Two AP voters saw enough in Minnesota to squeeze the Gophers into their preseason Top 25 ballots, even if the rest of the poll left them well outside the spotlight.
The Gophers landed in the “others receiving votes” section of the Associated Press preseason Top 25 last week with five points from two voters, which amounts to a de facto No. 38 ranking heading into next Thursday’s season opener against Eastern Illinois at Huntington Bank Stadium.
One of those voters was Ralph Russo, the former AP reporter now with The Athletic, who slotted Minnesota at No. 22.
The other was Koki Riley of The Advocate in Baton Rouge, La., who had the Gophers at No. 25.
Both explained this week why Minnesota made the cut on their ballots.
Russo said he likes to plant a couple of unconventional teams near the back end of his Top 25, and Minnesota fit that profile for him along with Florida at No. 19. His case for the Gophers centered on stability, quarterback play and a defense that still looks dependable.
“The Gophers tend to be a pretty high-floor group under (head coach P.J.) Fleck,” he said.
“They mostly live in that 7-5/8-4 range. So, basically, I’m looking at (them) getting to 9-3, and that doesn’t seem like a stretch because Drake Lindsey raises the ceiling for an experienced offense.”
Lindsey is back for his redshirt sophomore season after starting all 13 games last year. He completed 246 of 389 passes for 2,382 yards with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Russo said he expects Minnesota’s offense to look like Minnesota’s offense - not some sudden up-tempo makeover, but a group that can be efficient if the pieces hold up.
“The Gophers are gonna do what they do offensively,” Russo said. “I’m not expecting them to suddenly become wide-open and fast-paced, but I think Lindsey and a healthy (running back) Darius Taylor can make them an efficient middle-of-the-pack Big Ten offense.”
He also pointed to Anthony Smith as a difference-maker on defense, calling the defensive end “one of the best edge rushers in the Big Ten,” and added that Fleck’s teams usually defend well against opponents that aren’t elite.
Russo did not ignore the schedule, either. Minnesota avoids Ohio State, the preseason No. 1, and No. 2 Oregon.
“I generally try to avoid playing the schedule game in the preseason rankings, but it’s hard not to notice that Oregon and Ohio State are not here,” he said. “I could look pretty dumb if Mississippi State beats the Gophers in Week 2, but I think this is a low-level risk to take.”
Riley’s No. 25 vote came from a similar place, though she framed it as a chance for Minnesota’s offense to finally match a defense that has already been steady.
“I think that Minnesota finally has the potential to have a relatively explosive offense to pair with a steady defense this season. Drake Lindsey at quarterback has the tools to be a first-round pick. I like that Darius Taylor is back at running back, and two of Lindsey’s top three wideouts from last year have also returned (Jalen Smith and Javon Tracy),” she said.
She also gave Fleck credit for the program’s consistency since he arrived in 2017.
“P.J. Fleck clearly knows what he’s doing, and there’s a reason why Minnesota makes a bowl game every year despite trotting out offenses that have mostly been inept,” Riley said. “This year, finally, feels like the season that can break this offensive spell, even if the unit struggled last year with similar personnel.
“I think their talent will translate into better results on offense, and I believe that the defense will continue to be one of the better groups in the Big Ten.”
Minnesota is coming off consecutive 8-5 seasons, though Las Vegas oddsmakers have set the Gophers’ over-under at 6.5 wins.
Fleck, speaking Monday, brushed aside the projections.
“I really like our football team,” he said. “… We don’t look at any of that stuff (preseason projections).
We really don’t. … The real test happens when you are in-season.
We play a lot of really good opponents.”
That’s no exaggeration. ESPN lists Minnesota with the 34th toughest schedule in the country, and the Gophers will face five teams ranked in the AP preseason Top 25: reigning national champion and No.
6 Indiana, No. 16 Michigan, No.
17 Washington, No. 18 Penn State and No.
22 Iowa.
Minnesota has not been ranked for more than three seasons. The Gophers briefly reached No. 21 in 2022 after starting 4-0, but that ended with a 20-10 loss to Purdue to open October, and they have not appeared in the poll since.
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