4identity shift
Minnesota shifts fanbase identity, redefining program.
P.J. Fleck enters his 7th season with an 8-5 record, navigating a fanbase in transition as Minnesota seeks to redefine its historic-program-resurrected identity in the Big Ten.
Minnesota8-5Latest
Cautious optimism is building around Minnesota.
belief cooled ↓ 6.4vs prior week
Fanbase belief
Leaning up
56/100 · 193 mentions
~ our readGrounding
about average
7% cite a stat · 7% typical ✓ counted
~ our readVolatility
Chaotic
σ 29 pts
~ our readThe model
#62
CFB Zeitgeist · +2.0
✓ measured4Hope-Doping·Offseason
Minnesota was a national champion when leather helmets were new — and after eighty years of being told that was a museum, P.J. Fleck has it winning nine bowls in a row and daring the sport to remember the Gophers were once the standard.
Title DroughtSince 1967 · 58 yrs
Fans hear the program's golden age waved off as a relic of a smaller sport — and answer that the trophies are real, the resurrection is real, and the country keeps underrating a Gophers team that just…
offseason · quiet
Roster Reload - Minnesota
2026 snapshot - 2026-08-06Returning Production44%Low continuity / heavy reload
Talent Composite#41 nationally247 composite 711.0
Portal Additions19Primary repair: DL
Portal Losses20Primary pressure: WR
Draft Loss1NFL Draft departures (1)
Recruiting Reload#28Development class
WRin 3 - Perry Thompsonout 5 - Cristian DriverStarter Risk
current room: 198 lbs avg (2025 roster)
CBin 3 - Aydan Westout 2 - Za'Quan BryanUpgrade
current room: 193 lbs avg (2025 roster)
DLin 3 - Xion Chapmanout 1 - Steven CurtisNeed Filled
current room: 271 lbs avg (2025 roster)
Sin 1 - Mekhai Smithout 3 - Koi PerichStarter Risk
RBin 2 - TJ Thomas Jr.out 2 - Fame IjeboiEven
current room: 208 lbs avg (2025 roster)
Pin 1 - Zachary Robbinsout 2 - Brody RichterEven
Belief EKG
WinLoss · hover for scorePrior seasonsStory arc
Approaching
29 days
until kickoff · vs Eastern Illinois · Fri Sep 4 · 00:00 UTC
The experience
Minnesota is the Big Ten program whose 6 pre-WWII national titles + P.J. Fleck Row-the-Boat era + Floyd of Rosedale rivalry define what historic-program-resurrected looks like.
Offense: PoorTempo: Methodical, ball-controlDefense: Solid
Minnesota's 2026 Season Balances Roster Reload and Recruiting Potential
With a #28 recruiting class and significant roster turnover, Minnesota aims to rebuild while maintaining competitive consistency.
- Roster reloadThe team faces a heavy reload with only 44% of returning players and 19 transfers in, though it also adds 19 new players through the portal.
- RecruitingMinnesota's #28 recruiting class and a score of 226.67 suggest moderate talent acquisition for the 2026 season.
- ScheduleThe team's base scenario projects a 9-4 record with a bowl game appearance, reflecting moderate expectations for the season.
Data as of 2026-08-01
·
Validated against program evidence
Goldy Gopher is patient.
Minnesota · the story right now
11 storylines developing
What Minnesota's coordinator hires is really about
the open questiondo the new coordinators fit the roster?
coordinatorsthis cycle~readnew
P.J. Fleck enters his 7th season with an 8-5 record, but coordinator changes and a middle-tier program status raise questions about sustaining the Row-the-Boat era's momentum.
what happenedMinnesota: coordinator change reshaping a unit. ✓ fact
narrative tension · our read
identitythis cycle~readnew
P.J. Fleck enters his 7th season with an 8-5 record, navigating a fanbase in transition as Minnesota seeks to redefine its historic-program-resurrected identity in the Big Ten.
what happenedMinnesota: the fanbase's identity shifting. ✓ fact
narrative tension · our read
program_outlookthis cycle~readnew
Minnesota collapsed 43 spots in SP+ — the 8-5 record and #41 talent rank highlight a disconnect, and P.J. Fleck’s 7th season must reconcile the gap between revival and regression in the Big Ten.
what happenedMinnesota enters 2026 rated No. 70 in 2025 SP+ (+1.5), down 43 spots from 2024. ✓ fact
narrative tension · our read
closerthis cycle✓ factnew
Darius Taylor gets meaningfully MORE work in the fourth quarter with a lead than his overall workload would predict, mostly in real, competitive games -- not just mop-up snaps.
narrative tension · our read
underdogthis cycle✓ factnew
Jameson Geers produces at a notably LOWER rate when his team is an underdog than when favored -- he fades when the pressure is on, and his per-target value drops too.
narrative tension · our read
garbage timethis cycle~attributednew
Fame Ijeboi sees a real spike in usage once the game is out of reach.
narrative tension · our read
deep threatthis cycle~attributednew
Jalen Smith is used almost exclusively underneath -- a low share of his targets are downfield shots.
narrative tension · our read
deep threatthis cycle~attributednew
Lemeke Brockington is used almost exclusively underneath -- a low share of his targets are downfield shots.
narrative tension · our read
program_outlookthis cycle~readnew
Minnesota collapsed 43 spots in SP+ — an 8-5 record under Fleck can't quiet unease after such a steep analytical drop for a program defined by historic resurgence.
what happenedMinnesota enters 2025 rated No. 70 in SP+ (+1.5), down 43 spots from 2024. ✓ fact
narrative tension · our read
market_swing2026-07-18~readnew
P.J. Fleck's 8th season opens with a 1.0 win total jump — crossing into bowl eligibility, though the 8-5 record and #41 talent rank suggest the ceiling is still unproven.
what happenedMinnesota win total rose from 5.5 to 6.5 (+1 wins) between Jul 17 and Jul 18, 2026 (tier C). ✓ fact
the contextwin total up 1.0 — crosses into bowl eligibility territory
narrative tension · our read
coordinatorsthis cycle~readnew
P.J. Fleck's 7th season opens with an 8-5 record — the Row-the-Boat era's revival hinges on coordinator changes reshaping a unit.
what happenedMinnesota: coordinator change reshaping a unit. ✓ fact
narrative tension · our read
How past storylines here turned out
ReplacedMinnesota's defensive coordinator spot turned over again the following season. See who's next →
The Offseason Ledger · Minnesota
2 verified updates · portal · recruiting · staff · news- News
Win total: 5.5 → 6.5 (▲1)
Win total jumped from 5.5 to 6.5 with conference peers flat — the books see something program-specific.
- Recruiting
Joey Cullen commits to Gophers
Moorhead's top hockey recruit flips to football — Fleck's WR room is leaning on returning pieces, but Cullen's ceiling adds a developmental wild card to a class already climbing to #28.
Transfer portal snapshot
+5.1 net portal points
(raw ledger: +6.6 — unweighted, no position adjustment)DL+8.3
need not filled
CB+5.9
WR-4.7
starter risk
P-4.3
S-4.0
starter risk
EDGE+3.7
low confidence
TE+3.6
low confidence
IOL-3.5
low confidence
LB+2.5
K-1.0
RB+0.1
OT+0.0
QB+0.0
Top 3 commits
2026 class
★★★★☆
Aaden Aytch
#182 national
Profiles like a typical incoming edge rusher — 12 of his 25 closest recruiting profiles since 2018 shared the Versatile End archetype.~our read · projection from recruiting profile — no college snaps yet
★★★★☆
Howie Johnson
#206 national
★★★★☆
Quayd Hendryx
#336 national
Profiles like a typical incoming wide receiver — 17 of his 25 closest recruiting profiles since 2018 shared the Possession Receiver archetype.~our read · projection from recruiting profile — no college snaps yet
→
Fan confidence in a typical range for this program right now
63rd percentile among FBS programs
Fan vs. market↑
63rd
Fan percentile
(FBS mood rank)
(FBS mood rank)
6.5
Vegas O/U wins
(41st among FBS)
(41st among FBS)
Fans 22pp more bullish than market implies
Win total consensus · 3 books
Market outlook
Season expectations
Win total3 booksO/U 6.5▲1 since Jul 2026
CFP championship#77 in field+75000
Big Ten title#13 in market+12500
Sportsbook consensus · best odds across multiple books · 2026-08-06
Minnesota · Next-Season Outcome Band
Minnesota · Next-Season Outcome BandFloor / Base / Ceiling
Floor 6-7
Base 9-4
Ceiling 11-2
floor6-7Bowl game.
base9-4Bowl game.
ceiling11-2Bowl game.
Final-season-aware projection: floor / base / ceiling include conference title and CFP games where the model supports them, so a ceiling can exceed a 12-game regular season.
How the room reacted
Following now · Minnesota · Developing Confidence
Minnesota: coordinator change reshaping a unit.
Minnesota: coordinator change reshaping a unit.
bullish — but with real dissent
where the takes land · dot = how loud
DOUBTBELIEF
Skeptics1 doubt take
Believers3 bull takes
💬 fans: 13% volume · mostly neutral
CFB Zeitgeist Read · our take
P.J. Fleck enters his 7th season with an 8-5 record, but coordinator changes and a middle-tier program status raise questions about sustaining the Row-the-Boat era's momentum.
Source of record: Minnesota: coordinator change reshaping a unit.
How each room is reacting — tap to expand
📣Believers3 bullish items -- the case it's working.›
The optimistic read: momentum, and the 'this is real' takes.
“Vikings Owner Mark Wilf's Early Impressions of Nolan Teasley Hire, Minnesota Hosting 2028 NFL Draft”
Minnesota Vikings · 2026-08-05 · read ↗
“Vikings & Hy-Vee Host Girls Flag Football Clinic; Player of the Year Receives Special Surprise”
Minnesota Vikings · 2026-08-05 · read ↗
“Soukup Lands on Watch List for Patrick Mannelly Award - University of Minnesota Athletics”
University of Minnesota Athletics · 2026-08-04 · read ↗
🧐Skeptics“Which Opponents Should Concern Minnesota the Most in 2026?” — the real counter.›
The analytical counter: rankings, results, and 'the hype is ahead of the tape' takes.
“Which Opponents Should Concern Minnesota the Most in 2026?”
GopherHole.com · 2026-08-03 · read ↗
💬The boards13% of recent board volume — the fanbase is locked in. Board mood this week: mostly neutral · anger notable (60%).›
This event was in 76 of 570 board posts (13%) over the last 60 days — a fanbase consumed by it. Fan text shown verbatim, attributed to the community not the individual poster.
Nothing in our corpus yet — this door stays open for when there is.
Board health this week (202 posts): 19% positive · 53% neutral · 28% negative. Team-level weekly mood — not specific to this event. The boards ≠ the fanbase: a self-selected vocal slice.
Following now · Minnesota · Developing Confidence
Minnesota: the fanbase's identity shifting.
Minnesota: the fanbase's identity shifting.
bullish — but with real dissent
where the takes land · dot = how loud
DOUBTBELIEF
Skeptics1 doubt take
Believers3 bull takes
💬 fans: 13% volume · mostly neutral
CFB Zeitgeist Read · our take
P.J. Fleck enters his 7th season with an 8-5 record, navigating a fanbase in transition as Minnesota seeks to redefine its historic-program-resurrected identity in the Big Ten.
Source of record: Minnesota: the fanbase's identity shifting.
How each room is reacting — tap to expand
📣Believers3 bullish items -- the case it's working.›
The optimistic read: momentum, and the 'this is real' takes.
“Vikings Owner Mark Wilf's Early Impressions of Nolan Teasley Hire, Minnesota Hosting 2028 NFL Draft”
Minnesota Vikings · 2026-08-05 · read ↗
“Vikings & Hy-Vee Host Girls Flag Football Clinic; Player of the Year Receives Special Surprise”
Minnesota Vikings · 2026-08-05 · read ↗
“Soukup Lands on Watch List for Patrick Mannelly Award - University of Minnesota Athletics”
University of Minnesota Athletics · 2026-08-04 · read ↗
🧐Skeptics“Which Opponents Should Concern Minnesota the Most in 2026?” — the real counter.›
The analytical counter: rankings, results, and 'the hype is ahead of the tape' takes.
“Which Opponents Should Concern Minnesota the Most in 2026?”
GopherHole.com · 2026-08-03 · read ↗
💬The boards13% of recent board volume — the fanbase is locked in. Board mood this week: mostly neutral · anger notable (60%).›
This event was in 76 of 570 board posts (13%) over the last 60 days — a fanbase consumed by it. Fan text shown verbatim, attributed to the community not the individual poster.
Nothing in our corpus yet — this door stays open for when there is.
Board health this week (202 posts): 19% positive · 53% neutral · 28% negative. Team-level weekly mood — not specific to this event. The boards ≠ the fanbase: a self-selected vocal slice.
Recent Form · last 10 games
Mixed
Three of five. Trending up, not yet hot.
Streak W2Last 5 · 3-2Last 10 · 6-4
The forecast
Opens Sep 4
vs Eastern Illinois · at home
Season line6.5 winsover +125
PoorMethodical, ball-controlSolid
✓ fact on line · ~ our read on style
Rival pulse
Iowa
Mixed-3
Floyd of Rosedale
Wisconsin
Mixed-2
Paul Bunyan's Axe
Fan mood index · most recent r/cfb data
Recruiting Footprint · 2026
Recruiting Footprint · 2026
31
PA · 4WI · 4AZ · 3MN · 3CA · 2IL · 2MO · 2TX · 2+9 more
PA leads the 2026 class with 4 commits. National footprint reaching 17 states.
Where they recruit · 2023-2026
104 signees across 25 states, 2023-2026. MN leads the pull.
r/cfb this year
[Postgame Thread] Minnesota Defeats Northwestern State 66-0
[Postgame Thread] Minnesota Defeats Buffalo 23-10
[Game Thread] Buffalo @ Minnesota (8:00 PM ET)
Top community posts · last 12 months · r/cfb
National spotlight
13 games with TV coverage: 4 national broadcast, 2 ESPN, 2 cable, 5 conference network
Kickoff windows: 3 noon, 4 afternoon, 6 primetime
Fumble luck
The bounces have gone their way on their own fumbles: 80% recovered, vs. ~51% expected.
4 of 5 own fumbles recovered themselves; 7 of 12 forced fumbles recovered, 2025 only.
Takeaway conversion
Cashing in at a normal clip: 24% of disrupted passes intercepted, close to ~19% league-wide.
8 interceptions of 33 disrupted passes (25 deflected, 8 intercepted), 2025 only.
Penalty battle
The flags have favored them: 74 penalties drawn on opponents vs. 49 committed, 227 yards to the good.
403 penalty yards committed vs. 630 drawn on opponents, 2025 season total.
The Pulse on Minnesota
56
Δ -6.4 vs last wk
193
mentions this week · conversation velocity
What moved it — fall camp · last 14 days
Camp
Fall camp open — install + scrimmage cycle
ongoing
Kickoff
Season opener in 16 days
kickoff
"Gophers"
— Minnesota fanbase · recurring line
Fanbase Signals
Cohort Divergence1 pctSpread between sub-fanbase cohorts in the Pulse window.
The Fever Year
Position = mood · width = volume · color = the kind of feeling
Inside the fanbase — all 9 corners
Cr/CFB
GGoogle News
DThe Daily Gopher
CCampus paper
GGopherHole
BBluesky
YYouTube
One voice
+0.00whole-room sentiment · cool our read
Every cohort from the die-hards to the analytics crowd lands within 0.03 of each other — a rare consensus. The loudest voice in the room:
TThe Daily GopherBeat · article
Gopher Football Preview: Upgrade or Downgrade at Tight End
thedailygopher.com →How Minnesota fans actually talk real · top-upvoted
Rr/CFBthe room
You ever bungle a nastygram so badly that you accidentally give the target jurisdiction in federal court? *You have???* Sir, how would you like to be a US Senator?
▲ 507 ▼open ↗
The crowd’s loudest take by upvotes — read for mood, not as a side. The cohort read is the measured part.
The room, end to end
skeptical
buying in
Casuals−0.02
Bettors−0.05
Cohort sentiment is a source-weighted model read — never a quote pinned to a person.
What this fanbase keeps coming back to our read · topic model
Topics are model-labeled from Reddit — a rough signal of what this fanbase is circling right now.
330 mentions · 7 sources · week 2026-01. Counts, sources and the divergence rank are measured (fact). Cohort labels and sentiment are a source-weighted model read (our read) — never a quote attributed to a person.
Belief checkmiddle of the pack
~ our readMinnesota fans are leaning negative, and they're backing it with about as much hard evidence as anyone.
backed by facts
the mood
✓ counted We read 202 posts from Minnesota fans this week.
What fans are saying
Fan claims · every quote verified verbatim
player performanceWidely held among fans that season
fans believe Minnesota's team performance this season has been historically bad
This has to be the worst Wisconsin team in recent memory right? I mean even the O-Line is playing like ass, even when they've been not great the O-Line has worked.
This is one of the worst Gopher defenses I’ve watch since (ironically) Robb Smith. I am not having fun.
Based on 3 comments from 3 posters across 3 threads · Sep 6, 2025–Sep 27, 2025 · via CFB
player performanceLimited signal that season
fans believe Drake shows potential as a QB
Drake is the real deal and this was the perfect test for him to get his feet wet - midnight local time, things resting on his shoulders with the top two running backs out, noisy environment, and he passed it up until the end. he and Lemeke Brockington have a really great connection out there
Based on 2 comments from 2 posters across 2 threads · Aug 29, 2025–Sep 14, 2025 · via CFB
program directionLimited signal that season
fans believe the team is playing well early in the season
Good first showing for the Gophers, saw really solid play in the pass game and run game. Defense was great too. Keep (g)rowing, and this could be a pleasant season
Based on 1 comment from 1 poster across 1 thread · Aug 29, 2025 · via CFB
Season storylines
Week 5
“Yessir, homecoming as well. (Ignore the last time we played them on homecoming, that game actually never happened)”— r/CFB
Week 2
“Wouldn't be a PJ Fleck Minnesota team without an ugly non-conference loss. Oh well. Rest and recover for Rutgers.”— r/CFB
Week 8
“I know I'm washed because my past self would've stayed through that whole game. When I saw that FG miss in the 3rd I just went to Canes lol”— r/CFB
Week 7
“This game was a complete beatdown. School Record NINE sacks and had over 100+ more rushing yards. Truly a beautiful Friday Night.”— r/CFB
Week 1
“if you don’t like a ten minute, 60 yard drive to end the game, you hate everything the Big Ten West stands for”— r/CFB
Forum Pulse
via GopherHole
- Akron Promo: OC of the Game
- The Athletic: Eight College Football Playoff sleeper predictions from outside the preseason coaches poll ("the Gophers could make some noise.")
- Five Minnesota Football Records and Milestones to Watch in 2026
- NORTH DAKOTA Final Schedule
- Preseason poll reveals most overrated teams in college football. Here they are
Five Lenses
What people are saying right now
Radio, beat writers & editorial6 posts
News & campus coverage8 posts
CFB analyst takes5 posts
Rent free · r/cfb fan posts, last season
Minnesota fans this offseason 42% of posts bring up another team#5 of 43 saltiest · mostly about Wisconsin
Who Minnesota fans can’t stop bringing up
share of Minnesota’s football posts that mention each team
Fanbase Health Index · Minnesota · high confidence
Fanbase Health Index · Minnesota · high confidenceGrowing (63)
DecliningStableGrowingSurging
On-Field — 8-5 (62% win rate)64
Volume — 857 effective signal-N89
Cohort Engagement — Divergence 0.01 — quiet35
The Lexicon
460 posts and articles vs the field · 2025 season
gophers
×129.6 the field
Signature — ≥10× the rest of college football
gophers×129.6n=38
Characteristic — 3–10×
kicker×4.2n=21
Mild — <3×
defense×2.0n=79
three×3.6n=23
seen×3.6n=13
bowl×2.5n=26
ever×3.2n=14
worst×3.7n=11
touchdown×2.8n=15
probably×2.7n=12
“Gophers secondary is a parody of real secondaries.”
reddit/CFB · fan post, verbatim
Fans using GOPHERS (8 examples)
We can’t say “Go Gophers” all the time. It’s too predictable. So we mix in a “Ski U Mah” like a trick pl
Ah yes must be why the Gophers Run O has gotten worse every year and was sub 100 back to back years? Lol
Let’s go Gophers! We got one more game this season. I’ll enjoy it because cfb days are counting
Hopefully the home field Gophers show up today
Bruh giving up 21 points to the Gophers in a half should get a DC fired.
You gave up a rushing TD to the 2025 Gophers. Relegation to CUSA is imminent.
This gophers team is so unwatchable on the road. They are somewhat competent at home
Gophers secondary is a parody of real secondaries.
Fanbase Voice
2,175 fan mentions
Measured
vs the 81 highest-volume fanbases - 2025 season
Your Vocabulary Clusteroffense
offense
with 8 other fanbasesKey stats — 2025 — FBS rank
Points/game#95 / 138 · 32nd pct23.0
Pts allowed/game#47 / 138 · 67th pct22.9
Total yards/gm#123 / 136 · 10th pct293.4
Rush yards/gm#123 / 136 · 10th pct103.5
Pass yards/gm#94 / 136 · 32nd pct189.9
Yards allowed/gm#39 / 136 · 72nd pct332.2
Rush yds allowed/gm#27 / 136 · 81st pct121.7
Sacks#8 / 136 · 95th pct39
Interceptions#68 / 136 · 51st pct9
3rd-down conv#65 / 136 · 53rd pct40.1%
All 98 stats
Offense / Defense
Total yards
Team3814293.4/gm4.93/play#123 / 136 · 10th pct#65 / 69 · 7th pct#17 / 18 · 11th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp4319332.2/gm5.46/play#39 / 136 · 72nd pct#28 / 69 · 61st pct#11 / 18 · 44th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Rush yards
Team1345103.5/gm1.74/play#123 / 136 · 10th pct#63 / 69 · 10th pct#17 / 18 · 11th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Opp1582121.7/gm2.00/play#27 / 136 · 81st pct#23 / 69 · 68th pct#7 / 18 · 67th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Rush carries
Team37528.8/gm#121 / 136 · 12th pct#65 / 69 · 7th pct#16 / 18 · 17th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp42132.4/gm#28 / 136 · 80th pct#22 / 69 · 70th pct#9 / 18 · 56th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Rush TDs
Team151.2/gm#97 / 136 · 29th pct#55 / 69 · 22nd pct#14 / 18 · 28th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp161.2/gm#45 / 136 · 68th pct#31 / 69 · 57th pct#10 / 18 · 50th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Net pass yards
Team2469189.9/gm3.19/play#94 / 136 · 32nd pct#53 / 69 · 25th pct#12 / 18 · 39th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Opp2737210.5/gm3.46/play#63 / 136 · 54th pct#35 / 69 · 51st pct#12 / 18 · 39th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Pass attempts
Team39930.7/gm#70 / 136 · 49th pct#36 / 69 · 49th pct#7 / 18 · 67th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Opp37028.5/gm#46 / 136 · 67th pct#20 / 69 · 72nd pct#10 / 18 · 50th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Completions
Team25119.3/gm#61 / 136 · 56th pct#33 / 69 · 54th pct#8 / 18 · 61st pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct
Opp24819.1/gm#85 / 136 · 38th pct#41 / 69 · 42nd pct#13 / 18 · 33rd pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Pass TDs
Team191.5/gm#70 / 136 · 49th pct#40 / 69 · 43rd pct#10 / 18 · 50th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct
Opp161.2/gm#40 / 136 · 71st pct#27 / 69 · 62nd pct#7 / 18 · 67th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Passer rating
Team126.1126.1#90 / 136 · 35th pct#53 / 69 · 25th pct#11 / 18 · 44th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Opp139.7139.7#100 / 136 · 27th pct#53 / 69 · 25th pct#13 / 18 · 33rd pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Interceptions thrown
Team70.5/gm#97 / 136 · 29th pct#47 / 69 · 33rd pct#11 / 18 · 44th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp90.7/gm#54 / 136 · 61st pct#27 / 69 · 62nd pct#10 / 18 · 50th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct
Sacks (def)
Team393.0/gm#8 / 136 · 95th pct#6 / 69 · 93rd pct#2 / 18 · 94th pct#1 / 10 · 100th pct
Opp231.8/gm#63 / 136 · 54th pct#35 / 69 · 51st pct#10 / 18 · 50th pct#6 / 10 · 50th pct
Tackles for loss
Team927.1/gm#11 / 136 · 93rd pct#9 / 69 · 88th pct#2 / 18 · 94th pct#2 / 10 · 90th pct
Opp604.6/gm#37 / 136 · 74th pct#21 / 69 · 71st pct#8 / 18 · 61st pct#4 / 10 · 70th pct
First downs
Team22217.1/gm#111 / 136 · 19th pct#59 / 69 · 16th pct#15 / 18 · 22nd pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp22917.6/gm#27 / 136 · 81st pct#18 / 69 · 75th pct#6 / 18 · 72nd pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
3rd-down conv
Team675.2/gm#77 / 136 · 44th pct#40 / 69 · 43rd pct#12 / 18 · 39th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Opp675.2/gm#62 / 136 · 55th pct#37 / 69 · 48th pct#11 / 18 · 44th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
3rd-down att
Team16712.8/gm#89 / 136 · 35th pct#37 / 69 · 48th pct#5 / 18 · 78th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Opp16612.8/gm#37 / 136 · 74th pct#17 / 69 · 77th pct#9 / 18 · 56th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
4th-down conv
Team60.5/gm#131 / 136 · 4th pct#69 / 69 · 1st pct#18 / 18 · 6th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Opp90.7/gm#15 / 136 · 90th pct#6 / 69 · 93rd pct#4 / 18 · 83rd pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
4th-down att
Team141.1/gm#130 / 136 · 5th pct#65 / 69 · 7th pct#18 / 18 · 6th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp151.2/gm#1 / 136 · 100th pct#1 / 69 · 100th pct#1 / 18 · 100th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Time of possession
Team382:0429:23/gm#67 / 136 · 51st pct#34 / 69 · 52nd pct#13 / 18 · 33rd pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Opp391:4130:08/gm#92 / 136 · 33rd pct#46 / 69 · 35th pct#12 / 18 · 39th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Kicking & Punting
Field goals#111 / 135 · 19th pct14/21 (66.7%)
Extra points35/35
Punting#81 / 136 · 41st pct42.6 avg · 65 punts
Turnovers & special teams
Turnovers
Team90.7/gm#131 / 136 · 4th pct#65 / 69 · 7th pct#17 / 18 · 11th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp161.2/gm#65 / 136 · 53rd pct#35 / 69 · 51st pct#10 / 18 · 50th pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct
Fumbles lost
Team20.2/gm#131 / 136 · 4th pct#66 / 69 · 6th pct#17 / 18 · 11th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp70.5/gm#71 / 136 · 49th pct#41 / 69 · 42nd pct#13 / 18 · 33rd pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
INT return TDs
Team20.2/gm#18 / 135 · 87th pct#12 / 69 · 84th pct#3 / 18 · 89th pct#2 / 11 · 91st pct
Opp10.1/gm#61 / 136 · 56th pct#30 / 69 · 58th pct#11 / 18 · 44th pct#3 / 10 · 80th pct
INT return yards
Team16812.9/gm#36 / 136 · 74th pct#19 / 69 · 74th pct#4 / 18 · 83rd pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Opp13210.2/gm#86 / 136 · 38th pct#43 / 69 · 39th pct#15 / 18 · 22nd pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Punt ret yds
Team1179.0/gm#79 / 136 · 43rd pct#50 / 69 · 29th pct#11 / 18 · 44th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp18113.9/gm#106 / 136 · 23rd pct#56 / 69 · 20th pct#15 / 18 · 22nd pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Punt ret TDs
Team00.0/gm#43 / 135 · 69th pct#23 / 69 · 68th pct#9 / 18 · 56th pct#3 / 9 · 78th pct
Opp10.1/gm#97 / 135 · 29th pct#52 / 69 · 26th pct#14 / 18 · 28th pct#9 / 9 · 11th pct
Kick ret yds
Team55442.6/gm#36 / 136 · 74th pct#14 / 69 · 81st pct#5 / 18 · 78th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp27421.1/gm#29 / 136 · 79th pct#20 / 69 · 72nd pct#4 / 18 · 83rd pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Kick ret TDs
Team00.0/gm#40 / 136 · 71st pct#17 / 69 · 77th pct#6 / 18 · 72nd pct#4 / 9 · 67th pct
Opp10.1/gm#97 / 135 · 29th pct#53 / 69 · 25th pct#11 / 18 · 44th pct#8 / 9 · 22nd pct
Penalty yards
Team40331.0/gm#131 / 136 · 4th pct#66 / 69 · 6th pct#15 / 18 · 22nd pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Opp63048.5/gm#51 / 136 · 63rd pct#32 / 69 · 55th pct#16 / 18 · 17th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Other
Fumbles rec (def)#6 / 136 · 96th pct#4 / 69 · 96th pct#2 / 18 · 94th pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct30.2/gm
Red zone pass rate#13 / 154 · 92nd pct#4 / 69 · 96th pct#2 / 18 · 94th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct0.50.0/gm
First down pass rate#17 / 215 · 93rd pct#2 / 69 · 99th pct#1 / 18 · 100th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct0.60.0/gm
Kick ret (opp)#19 / 136 · 87th pct#12 / 69 · 84th pct#2 / 18 · 94th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct120.9/gm
Passes intercepted opponent#23 / 136 · 84th pct#11 / 69 · 86th pct#3 / 18 · 89th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct70.5/gm
Punt returns#32 / 136 · 77th pct#18 / 69 · 75th pct#5 / 18 · 78th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct211.6/gm
Kick returns#44 / 136 · 68th pct#14 / 69 · 81st pct#4 / 18 · 83rd pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct241.8/gm
Fumbles recovered#49 / 136 · 65th pct#19 / 69 · 74th pct#4 / 18 · 83rd pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct70.5/gm
Recruiting rating#49 / 138 · 65th pct#49 / 69 · 30th pct#15 / 18 · 22nd pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct200.915.5/gm
Penalties (opp)#60 / 136 · 57th pct#35 / 69 · 51st pct#16 / 18 · 17th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct745.7/gm
Interceptions (def)#68 / 136 · 51st pct#35 / 69 · 51st pct#8 / 18 · 61st pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct90.7/gm
H2 epa per play#69 / 142 · 52nd pct#37 / 69 · 48th pct#10 / 18 · 50th pct0.20.0/gm
Punt ret (opp)#85 / 136 · 38th pct#49 / 69 · 30th pct#13 / 18 · 33rd pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct171.3/gm
H2 epa per play opponent#99 / 143 · 31st pct#50 / 69 · 29th pct#11 / 18 · 44th pct0.20.0/gm
H1 epa per play#117 / 162 · 28th pct#62 / 69 · 12th pct#17 / 18 · 11th pct0.10.0/gm
H1 epa per play opponent#121 / 167 · 28th pct#61 / 69 · 13th pct#15 / 18 · 22nd pct0.30.0/gm
Fourth down go rate#128 / 138 · 8th pct#63 / 69 · 10th pct#17 / 18 · 11th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct0.20.0/gm
Penalties#130 / 136 · 5th pct#65 / 69 · 7th pct#15 / 18 · 22nd pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct493.8/gm
Situational
3rd-down conversion
Off40.1%#65 / 136 · 53rd pct#38 / 69 · 46th pct#13 / 18 · 33rd pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Def40.4%#85 / 136 · 38th pct#45 / 69 · 36th pct#11 / 18 · 44th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
4th-down conversion
Off42.9%#116 / 136 · 15th pct#63 / 69 · 10th pct#15 / 18 · 22nd pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Def60.0%#100 / 136 · 27th pct#49 / 69 · 30th pct#14 / 18 · 28th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Turnover margin#21 / 136 · 85th pct#13 / 69 · 83rd pct#2 / 18 · 94th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct+0.54/gm
Sack rate (def)#4 / 136 · 98th pct#3 / 69 · 97th pct#1 / 18 · 100th pct#2 / 10 · 90th pct10.5%
Red Zone & Drive Efficiency (2014– , play-by-play derived)
Red zone trips
Team423.2/gm#75 / 167 · 56th pct#43 / 69 · 39th pct#13 / 18 · 33rd pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Opp413.2/gm#91 / 166 · 46th pct#39 / 69 · 45th pct#11 / 18 · 44th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Red zone score %
Team85.7%85.7%#33 / 167 · 81st pct#18 / 69 · 75th pct#7 / 18 · 67th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp80.5%80.5%#99 / 166 · 41st pct#49 / 69 · 30th pct#14 / 18 · 28th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Points / drive
Team2.00.2/gm#77 / 167 · 54th pct#46 / 69 · 35th pct#13 / 18 · 33rd pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Opp1.80.1/gm#59 / 166 · 65th pct#34 / 69 · 52nd pct#8 / 18 · 61st pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Yards / drive
Team37.52.9/gm#113 / 167 · 33rd pct#62 / 69 · 12th pct#17 / 18 · 11th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp41.03.2/gm#86 / 166 · 49th pct#44 / 69 · 38th pct#12 / 18 · 39th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Plays / drive
Team6.40.5/gm#105 / 167 · 38th pct#53 / 69 · 25th pct#16 / 18 · 17th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp6.30.5/gm#47 / 166 · 72nd pct#16 / 69 · 78th pct#5 / 18 · 78th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Three-and-out rate
Team21.4%21.4%#143 / 167 · 15th pct#67 / 69 · 4th pct#18 / 18 · 6th pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct
Opp15.2%15.2%#55 / 166 · 67th pct#30 / 69 · 58th pct#8 / 18 · 61st pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct
Scheme Identity (2014– , play-by-play derived)
Rush rate over expected#132 / 145 · 10th pct#65 / 69 · 7th pct#17 / 18 · 11th pct-9.0%-9.0%
Havoc rate
Team18.5%18.5%#22 / 140 · 85th pct#15 / 69 · 80th pct#2 / 18 · 94th pct
Opp16.0%16.0%#82 / 140 · 42nd pct#40 / 69 · 43rd pct#12 / 18 · 39th pct
Standard-downs success
Team46.2%46.2%#98 / 154 · 37th pct#55 / 69 · 22nd pct#15 / 18 · 22nd pct
Opp49.7%49.7%#98 / 172 · 44th pct#46 / 69 · 35th pct#10 / 18 · 50th pct
Passing-downs success
Team28.8%28.8%#100 / 153 · 35th pct#54 / 69 · 23rd pct#16 / 18 · 17th pct
Opp36.9%36.9%#137 / 149 · 9th pct#66 / 69 · 6th pct#16 / 18 · 17th pct
Line yards / carry
Team2.62.6#127 / 143 · 12th pct#66 / 69 · 6th pct#17 / 18 · 11th pct
Opp2.92.9#68 / 155 · 57th pct#40 / 69 · 43rd pct#7 / 18 · 67th pct
Stuff rate
Team20.7%20.7%#108 / 143 · 25th pct#55 / 69 · 22nd pct#17 / 18 · 11th pct
Opp19.5%19.5%#60 / 155 · 62nd pct#34 / 69 · 52nd pct#4 / 18 · 83rd pct
Power success rate
Team72.2%72.2%#56 / 137 · 60th pct#30 / 69 · 58th pct#8 / 18 · 61st pct
Opp69.0%69.0%#66 / 141 · 54th pct#32 / 69 · 55th pct#10 / 18 · 50th pct
Efficiency
Completion %
Off62.9%#59 / 136 · 57th pct#36 / 69 · 49th pct#12 / 18 · 39th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Def67.0%#126 / 136 · 8th pct#66 / 69 · 6th pct#17 / 18 · 11th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Yards / attempt
Off6.2#124 / 136 · 10th pct#66 / 69 · 6th pct#16 / 18 · 17th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Def7.4#86 / 136 · 38th pct#51 / 69 · 28th pct#14 / 18 · 28th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Yards / completion
Off9.8#130 / 136 · 5th pct#67 / 69 · 4th pct#17 / 18 · 11th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Def11.0#46 / 136 · 67th pct#33 / 69 · 54th pct#13 / 18 · 33rd pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Yards / carry#116 / 136 · 15th pct#58 / 69 · 17th pct#17 / 18 · 11th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct3.6
Yards / play#122 / 136 · 11th pct#65 / 69 · 7th pct#17 / 18 · 11th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct4.93
Scoring margin#80 / 136 · 42nd pct#50 / 69 · 29th pct#12 / 18 · 39th pct#8 / 11 · 36th pct+0.1/gm
FBS rankings · 2025 season · all stats vs 136 FBS programs
Player stats — 2025 season
Quarterbacks
| Player | # | G | Cmp/Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | INT | Rate | QBR | Adj ANY/A | Sack% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Passer · +0.23 EPA/play | 5 | 13 | 246 / 389 | 63.2 | 2382 #71 FBS | 6.1 | 18 #49 FBS | 6 | 126.9 | 62.0 | 5.9 | 4.0 | |
Yards by week → Pocket PasserBalanced passer who operates within the system, without one standout number carrying the profile. Impact starter — above-average production for the conference. 97 of 183 QBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / attempt6.8 bottom 25th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts Rush yards / carry-3.5 bottom 2th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts Trait fingerprint Plays like View Drake Lindsey's full player page | |||||||||||||
Running Backs
| Player | # | G | Car | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | 3rd Dn Use | Pass Dn Use | Stuff% | 10+% | Tgt Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satellite Back · +0.08 EPA/play | 1 | 10 | 143 | 670 | 4.7 | 4 | 71 | 29.6 | 29.0 | 16.7 | 8.8 | 12.8% (43/337) | |
Yards by week → Satellite Back· Boom-or-bustDeployed as a receiver as much as a runner. Value is in space, not between the tackles. his yards come in chunks — feast or famine Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 50 of 349 RBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Receiving share19.2% 88th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Rush TD rate2.8% bottom 29th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Trait fingerprint Plays like View Darius Taylor's full player page | |||||||||||||
| Balanced Back · +0.04 EPA/play | 3 | 11 | 97 | 441 | 4.5 | 2 | 49 | 8.8 | 12.5 | 21.3 | 13.8 | 4.7% (16/337) | |
Yards by week → Balanced BackPlays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. 186 of 349 RBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / carry5.4 51th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Yards / reception4.5 bottom 17th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Trait fingerprint Plays like View Fame Ijeboi's full player page | |||||||||||||
| 21 | 2 | 21 | 132 | 6.3 | 0 | 16 | 33.3 | 11.1 | — | — | — | ||
Yards by week → | |||||||||||||
| -0.02 EPA/play | 23 | 12 | 35 | 111 | 3.2 | 2 | 14 | 9.2 | 7.1 | — | — | 6.5% (22/337) | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||||
Receivers
| Player | # | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | 3rd Dn Use | Pass Dn Use | Tgt Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slot Technician · +0.60 EPA/play | — | 12 | 46 | 484 | 10.5 | 4 | 24 | 13.5 | 15.3 | 19.0% (64/337) | |
Yards by week → Slot TechnicianRuns precise routes in tight quarters. Volume player who keeps chains moving. 97 of 558 WRs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Reception volume46 73th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Plays like our readAscending: his CFB Index score climbed from the 26th percentile to the 67th among FBS WRs | |||||||||||
| Jump-Ball Target · +0.34 EPA/play | 11 | 12 | 37 | 454 | 12.3 | 6 #62 FBS | 45 | 6.9 | 8.8 | 16.0% (54/337) | |
Yards by week → Jump-Ball TargetWins contested catches at the goal line. Size and catch radius are the weapons. 29 of 558 WRs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TD rate16.2% 89th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions EPA / play (adj)0.3 bottom 29th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like our readFading: his CFB Index score went from the 90th percentile among FBS WRs to the 57th | |||||||||||
| Possession Receiver · +0.62 EPA/play | 8 | 10 | 28 | 419 | 15.0 | 4 | 78 | 15.1 | 10.2 | 12.5% (42/337) | |
Yards by week → Possession Receiver· Boom-or-bustReliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive. his yards come in chunks — feast or famine 332 of 558 WRs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception15.5 71th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions TD rate14.3% 82th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Jalen Smith's full player page | |||||||||||
| Complete TE · +0.24 EPA/play | 86 | 12 | 26 | 206 | 7.9 | 4 | 25 | 6.4 | 7.0 | 11.3% (38/337) | |
Yards by week → Complete TENo single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike. The most common profile in its group this season — 177 of 223 classified this way. Played in 12 of 21 games this season · senior · 3-star, 2021 class View Jameson Geers's full player page | |||||||||||
| Complete TE · +0.26 EPA/play | 87 | 12 | 18 | 136 | 7.6 | 0 | 21 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 6.8% (23/337) | |
Yards by week → Complete TENo single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike. 177 of 223 TEs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception10.2 bottom 42th percentile · FBS TEs, min. 8 receptions TD rate0.0% bottom 10th percentile · FBS TEs, min. 8 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Drew Biber's full player page | |||||||||||
| +0.72 EPA/play | 16 | 5 | 5 | 83 | 16.6 | 0 | 52 | 0 | 2.6 | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||
| +0.27 EPA/play | 17 | 7 | 10 | 61 | 6.1 | 0 | 10 | 5.6 | 3 | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||
Defensive Line
| Player | # | G | Tot | Solo | TFL | Sack | Hur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Tech Penetrator | — | 12 | 38 | 21 | 17.5 #5 FBS | 12.5 #3 FBS | 7 |
3-Tech PenetratorDisruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield. Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 269 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate46.1% 100th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like our readSustained Ascent: his CFB Index score shows two real climbs in a row — 12th to 87th to 99th percentile among FBS IDLs | |||||||
| Nose Anchor | 91 | 13 | 38 | 18 | 5 | 2.5 | 2 |
Nose AnchorThe heaviest frame on the interior. Sack production is intentionally not the point of this profile. Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 152 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Weight320 lb 90th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like our readSustained Ascent: his CFB Index score shows two real climbs in a row — 49th to 71st to 94th percentile among FBS IDLs | |||||||
| 3-Tech Penetrator | 11 | 9 | 32 | 18 | 9 | 6.5 #55 FBS | 4 |
3-Tech PenetratorDisruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. 269 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate28.1% 92th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Karter Menz's full player page | |||||||
| 3-Tech Penetrator | 1 | 13 | 29 | 6 | 5.5 | 4 | 1 |
3-Tech PenetratorDisruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. 269 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate19.0% 67th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like our readBreakout: his CFB Index score climbed from the 14th percentile to the 80th among FBS IDLs | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | 16 | 10 | 20 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. The most common profile in its group this season — 388 of 809 classified this way. Played in 10 of 21 games this season · senior View Rushawn Lawrence's full player page | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | 97 | 7 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. The most common profile in its group this season — 388 of 809 classified this way. Played in 7 of 21 games this season · senior our readFading: his CFB Index score went from the 80th percentile among FBS IDLs to the 18th | |||||||
| 3-Tech Penetrator | 89 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 3.5 | 1 | 1 |
3-Tech PenetratorDisruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield. 269 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt View Nate Becker's full player pageTFL rate31.8% 97th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | 46 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. The most common profile in its group this season — 388 of 809 classified this way. Played in 7 of 21 games this season · senior View Lucas Finnessy's full player page | |||||||
Linebackers
| Player | # | G | Tot | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sack | PD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced Linebacker | 6 | 13 | 102 | 51 | 51 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. Impact starter — above-average production for the conference. 362 of 660 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume102 97th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles PD rate1.0% bottom 29th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like our readAscending: his CFB Index score now sits at the 86th percentile among FBS LBs, up from the 50th | |||||||||
| Balanced Linebacker | 9 | 12 | 89 | 37 | 52 | 8.5 | 2.5 | 1 | 0 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 362 of 660 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume89 91th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles PD rate1.1% bottom 30th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like our readAscending: his CFB Index score now sits at the 78th percentile among FBS LBs, up from the 41st | |||||||||
| Balanced Linebacker | 49 | 11 | 34 | 16 | 18 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 1 | 0 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. The most common profile in its group this season — 362 of 660 classified this way. Played in 11 of 21 games this season · sophomore · 3-star, 2023 class View Matt Kingsbury's full player page | |||||||||
| 2 | 9 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| 19 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 48 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 35 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Defensive Backs
| Player | # | G | Tot | PD | INT | TFL | Sack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box Safety | 3 | 13 | 82 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Box Safety· Takeaway threatLives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker. the kind of DB who takes it back the other way All-Conference honorable mention / 2nd team — the recognition has started. 166 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume82 97th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Koi Perich's full player page | |||||||
| Box Safety | 14 | 12 | 56 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
Box SafetyLives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker. Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 166 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume56 75th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Kerry Brown's full player page | |||||||
| Rover | 17 | 11 | 50 | 6 | 6 #2 FBS | 6 | 0 |
Rover· Takeaway threatHits like a linebacker and still takes the ball away. the kind of DB who takes it back the other way Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. 83 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate12.0% 70th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like our readBreakout: his CFB Index score now sits at the 100th percentile among FBS Ss, up from the 1st | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | 4 | 10 | 37 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Hybrid NickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. 419 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate8.1% 50th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Za'Quan Bryan's full player page | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | 7 | 8 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Hybrid NickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. The most common profile in its group this season — 419 of 801 classified this way. Played in 8 of 21 games this season · junior · 3-star, 2022 class View Aidan Gousby's full player page | |||||||
| Box Safety | 12 | 10 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 2.5 | 0 |
Box SafetyLives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker. 166 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume26 bottom 22th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Darius Green's full player page | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | 24 | 8 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Hybrid NickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. 419 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate4.5% bottom 32th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Jaionte McMillan's full player page | |||||||
| 13 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Kicking
| Player | # | G | FG M/A | FG% | XP M/A | Pts | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steady | 92 | 13 | 14/21 | 66.7 | 33/33 | 75 | 46 |
Punting
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | Long | In20 | TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steady | 42 | 13 | 65 | 2768 | 42.6 | 59 | 23 | 4 |
Net average is unavailable — CFBD's punting feed carries gross yards only, with no return-yardage or touchback deduction.
Kick Returns
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box Safety | 3 | 13 | 18 | 483 | 26.8 | 0 | 93 |
Punt Returns
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box Safety | 3 | 13 | 19 | 115 | 6.1 | 0 | 21 |
2025 stat leaders
final
2025 stat leaders
1.
Maverick Baranowski
LB
102 tot (def)
2.
Devon Williams
LB
89.0 tot (def)
3.
Drake Lindsey
QB
2,382 yds (pass)
4.
Kerry Brown
DB
56.0 tot (def)
5.
John Nestor
DB
50.0 tot (def)
Roster
2025
23
players carry a qualified CFB Index Score this season.
John Nestor
CB
#2 of 364
Anthony Smith
EDGE
#9 of 420
Deven Eastern
IDL
#30 of 330
Maverick Baranowski
LB
#94 of 583
Koi Perich
S
#115 of 544
Devon Williams
LB
#146 of 583
+17 more
Minnesota · 2025 schedule & results8-5Brutal slateAverage opponent win rate 49% · 3 AP top-25 opponents on the schedule. 1 ranked win banked (time-of-game rank).
| Wk | Date | Us | Opp | Line | Opponent | Result | Record | Conf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 29 | #22 | #58 | -18.5 | Buffalo | W 23–10 123 | 1-0 | 0-0 |
| 2 | Sep 6 | #16 | #248 | — | Northwestern State | W 66–0 100 | 2-0 | 0-0 |
| 3 | Sep 14 | #21 | #62 | -3.5 | @California | L 14–27 132 | 2-1 | 0-0 |
| 5 | Sep 27 | #28 | #57 | -4 | Rutgers | W 31–28 133 | 3-1 | 1-0 |
| 6 | Oct 4 | #35 | #1 | +23.5 | @Ohio State | L 3–42 108 | 3-2 | 1-1 |
| 7 | Oct 11 | #51 | #123 | -7.5 | Purdue | W 27–20 145 | 4-2 | 2-1 |
| 8 | Oct 18 | #57 | #43 | +7 | NebraskaTop 25 win | W 24–6 109 | 5-2 | 3-1 |
| 9 | Oct 25 | #47 | #29 | +7 | @Iowa | L 3–41 109 | 5-3 | 3-2 |
| 10 | Nov 1 | #58 | #92 | -3.5 | Michigan State | W 23–20 131 | 6-3 | 4-2 |
| 12 | Nov 15 | #61 | #3 | +27 | @Oregon | L 13–42 120 | 6-4 | 4-3 |
| 13 | Nov 22 | #69 | #63 | +4.5 | Northwestern (N) | L 35–38 118 | 6-5 | 4-4 |
| 14 | Nov 29 | #86 | #68 | +2.5 | Wisconsin | W 17–7 111 | 7-5 | 5-4 |
| Bowl Season | ||||||||
| 17 | Dec 26 | #73 | #83 | -2 | New Mexico (N) | W 20–17 | 8-5 | 5-4 |
Advanced box score (EPA, success rate, explosiveness)▼
| Date | Opp | Result | Yds | TO | TOP | EPA/play | Success% | Explosive% | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 29 | Wisconsin | W 17–7 | 218 | 0 | 30:32 | +0.051 | 32.1% | 150.0% | Most explosive |
| Nov 22 | Northwestern | L 35–38 | 323 | 0 | 19:12 | +0.312 | 48.1% | 128.8% | One-score loss |
| Nov 15 | @Oregon | L 13–42 | 200 | 0 | 30:24 | -0.003 | 33.3% | 95.2% | Blowout loss |
| Nov 1 | Michigan State | W 23–20 | 301 | 0 | 25:26 | +0.066 | 33.3% | 116.9% | One-score win |
| Oct 25 | @Iowa | L 3–41 | 133 | 3 | 26:50 | -0.244 | 29.6% | 96.5% | Season-low EPA/play |
| Oct 18 | Nebraska | W 24–6 | 339 | 0 | 31:59 | +0.186 | 40.0% | 121.1% | |
| Oct 11 | Purdue | W 27–20 | 262 | 1 | 25:30 | -0.001 | 31.7% | 131.3% | One-score win |
| Oct 4 | @Ohio State | L 3–42 | 162 | 0 | 28:08 | -0.081 | 32.0% | 68.2% | Defense's roughest night |
| Sep 27 | Rutgers | W 31–28 | 362 | 0 | 28:55 | +0.263 | 52.5% | 106.9% | One-score win |
| Sep 14 | @California | L 14–27 | 335 | 2 | 33:56 | +0.092 | 35.6% | 135.0% | |
| Sep 6 | Northwestern State | W 66–0 | 484 | 1 | 33:13 | +0.374 | 70.5% | 91.4% | Season-high EPA/play |
| Aug 29 | Buffalo | W 23–10 | 443 | 1 | 38:28 | +0.223 | 44.9% | 131.0% | |
| Season average (12 games) | 297 | 0.7 | +0.103 | 40.3% | 114.4% | ||||
How They Play · 2025
How They Play · 2025Minnesota fields a struggling methodical, ball-control offense behind a solid, bend-don't-break defense.
Opponent-adjusted percentiles vs all FBS. Bar = where this team ranks — right is better.
Team identity · competitive snaps only
How Minnesota actually scores
29th percentile quality, 77th percentile boom-dependency. Garbage time excluded from both axes — the same correction that changes the Q4 story below.
View all FBS teams as a table
| Team | Quality percentile | Boom-share percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 86th | 11th |
| Akron | 12th | 89th |
| Alabama | 58th | 17th |
| App State | 35th | 47th |
| Arizona | 64th | 37th |
| Arizona State | 41st | 62nd |
| Arkansas | 90th | 12th |
| Arkansas State | 17th | 66th |
| Army | 57th | 43rd |
| Auburn | 47th | 53rd |
| BYU | 78th | 19th |
| Baylor | 69th | 25th |
| Boise State | 66th | 20th |
| Boston College | 37th | 54th |
| Bowling Green | 2nd | 98th |
| Buffalo | 11th | 88th |
| California | 28th | 48th |
| Central Michigan | 52nd | 64th |
| Cincinnati | 89th | 16th |
| Clemson | 51st | 48th |
| Coastal Carolina | 17th | 83rd |
| Colorado | 18th | 84th |
| Colorado State | 16th | 83rd |
| Delaware | 38th | 58th |
| Duke | 80th | 14th |
| East Carolina | 63rd | 36th |
| Eastern Michigan | 49th | 42nd |
| Florida | 30th | 67th |
| Florida Atlantic | 62nd | 59th |
| Florida International | 42nd | 50th |
| Florida State | 83rd | 32nd |
| Fresno State | 26th | 73rd |
| Georgia | 81st | 3rd |
| Georgia Southern | 73rd | 21st |
| Georgia State | 36th | 70th |
| Georgia Tech | 84th | 5th |
| Hawai'i | 64th | 41st |
| Houston | 27th | 65th |
| Illinois | 75th | 26th |
| Indiana | 95th | 1st |
| Iowa | 44th | 40th |
| Iowa State | 68th | 22nd |
| Jacksonville State | 54th | 38th |
| James Madison | 65th | 44th |
| Kansas | 85th | 28th |
| Kansas State | 71st | 49th |
| Kennesaw State | 56th | 30th |
| Kent State | 21st | 86th |
| Kentucky | 15th | 85th |
| LSU | 14th | 81st |
| Liberty | 43rd | 56th |
| Louisiana | 19th | 73rd |
| Louisiana Tech | 39th | 61st |
| Louisville | 48th | 64th |
| Marshall | 55th | 39th |
| Maryland | 30th | 74th |
| Memphis | 80th | 24th |
| Miami | 76th | 5th |
| Miami (OH) | 34th | 67th |
| Michigan | 67th | 33rd |
| Michigan State | 27th | 75th |
| Middle Tennessee | 39th | 52nd |
| Minnesota | 29th | 77th |
| Mississippi State | 22nd | 77th |
| Missouri | 61st | 30th |
| Missouri State | 55th | 46th |
| NC State | 86th | 23rd |
| Navy | 94th | 17th |
| Nebraska | 48th | 57th |
| Nevada | 3rd | 97th |
| New Mexico | 58th | 60th |
| New Mexico State | 9th | 87th |
| North Carolina | 13th | 89th |
| North Texas | 98th | 7th |
| Northern Illinois | 8th | 92nd |
| Northwestern | 52nd | 36th |
| Notre Dame | 99th | 20th |
| Ohio | 67th | 18th |
| Ohio State | 93rd | 4th |
| Oklahoma | 20th | 80th |
| Oklahoma State | 5th | 95th |
| Old Dominion | 83rd | 45th |
| Ole Miss | 89th | 2nd |
| Oregon | 91st | 10th |
| Oregon State | 2nd | 98th |
| Penn State | 73rd | 33rd |
| Pittsburgh | 60th | 39th |
| Purdue | 25th | 78th |
| Rice | 6th | 94th |
| Rutgers | 70th | 27th |
| SMU | 74th | 42nd |
| Sam Houston | 4th | 96th |
| San Diego State | 24th | 76th |
| San José State | 45th | 69th |
| South Alabama | 36th | 58th |
| South Carolina | 23rd | 86th |
| South Florida | 87th | 23rd |
| Southern Miss | 40th | 55th |
| Stanford | 10th | 90th |
| Syracuse | 5th | 95th |
| TCU | 72nd | 35th |
| Temple | 70th | 34th |
| Tennessee | 96th | 11th |
| Texas | 45th | 55th |
| Texas A&M | 82nd | 14th |
| Texas State | 92nd | 8th |
| Texas Tech | 77th | 31st |
| Toledo | 50th | 61st |
| Troy | 14th | 80th |
| Tulane | 79th | 15th |
| Tulsa | 20th | 70th |
| UAB | 61st | 45th |
| UCF | 33rd | 82nd |
| UCLA | 23rd | 79th |
| UConn | 95th | 13th |
| UL Monroe | 11th | 92nd |
| UNLV | 88th | 9th |
| USC | 98th | 2nd |
| UTEP | 1st | 99th |
| UTSA | 77th | 51st |
| Utah | 97th | 6th |
| Utah State | 46th | 63rd |
| Vanderbilt | 100th | 0th |
| Virginia | 59th | 27th |
| Virginia Tech | 32nd | 71st |
| Wake Forest | 42nd | 72nd |
| Washington | 92nd | 8th |
| Washington State | 33rd | 52nd |
| West Virginia | 7th | 93rd |
| Western Kentucky | 53rd | 29th |
| Western Michigan | 31st | 68th |
| Wisconsin | 0th | 100th |
| Wyoming | 8th | 91st |
Fourth-quarter reliability, corrected
Minnesota's 4th-quarter offense, before and after garbage time
Raw Q4 EPA/play ranks 17th percentile in FBS. Strip out snaps taken with a blowout margin and it climbs to the 57th — the correction is the finding, not a footnote.
Standard downs vs. passing downs
Does Minnesota hold up once the down-and-distance turns against them?
35th percentile success on standard downs, 33rd on passing downs — little dropoff between the two — a schedule-independent identity.
View all FBS teams as a table
| Team | Standard-downs percentile | Passing-downs percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 82nd | 69th |
| Akron | 20th | 36th |
| Alabama | 47th | 76th |
| App State | 41st | 80th |
| Arizona | 54th | 54th |
| Arizona State | 40th | 37th |
| Arkansas | 90th | 97th |
| Arkansas State | 51st | 40th |
| Army | 37th | 44th |
| Auburn | 73rd | 24th |
| Austin Peay | 56th | 13th |
| BYU | 91st | 46th |
| Ball State | 5th | 3rd |
| Baylor | 70th | 77th |
| Boise State | 42nd | 63rd |
| Boston College | 56th | 54th |
| Bowling Green | 10th | 17th |
| Bryant | 7th | 2nd |
| Buffalo | 29th | 20th |
| California | 25th | 66th |
| Central Michigan | 57th | 11th |
| Charlotte | 7th | 7th |
| Cincinnati | 89th | 65th |
| Clemson | 49th | 34th |
| Coastal Carolina | 16th | 22nd |
| Colorado | 8th | 48th |
| Colorado State | 29th | 35th |
| Delaware | 66th | 31st |
| Duke | 82nd | 63rd |
| East Carolina | 63rd | 91st |
| Eastern Michigan | 46th | 67th |
| Florida | 52nd | 45th |
| Florida Atlantic | 44th | 61st |
| Florida International | 50th | 26th |
| Florida State | 65th | 90th |
| Fresno State | 22nd | 71st |
| Georgia | 95th | 69th |
| Georgia Southern | 64th | 84th |
| Georgia State | 22nd | 75th |
| Georgia Tech | 92nd | 89th |
| Hawai'i | 33rd | 87th |
| Houston | 61st | 29th |
| Idaho | 30th | 78th |
| Idaho State | 93rd | 14th |
| Illinois | 79th | 95th |
| Indiana | 97th | 98th |
| Iowa | 74th | 19th |
| Iowa State | 80th | 58th |
| Jacksonville State | 59th | 56th |
| James Madison | 77th | 52nd |
| Kansas | 99th | 82nd |
| Kansas State | 37th | 59th |
| Kennesaw State | 44th | 67th |
| Kent State | 15th | 5th |
| Kentucky | 62nd | 29th |
| LSU | 18th | 52nd |
| Lafayette | 0th | 12th |
| Liberty | 65th | 53rd |
| Lindenwood | 4th | 1st |
| Long Island University | 24th | 78th |
| Louisiana | 24th | 23rd |
| Louisiana Tech | 41st | 24th |
| Louisville | 84th | 32nd |
| Maine | 3rd | 18th |
| Marshall | 71st | 62nd |
| Maryland | 11th | 86th |
| Massachusetts | 5th | 9th |
| Memphis | 75th | 68th |
| Merrimack | 1st | 83rd |
| Miami | 80th | 64th |
| Miami (OH) | 33rd | 39th |
| Michigan | 73rd | 74th |
| Michigan State | 48th | 39th |
| Middle Tennessee | 69th | 47th |
| Minnesota | 35th | 33rd |
| Mississippi State | 52nd | 35th |
| Missouri | 76th | 50th |
| Missouri State | 32nd | 50th |
| Murray State | 1st | 6th |
| NC State | 58th | 71st |
| Navy | 95th | 72nd |
| Nebraska | 78th | 51st |
| Nevada | 17th | 16th |
| New Mexico | 38th | 60th |
| New Mexico State | 16th | 33rd |
| North Carolina | 14th | 30th |
| North Texas | 100th | 97th |
| Northern Illinois | 9th | 5th |
| Northwestern | 48th | 88th |
| Notre Dame | 88th | 99th |
| Ohio | 69th | 76th |
| Ohio State | 99th | 99th |
| Oklahoma | 39th | 41st |
| Oklahoma State | 14th | 7th |
| Old Dominion | 72nd | 79th |
| Ole Miss | 83rd | 95th |
| Oregon | 93rd | 55th |
| Oregon State | 54th | 25th |
| Penn State | 76th | 73rd |
| Pittsburgh | 35th | 56th |
| Purdue | 46th | 88th |
| Rice | 20th | 0th |
| Rutgers | 71st | 84th |
| SMU | 50th | 57th |
| Sam Houston | 26th | 4th |
| San Diego State | 84th | 1st |
| San José State | 68th | 70th |
| South Alabama | 53rd | 28th |
| South Carolina | 31st | 8th |
| South Carolina State | 10th | 3rd |
| South Florida | 86th | 46th |
| Southern Miss | 27th | 38th |
| Stanford | 12th | 12th |
| Syracuse | 19th | 10th |
| TCU | 63rd | 82nd |
| Temple | 85th | 22nd |
| Tennessee | 97th | 81st |
| Texas | 27th | 61st |
| Texas A&M | 88th | 59th |
| Texas State | 60th | 93rd |
| Texas Tech | 45th | 65th |
| Toledo | 67th | 42nd |
| Troy | 18th | 27th |
| Tulane | 81st | 86th |
| Tulsa | 43rd | 43rd |
| UAB | 34th | 94th |
| UCF | 39th | 20th |
| UCLA | 28th | 48th |
| UConn | 96th | 37th |
| UL Monroe | 13th | 14th |
| UNLV | 78th | 85th |
| USC | 94th | 90th |
| UT Martin | 2nd | 41st |
| UTEP | 3rd | 10th |
| UTSA | 67th | 92nd |
| Utah | 87th | 96th |
| Utah State | 31st | 49th |
| Vanderbilt | 90th | 100th |
| Virginia | 36th | 73rd |
| Virginia Tech | 59th | 21st |
| Wake Forest | 21st | 31st |
| Washington | 98th | 93rd |
| Washington State | 61st | 44th |
| West Virginia | 12th | 18th |
| Western Kentucky | 55th | 80th |
| Western Michigan | 86th | 16th |
| Wisconsin | 6th | 27th |
| Wyoming | 23rd | 15th |
Halftime identity
Minnesota by half
1st-half offense ranks 28th percentile in FBS; 2nd-half, 52nd — competitive snaps only, garbage time excluded from both halves.
Schedule mirage
How much of Minnesota's number is the schedule?
Raw EPA/play through week 21 is 0.10; 34th percentile once opponent strength is stripped out, it's 0.01. The widest gap came in week 2: 0.30 raw vs. 0.04 adjusted.
Minnesota reads strongest in explosive plays allowed (top 24%) and passing epa allowed (top 43%); the crux lives in explosive plays, where Minnesota sits at the 5th percentile.
offense · strengths lead
defense · higher bar = harder to play against
hidden math · special situations
ELITE · 90+STRONG · 70+AVERAGE · 40-70CONCERN · 10-40BOTTOM · <10
Most Similar Programs · Minnesota
Most Similar Programs · MinnesotaReads Like
BYUTier 3 · Prestige T4 · Similarly-sized rosters up frontOklahoma StateTier 3 · Prestige T4 · Similarly-sized rosters up frontPittsburghTier 3 · Prestige T4 · Similarly-sized rosters up front
Static-attribute similarity across tier, archetype, conference, and voice. Not a prediction — a calibration.
Home-Field Advantage · Minnesota · 2018-present
Strong
69% home win rate vs 47% on the road. margin runs +11.7 better at home. Huntington Bank Stadium seats 50,850, averaging 92% full (46,864 attendance, 28 games reported).
Home36-16Away18-20
Positional competition · RB room
The carries are split. The job isn’t.
Darius Taylor and Fame Ijeboi split the carries (116/211 vs 95/211) -- but Darius Taylor leads on every measured axis. This isn't a split role, it's a hierarchy with a change-of-pace back behind it.
Darius TaylorFame Ijeboi
Carries
the baseline -- every row below is tested against this split, not a flat 50/50
Inside the 5
shared -- dots touch, this room really is a committee here
Q4, leading (competitive)
p = 0.000 -- real, not noise
Targets
p = 0.006 -- real, not noise
Top-5-carry share
concentration and EPA/carry agree -- a real boom/bust split
Screened 4 claims, 3 survived, 1 falsified
Positional competition · WR/TE room
The targets are split. The job isn’t.
Lemeke Brockington (WR) and Jameson Geers (TE) split the targets (62/98 vs 36/98) -- but the job isn't split the same way.
Lemeke BrockingtonJameson Geers
Targets
the baseline -- every row below is tested against this split, not a flat 50/50
3rd-down targets
shared -- dots touch, this room really is a committee here
Inside the 10
shared -- dots touch, this room really is a committee here
Garbage-time share
shared -- dots touch, this room really is a committee here
Top-5-catch share
concentration alone -- EPA/target doesn't corroborate, read with caution
Screened 4 claims, 0 survived, 4 falsified
What changed
Minnesota’s play-calling, before and after the change
Offense: Kirk Ciarrocca / co-Matt Simon (2022) → co-Greg Harbaugh / co-Matt Simon (2023–2025)
The biggest shift: red-zone pass rate moved up 22 points. The rest held closer to steady.
1st-down pass rate
Red-zone pass rate
Defense: Corey Hetherman / co-Nick Monroe (2024) → co-Nick Monroe / Danny Collins (2025)
Play-calling barely moved on the change — every rate held within a few points.
1st-down pass rate
Red-zone pass rate
Season by season
How Minnesota’s current staff calls plays, year over year
Offense: co-Greg Harbaugh / co-Matt Simon (2023–2025)
1st-down pass rate
2023: 36% → 2025: 58% · 22-pt range · #6 of 171 · more than most
Red-zone pass rate
2023: 31% → 2025: 52% · 22-pt range · #19 of 171 · more than most
4th-down go rate
2023: 24% → 2025: 23% · 4-pt range · #165 of 171 · less than most
Defensive identity · pass zones
What this defense gives up, by zone.
On short passes, Minnesota’s defense allows a completion rate above the FBS mean (71.5% vs 65.9% league-wide, shrunk toward the mean for its 117-play sample) — most generous, 131 of 133 qualifying defenses.
We won’t show a deep-ball leaderboard here: at the defense level, most teams face well under 30 rich-feed deep targets all season — too thin to tell a real tendency from noise, so we won’t guess.
Screened 133 claims, 133 survived · 2025 only, in the 399 games with the detailed play-text feed; n=117 short-zone plays faced, raw rate 77.8%
Venue texture
55°F average kickoff temp; 10% of games had measurable precipitation; 9 mph average wind.
Based on 80 home games with weather data.
The CFP Era
12 seasons inside the CFP era, no bids yet — the era the program is still trying to break into.
TRAJECTORY · quality-score line · AP rank dotted · CFP bids marked · coach regimes ribboned
Program Quality
AP Rank (inverted)
CFP Appearance
Minnesota's 2014–2025 record is 88-60. The era is still being written; the CFP line is the one the program is arguing for.
All-Time Record
733-544-42
since 1892 · 134 seasons · .555 win rate
HOME
525-243-15
AWAY
192-287-27
NEUTRAL
16-14
1890s
1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
The program, in full — read the essay
Minnesota won five national championships under Bernie Bierman in the 1930s and 40s. P.J. Fleck has now won nine straight bowls and enters his tenth season with a freshman quarterback who threw for 2,382 yards. The trophies say the program belongs at the top. The conference standings since 1967 say something else. Both are true.
Bernie Bierman's teams went to national championships the way the sport's current dynasties do — not as lucky visitors but as the expectation, the standard, the program that had done it before and arrived planning to do it again. Five titles from 1934 to 1941. Bronko Nagurski. The program that owned the early decades of the sport and made Minneapolis a football address. That history is not revisionism. The trophies are real and the Big Ten titles are real and the national reputation was real. The long dormancy since — no outright conference title since 1967 — is also real, and has been the sport's way of footnoting everything that came before.
Fleck arrived in 2017 with a culture-first rebuild and a rowing metaphor that the sport took the long way around to accepting. He has made it work: an 11-2 season in 2019, a top-10 finish, and now nine straight bowl wins — a Big Ten record — including an overtime victory over New Mexico in the 2025 Rate Bowl. Drake Lindsey, the freshman quarterback who threw for 2,382 yards and 18 touchdowns, returns for his sophomore season as the program's answer to the ceiling question. The fanbase split is structural: the faction that says nine straight bowls is extraordinary given where the program started, and the faction that says a six-time national champion shouldn't have had to set a bowl-win streak record to prove it belongs.
The 2026 season is Fleck's tenth. The question it will answer is whether the Lindsey-led offense can make Minnesota a genuine Big Ten West contender rather than a dependable eight-win team. Nine straight bowl wins means the floor is real. The conference title drought since 1967 means the ceiling is still the argument.
How they play
Physical, run-heavy, cold-weather Big Ten football built on culture and line-of-scrimmage toughness. Fleck's program runs power-gap concepts on offense with a priority on the run game before opening the passing attack — Lindsey's development will determine how much the scheme can expand. The Row the Boat culture is not a gimmick; it's the mechanism by which the program has sustained bowl eligibility across a decade. The defense is gap-sound and built for Big Ten tempo, which is what the November schedule requires.
Steady
Minnesota 2016–2025. Holding the line. The 10-year slope (+0.08 rungs / yr) doesn't tilt either way — the program lives at roughly Tier 3.
CFP Era · Minnesota
12 seasons on file
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
down middle peak CFP year
Season Standing · 2025 · 8-5
Season Standing · 2025 · 8-5Bowl eligible
Minnesota: 6+ wins, bowl access secured. The baseline of a successful FBS year.
R0R1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9
Sub-FBSBuildingBowlRankedContenderPlayoff
Big Ten Standing · 2025
8th in the Big Ten
Minnesota is 8th of 18 in the Big Ten at 5-4. The path to the title is steep — the focus is on bowl access and rivalry wins.
| # | Program | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana | 11-0 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 9-1 |
| 3 | Oregon | 8-2 |
| 4 | Michigan | 7-2 |
| 5 | USC | 7-2 |
| 6 | Iowa | 6-3 |
| 7 | Illinois | 5-4 |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5-4 |
| 9 | Washington | 5-4 |
| 10 | Nebraska | 4-5 |
| 11 | Northwestern | 4-5 |
| 12 | Penn State | 3-6 |
| 13 | UCLA | 3-6 |
| 14 | Rutgers | 2-7 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 2-7 |
| 16 | Maryland | 1-8 |
| 17 | Michigan State | 1-8 |
| 18 | Purdue | 0-9 |
Coaching Era · Minnesota
Coaching Era · MinnesotaP.J. Fleck
P.J. Fleck into year 10 — a multi-decade era by modern CFB standards.
Era P.J. Fleck · 2017–presentPrev: Tracy Claeys (2016)OC: Greg HarbaughPrev OC: co-Greg Harbaugh / co-Matt Simon (2023–2025)DC: co-Nick Monroe / Danny CollinsPrev DC: Corey Hetherman / co-Nick Monroe (2024)
10
years · era
Rituals
Three gameday rituals — the ones outsiders never quite catch.
Row the Boat
since 2017
P.J. Fleck's 'Row the Boat' mantra — borrowed from his Western Michigan tenure and elevated to brand-identity at Minnesota — is the program's defining cultural anchor since 2017. The oar handoff to the previous senior class + the rowing-as-team-cohesion metaphor became Big Ten viral content. Fleck's tenure (2017-) is the longest sustained head-coach era at Minnesota since Bernie Bierman.
Bernie Bierman Dynasty (1934-1941)
since 1934
Bernie Bierman's 1934-1941 tenure produced 6 of Minnesota's 7 national titles (1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, plus the 1960 title under Murray Warmath). The dynasty is the period when Minnesota was college football's preeminent program. Modern fans cite the dynasty as cultural anchor even decades later.
Floyd of Rosedale (vs Iowa)
since 1935
Minnesota-Iowa plays for Floyd of Rosedale — a bronze pig trophy commissioned in 1935 after Iowa's governor + Minnesota's governor wagered a live hog on the game outcome. The trophy is one of CFB's strangest + most-beloved. The rivalry's been played 110+ times.
Program memory
What this program never forgets
Most weeks vanish. These didn’t.
1936
The Bierman national titles
The heart of the 1930s dynasty — back-to-back-to-back champions
1941
Bierman goes again
Bernie Bierman won back-to-back in 1940 and 1941, both teams unbeaten at 8-0
1960
The last one
Murray Warmath's 8-2 team took the title in 1960 — Minnesota has not won one since
The 2019 11-2 season
Fleck's breakthrough — an Outback Bowl win and a top-10 finish
Moment of the Year · Minnesota · 2025
Moment of the Year · Minnesota · 2025Lost 3-42 at Ohio State
Week 6 of 2025. A reckoning loss — the data point the next season must answer.
Bowl / Postseason Ledger
Bowl / Postseason LedgerRecent postseason (2014-2025): 9-1
Most recent: 2025 — win 20-17 (home). Last 5 postseason: 5-0.
20252024202320222021
NFL Draft Pipeline
2022–2026
NFL Draft PipelineSteady
12 picks last 5 cycles. Reliable mid-tier pipeline.
12
picks · 0 R1
#40
Boye Mafe
Outside Linebacker · 2022 · Seattle · #272/370 final season
#47
Tyler Nubin
Safety · 2024 · New York · #30/538 final season
#48
Aireontae Ersery
Offensive Tackle · 2025 · Houston
#38 all-time · 18 first-round picksthe talent factory →
Unit lineage
Minnesota’s offense and defense, by coordinator
FBS-relative efficiency percentile per season (2014–2025), same population as the Coordinator Mirror board. Dashed vertical lines mark a coordinator change.
Offense2014–2025
2014–2015 · Matt Limegrover2016 · Jay Johnson2017–2019 · Kirk Ciarrocca2020–2021 · co-Matt Simon / Mike Sanford2022 · Kirk Ciarrocca / co-Matt Simon2023–2025 · co-Greg Harbaugh / co-Matt Simon
Hired for 2026: Greg Harbaugh — not yet reflected in on-field data.
Defense2014–2025
2014 · Tracy Claeys2015 · Tracy Claeys2016 · Jay Sawvel2017–2018 · Robb Smith2019 · Joe Rossi2020–2021 · co-Joe Harasymiak / Joe Rossi2022 · Joe Rossi / co-Paul Haynes2023 · Joe Rossi / co-Nick Monroe2024 · Corey Hetherman / co-Nick Monroe2025 (ongoing) · co-Nick Monroe / Danny Collins
Elite (≥70th pct)AveragePoor (≤30th pct)
Chronicle Visuals
Average 2025 continuity (44% back) — offense anchors it, qb room is the stress point.
The portal upgraded the EDGE room but opened a hole at WR.
1 player drafted in 2026; the reload runs through the portal and recruiting.
Minnesota sits where recruit talent and draft yield largely match.
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