P.J. Fleck has never been shy about the formula he wants from Minnesota: get close to peak execution in all three phases and let that carry the day.
But when the game starts slipping away, the Gophers coach usually stays on the conservative side of the fourth-down ledger, and that approach was on full display in the 41-13 loss at Purdue on Oct. 10.
Minnesota had chances to be more aggressive in that game, especially while the Boilermakers were piling up points and threatening to bury the Gophers before the fourth quarter even arrived. Instead, Fleck leaned toward the safer path more than once, and the result was another reminder that his team rarely treats fourth downs like an opportunity to swing the game early.
That tendency has shown up over a long stretch. Over a five-plus season sample, Minnesota has ranked 110th or worse nationally in fourth-down conversion attempts. Since 2021, the Gophers have averaged about one attempt per game.
Fleck has been clear about his view that there’s no point in “chasing points” before the fourth quarter. Yet that mindset can leave little room for a comeback when the other side starts landing punches.
On Saturday, that question gets sharper again when Minnesota opens its 10th Floyd of Rosedale rivalry game against Iowa. The 15th-ranked Hawkeyes bring their usual tough defense, but they also have a more dynamic offense than in years past, and Fleck may need to be willing to gamble more if the Gophers are going to beat a touchdown spread and improve on his 1-8 record against Kirk Ferentz.
Asked Monday when it becomes worth it to chase points while trailing by multiple scores early, Fleck said, “I think that comes down to how the game’s going and what you feel,” Fleck said. “You’re always doing what you can to score points.
There’s not one time we went out there and said, ‘Let’s just go and do what we have to do to punt here.’ Never done that in 14 years - ever.
“You’re always going doing what you can or what you’re presented to give you the best opportunity to go score points.”
The numbers tell a strange story. Minnesota converted just 42% of its fourth-down tries last season, which ranked 116th in the nation.
In 2021 and 2022, the Gophers sat around the middle of the pack at roughly 55%. Then came back-to-back seasons at the top of the country: 82% in 2023 and 91% in 2024.
The Purdue game offered several moments where a different choice might have changed the shape of the afternoon.
Early on, Minnesota trailed 3-0 and faced fourth-and-4 from Purdue’s 37 on its opening drive. Fleck chose to punt, and Tom Weston - who has been excellent this season - pinned the Boilermakers at their 2.
That decision made sense in the moment, especially with Weston now second in the Big Ten with 13 punts downed inside the 20. But Purdue then marched 98 yards for a touchdown and stretched the lead to 10-0.
Later, still down 10-0, Fleck challenged the spot on Javon Tracy’s catch on third-and-20. The review turned it into fourth-and-2 at Purdue’s 31, though Fleck said the challenge was meant to improve the field-goal chance. Luke Drzewiecki drilled a 49-yarder to make it 10-3.
“At that point, we needed some points,” Fleck said Tuesday on his KFXN-FM radio show. “There are times when you have a big drive and things might be not going your way, and there is a lot of football left to play. Sometimes, coming away with points, your team (can say), ‘Alright, we got some points.’
“If you don’t, the way they are moving the football, that game can get out of hand really fast.”
Minnesota got another look late in the first half after falling behind 20-3. Starting at its own 14 with 1:51 left, Drake Lindsey completed passes of 14 and 27 yards to move the Gophers into Purdue territory.
But after two incompletions and a 4-yard throw to Darius Taylor, Minnesota faced fourth-and-6 from the Purdue 39 with 56 seconds left. Fleck let more than 40 seconds drain before calling timeout with 14 seconds remaining, then went for it.
Lindsey was intercepted.
Fleck said on KFAN at halftime that he wanted a first down, then a spike, then another field goal to make it 20-6. But the bigger opportunity may have been to keep the pace moving and try for a touchdown. A 20-10 game heading into the break, with Minnesota set to receive the second-half kickoff, would have changed the feel of the night.
Instead, the Gophers opened the second half still down 17 and were quickly back on the sideline after three straight running plays. Purdue pushed the margin to 27-3, and Minnesota later faced fourth-and-3 from the Purdue 18 with under five minutes left in the third quarter. Fleck chose the 37-yard field goal, trimming the lead to 21.
Offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh said Wednesday that he and Fleck discuss whether third downs should be treated as two-down conversion situations. Asked if he pushes for more fourth-down tries, Harbaugh said, “It’s a conversation,” Harbaugh said.
“I think (Fleck) does a great job of handling that. He tells me exactly what he wants.”
The Gophers did go for it twice in the game, including one fourth-down try down 34-13 with 11 minutes left. Taylor was stopped after a 1-yard gain on fourth-and-2, and Minnesota gave the ball away. Purdue later scored again after a muffed punt to make it 41-13.
Minnesota finished 0 for 2 officially on fourth-down conversion attempts against Purdue. But the bigger story was what never made the stat sheet: the chances Fleck chose not to take, and whether those conservative calls are costing the Gophers when a game starts tilting the wrong way. With Iowa next, that question is right back on the table.
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