of the more intriguing young prospects in the class.
Medveds staff clearly sees more than just another name on the board here. Santos arrives with a blend of high school and international experience that suggests Minnesota is aiming higher in how it builds its roster, not just for one season but for the next wave of talent coming through the program. The signing itself is a meaningful step, and it also hints at how much bigger the Gophers believe this recruiting run can get. [Read more 🡒]