Evaluating Minnesota ahead of matchup vs Michigan
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The Michigan Wolverines (3-1) have their first road game of the year on Saturday afternoon against the Minnesota Gophers (3-1).
Here’s a look at Minnesota ahead of the matchup versus Michigan.
Coaching profile
P.J. Fleck has been at Minnesota since 2017 and has a record of 69-45, but it just 40-40 in Big Ten play. Fleck’s most impressive stat is being 7-0 in bowl games at Minnesota.
Minnesota’s season so far
3-1 Record
- Week 1: 59-7 win vs. Eastern Illinois
- Week 2: 38-13 loss vs. Mississippi State
- Week 3: 41-7 win vs. Akron
- Week 4: 27-24 win at Washington
2026 Rankings
- Passing offense: 46
- Rushing offense: 116
- Total offense: 84
- Scoring offense: 46
- Time of possession: 8
- Third-down conversion % offense: 74
- Total defense: 25
- Team sacks: 27
- Passing yards allowed: 33
- Rushing defense: 29
- Scoring defense: 40
- Turnover margin: 40
- Fumbles recovered: 21
- Third-down conversion % defense: 18
PFF data
- Overall: 52
- Offense: 50
- Defense: 62
- SOS played: 75
- % run plays: 42.9%
- %pass plays: 57.1%
A strong passing attack
Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey has had a hot start to the season. Lindsey has passed for 951 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions with a 66.7% completion rate.
Two running backs
TJ Thomas is averaging 7.4 yards per carry (251 yards, one touchdown) while veteran Darius Taylor is averaging just 2.7 yards per carry (107 yards, three touchdowns). Thomas, a transfer from Elon, has been impressive and has ascended to the point where virtually splitting carries with Taylor in an RB1A and 1B fashion.
Defensive leaders
- Linebacker Maverick Baranowski leads Minnesota with 28 tackles (14 solo), with one sack and one interception.
- Defensive lineman Karter Mentz has a team-high three sacks.
- Linebacker Joey Gerlach has already amassed three forced fumbles.
- Defensive back Aydan West has three passes defended and a fumble recovery touchdown.
Dangerous returners on special teams
- Minnesota can beat teams on kickoff and punt returns, and with their kicker.
- Javon Tracy has 278 punt return yards, which is more return yardage than all but one team in the nation. Tracy has two return touchdowns on the season.
- Quayd Hendrix ranks second in the Big Ten and 12th in the FBS with a 26.8 kickoff return average.
- Kicker Luke Drzewiecki is 6-of-6 on field goals, with four being 40+ yards.
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