The 2026 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represents the University of Minnesota as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Gophers are led by their tenth-year head coach P. J. Fleck. They play their home games at Huntington Bank Stadium located in Minneapolis.
Their Week 5 home win against Michigan marked their first home win against them since 1977.
Offseason
Coaching staff changes
Departures Jayden Everett Running backs coach Wisconsin Running backs coach Bob Ligashesky Special teams coordinator Wisconsin Special teams coordinator
Additions Daniel Da Prato Special teams coordinator New Mexico Special teams coordinator Isaac Fruechte Wide receivers coach North Dakota Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks coach Mohamed Ibrahim Running backs coach Kent State Running backs coach
Entered NFL draft
Deven Eastern DT 7 242 Seattle Seahawks
Transfer portal
Outgoing 2026 Minnesota Golden Gophers outgoing transfersNameNo.Pos.HeightWeightYearHometownNew school Ref. Ethan Carrier #29 S 6'1 175 Junior Detroit Lakes, MN South Dakota Legend Lyons #7 WR 6'1 190 Freshman Covina, CA Cristian Driver #4 WR 5'11 192 Senior Flower Mound, TX Montana David Kemp #98 K 5'9 170 Senior Jacksonville, FL Kennesaw State Brody Richter #25 P 6'3 205 Junior Scottsdale, AZ New Mexico State Jaylen Bowden #5 CB 6'2 165 Junior Charlotte, NC East Carolina Za'Quan Bryan #4 CB 5'11 179 Junior Savannah, GA South Florida Ohifame Ijeboi #3 RB 6'0 190 Sophomore Philadelphia, PA Purdue Steven Curtis #8 DL 6'5 230 Junior West Palm Beach, FL North Texas Tre Berry #22 RB 6'0 189 Freshman Montgomery, AL Tennessee State Malachi Coleman #16 WR 6'4 210 Sophomore Lincoln, NE Wisconsin Koi Perich #3 S 6'1 200 Sophomore Esko, MN Oregon Reese Tripp #76 OT 6'7 315 Junior Kasson, MN Middle Tennessee Kahlee Tafai #71 IOL 6'6 300 Sophomore Lawndale, CA California Kenric Lanier II #15 WR 6'4 180 Junior Decatur, GA Missouri Jackson Kollock #12 QB 6'3.5 220 Freshman Laguna Beach, CA UC Davis Caleb McGrath #95 P 6'2 190 Sophomore Saint Paul, MN North Dakota State Quentin Redding #81 WR 5'7 155 Senior Menomonee Falls, WI Rutgers Drew Wilson #30 LB 6'0 225 Sophomore Mequon, WI Lafayette Johann Cardenas #- RB 6'0 223 Sophomore Katy, TX Harrison Brun #33 S 6'1 205 Freshman Buffalo, MN South Dakota
Sources:
Incoming 2026 Minnesota Golden Gophers incoming transfersNameNo.Pos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrev. school Ref. Michael Merdinger #12 QB 6'1.5 195 Sophomore Deerfield Beach, FL Liberty Jaron Thomas #22 RB 6'0 200 Freshman Elkhart, IN Purdue Bennett Warren #68 OT 6'7.5 325 Freshman Sugar Land, TX Tennessee Andrew Marshall #29 LB 6'3 220 Junior Carroll, OH Eastern Michigan Parker Knutson #20 S 6'1 190 Sophomore Sartell, MN Southwest Minnesota State Naquan Crowder #70 DL 6'3 320 Junior Aliquippa, PA Marshall Perry Thompson #3 WR 6'3 205 Sophomore Foley, AL Auburn Zachary Robbins #37 P 6'3 220 Freshman Payson, UT Utah State Aydan West #5 CB 6'0 180 Freshman Gaithersburg, MD Michigan State Elisha West #26 DB 5'10 195 Sophomore Germantown, MD Michigan State Beckham Sunderland #92 K 6'1 201 Sophomore Newport, KY Michigan Mekhai Smith #22 S 6'2 210 Sophomore Lower Merion, PA Lehigh TJ Bush Jr. #3 EDGE 6'3 250 Junior Woodbridge, VA California Kaden Helms #87 TE 6'4.5 220 Junior Bellevue, NE Oklahoma Noah Jennings #13 WR 6'1 175 Junior Bellevue, NE Cincinnati Zion Steptoe #25 WR 5'11 171 Junior Frisco, TX Tulsa Xion Chapman #90 DL 6'5 280 Sophomore Allentown, PA FIU TJ Thomas #23 RB 5'8 190 Sophomore Thomasville, GA Elon Sid Kaba #92 DL 6'3 260 Sophomore Columbus, OH Marshall Luke Drzewiecki #- K 6'0 171 Senior Detroit, MI New Mexico
Sources:
Team departures 2026 Minnesota Golden Gophers departuresNameNo.Pos.HeightWeightYearHometown Reason Le'Meke Brockington #0 WR 6'0 195 Senior Moultrie, GA Graduated Emmett Morehead #9 QB 6'6 235 Fifth Year Woodside, CA Graduated Devon Williams #9 LB 6'1 230 Senior Dublin, OH Graduated Darius Green #12 DB 6'0 210 Senior Covington, GA Graduated Rushawn Lawrence #16 DL 6'2 270 Sixth Year Philadelphia, PA Graduated Logan Loya #17 WR 5'11 190 Sixth Year Garden Grove, CA Graduated Jeff Roberson #20 LB 6'2 230 Sixth Year Choctaw, OK Graduated Evan Redding #22 DB 5'10 185 Junior Menomonee Falls, WI Not rostered Cam Davis #23 RB 6'1 215 Graduate Student Upland, CA Graduated Jai'Onte' McMillan #24 DB 5'10 190 Sixth Year Atlanta, GA Graduated Sam Henson #30 K 6'1 200 Graduate Student Owatonna, MN Graduated Derik LeCaptain #35 LB 6'2 235 Graduate Student Gardner, WI Graduated Frank Bierman #44 TE 6'4 250 Sixth Year Tipton, IA Graduated Lucas Finnessy #46 DL 6'3 255 Sixth Year Pewaukee, WI Graduated Mo Omonode #50 DL 6'0 285 Senior West Lafayette, IN Graduated Spencer Alvarez #52 OL 6'6 290 Junior Columbia Heights, MN Graduated Aluma Nkele #70 OL 6'6 380 Senior Gardena, CA Graduated Dylan Ray #73 OL 6'6 320 Fifth Year Noblesville, IN Graduated Marcellus Marshall #74 OL 6'6 330 Sixth Year Morgantown, WV Graduated Jack DiSano #84 TE 6'3 245 Junior Glenview, IL Not rostered Jameson Geers #86 TE 6'5 250 Senior Channahon, IL Graduated Drew Biber #87 TE 6'4 245 Senior Cedarburg, WI Graduated Nate Becker #89 DL 6'6 300 Senior Maple Grove, MN Graduated Deven Eastern #91 DL 6'6 320 Senior Shakopee, MN Graduated Luke Ryerse #91 P 6'1 220 Freshman Woodbury, MN Not rostered Brady Denaburg #92 K 5'11 195 Senior Merritt Island, FL Graduated Jalen Logan-Redding #97 DL 6'4 295 Sixth Year Columbia, MS Graduated
Schedule
Game summaries vs Eastern Illinois (FCS)
Statistics EIUMINN First downs 4 24 Plays–yards 43–110 71–495 Rushes–yards 28–51 38–147 Passing yards 59 348 Passing: comp–att–int 9–15–0 26–33–0 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 23:39 36:21 Team Category Player Statistics Eastern Illinois Passing Cole LaCrue 7/12, 51 yards, TD Rushing Cole LaCrue 5 carries, 22 yards Receiving Tyren Buggs 2 receptions, 38 yards, TD Minnesota Passing Drake Lindsey 19/24, 264 yards, TD Rushing Darius Taylor 14 carries, 56 yards, 3 TD Receiving Javon Tracy 5 receptions, 98 yards
vs Mississippi State
Statistics MSSTMINN First downs 28 18 Plays–yards 68–479 63–292 Rushes–yards 46–252 15–13 Passing yards 227 279 Passing: comp–att–int 16–22–0 31–48–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 30:15 29:45 Team Category Player Statistics Mississippi State Passing Kamario Taylor 16/22, 227 yards, 3 TD Rushing Fluff Bothwell 18 carries, 103 yards, 2 TD Receiving Anthony Evans III 7 receptions, 121 yards, TD Minnesota Passing Drake Lindsey 31/48, 279 yards Rushing Darius Taylor 6 carries, 15 yards Receiving Noah Jennings 7 receptions, 88 yards
vs Akron
Statistics AKRMINN First downs 16 20 Plays–yards 60–221 64–395 Rushes–yards 21–48 33–191 Passing yards 173 204 Passing: comp–att–int 21–39–0 17–31–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 25:56 34:04 Team Category Player Statistics Akron Passing Brayden Roggow 12/25, 131 yards Rushing Cibastian Broughton 3 carries, 17 yards Receiving Gentz Hillburn 3 receptions, 49 yards Minnesota Passing Drake Lindsey 17/31, 204 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing TJ Thomas 13 carries, 122 yards, TD Receiving Javon Tracy 5 receptions, 91 yards
at Washington
Statistics MINNWASH First downs 18 16 Plays–yards 62–329 55–279 Rushes–yards 33–125 27–40 Passing yards 204 239 Passing: comp–att–int 21–29–1 18–28–2 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 36:01 23:59 Team Category Player Statistics Minnesota Passing Drake Lindsey 21/29, 204 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing TJ Thomas 11 carries, 78 yards Receiving Noah Jennings 4 receptions, 58 yards Washington Passing Demond Williams Jr. 18/28, 239 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Brian Bonner 7 carries, 23 yards Receiving Dezmen Roebuck 7 receptions, 87 yards, TD
vs Michigan (Little Brown Jug)
Statistics MICHMINN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Michigan Passing Rushing Receiving Minnesota Passing Rushing Receiving
at Purdue
Statistics MINNPUR First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Minnesota Passing Rushing Receiving Purdue Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Iowa (Floyd of Rosedale)
Statistics IOWAMINN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving Minnesota Passing Rushing Receiving
at Indiana
Statistics MINNIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Minnesota Passing Rushing Receiving Indiana Passing Rushing Receiving
vs UCLA
Statistics UCLAMINN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics UCLA Passing Rushing Receiving Minnesota Passing Rushing Receiving
at Penn State (Governor's Victory Bell)
Statistics MINNPSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Minnesota Passing Rushing Receiving Penn State Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Northwestern
Statistics NUMINN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Northwestern Passing Rushing Receiving Minnesota Passing Rushing Receiving
at Wisconsin (Paul Bunyan's Axe)
Statistics MINNWIS First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Minnesota Passing Rushing Receiving Wisconsin Passing Rushing Receiving
Personnel Coaching staff
P. J. Fleck Head coach 10th Greg Harbaugh Jr. Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks coach 4th Danny Collins Defensive coordinator/Safeties coach 2nd/5th Nick Monroe Co-defensive coordinator/Cornerbacks coach 4th Daniel Da Prato Special teams coordinator 1st Mohamed Ibrahim Running backs coach 1st Isaac Fruechte Wide receivers coach 1st Eric Koehler Tight ends coach 3rd Brian Callahan Offensive line coach 9th C. J. Robbins Defensive line coach 1st Mariano Sori-Marin Linebackers coach 2ndReference:
Roster
Notes
References