Minnesota plays Eastern Illinois tonight on Peacock...

[dawgstudent]

for those that want to watch next week's opponent.

 

[Duke Humphrey]

for those that want to watch next week's opponent.

Usually on NBCSN for YouTubeTV users if you do not subscribe to Peacock

 

[GloryDawg]

You have to pay for peacock and does that money go to NBC?

 

[Howiefeltersnstch]

Set to record on yttv. Plan to watch some Missouri tonight also.

 

[Napoleon378]

found an active MN message board. They are pretty confident to start the year. Some predict 6-6 but most are thinking 8-9 wins and all are predicting they beat us

Official Predict 2026 Gopher Football Record | GopherHole Message Board Community

 

[was21]

for those that want to watch next week's opponent.

Trivia: Murray Warmit corched at State and left for Minnesota a long time ago.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

found an active MN message board. They are pretty confident to start the year. Some predict 6-6 but most are thinking 8-9 wins and all are predicting they beat us

Official Predict 2026 Gopher Football Record | GopherHole Message Board Community

“GopherHole” would run me off as a fan

 

[NWADawg]

I'm not seeing anything in Minnesota that scares me.

 

[MSUDC11-2.0]

EIU doesn’t look like a very good FCS team so hard to gauge much on this one.

Minnesota plays a very risk-averse style on offense and leans on defense to carry them. It’s a lot like playing someone like Iowa or Mark Stoops era Kentucky. They want to play fundamentally sound football, and force you to make the mistakes while they just kinda grind it out.

 

[OopsICroomedmypants]

They are going to run the clock on MSU as much as they can. It may be a frustrating game, but I bet MSU can score from far against these guys. They are pretty well coached, but don't look especially big or fast. They will play hard, but State should beat them unless the clock becomes an issue.

 

[patdog]

found an active MN message board. They are pretty confident to start the year. Some predict 6-6 but most are thinking 8-9 wins and all are predicting they beat us

Official Predict 2026 Gopher Football Record | GopherHole Message Board Community

So pretty much like our board.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

Looks like a cake walk, so far.

 

[GloryDawg]

EIU doesn’t look like a very good FCS team so hard to gauge much on this one.

Minnesota plays a very risk-averse style on offense and leans on defense to carry them. It’s a lot like playing someone like Iowa or Mark Stoops era Kentucky. They want to play fundamentally sound football, and force you to make the mistakes while they just kinda grind it out.

Last season in the 4th against AZU they went on a 8 to 9 minutes' drive, get a Field goal then we score a TD in 50 seconds. If they are big a slow Smith is going to have a bunch of tackles for a loss.

 

[GloryDawg]

I could see our defense giving up a lot of yards but not a lot of points.

 

[Perd Hapley]

They want to play fundamentally sound football, and force you to make the mistakes while they just kinda grind it out.

So, basically the worst possible matchup for a Jeff Lebby team….

 

[patdog]

I could see our defense giving up a lot of yards but not a lot of points.

I think it will be a low scoring game.

 

[tired]

Minnesota is very physical, have a couple good skill players, but hard to tell too much as EI is BAD. Their QB seems legit but if we can lock down their WRs & force him out I like our chances. I don't think they'll be able to hold Fluff down much.

It'll be a good test for our lines & hopefully our athleticism takes over. Our LBs might prove to be too much. I hope this is KTs coming out party.

 

[MSUDC11-2.0]

I think we will be a slight underdog on the road, if I had to guess

 

[She Mate Me]

We should probably have a plan for this guy…

 

[She Mate Me]

I think we will be a slight underdog on the road, if I had to guess

We will be and deservedly so until we prove something.

 

[Klovis]

Hate i missed this game.

Hope Lebby and Co are pouring over the tapes. That returner seems to be the truth.

 

[Baddog11]

Hope Lebby and Co are pouring over the tapes.

I’ve seen nothing to lead me to believe in this. Fans will know more about what to expect …..while the staff looks shell shocked the have a good returner. As per par for the course.

 

[Willow Grove Dawg]

JWS would say just keep kicking it to him. He can't return another one for a TD.

 

[She Mate Me]

I’ve seen nothing to lead me to believe in this. Fans will know more about what to expect …..while the staff looks shell shocked the have a good returner. As per par for the course.

I decided against typing something similar, so I’ll just acknowledge it crossed my mind.

 

[MSUDC11-2.0]

We should probably have a plan for this guy…

Having lived through the Texas game last year I can almost guarantee he is getting some highly returnable kicks next Saturday.

 

[The Peeper]

They want to play fundamentally sound football, and force you to make the mistakes while they just kinda grind it out.

as they wait for Lebby to make one of his boneheaded decisions to lose a game

 

[MSUDC11-2.0]

as they wait for Lebby to make one of his boneheaded decisions to lose a game

Oh without question if we lose, our fans are going to be asking how the 17 did this team beat us. Just like our last four trips to Lexington where we totally laid eggs.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

This game defines Lenny's tenure

 

[patdog]

This game defines Lenny's tenure

Meh. It’s just the first of about 6 “most important game of the season”’s.

 

[HailStout]

This game defines Lenny's tenure

I will say that he has to win it to have a chance to change the current opinion of him. Lose it and there is virtually zero chance our season is worth a damn.

 

[MSUDC11-2.0]

This game defines Lenny's tenure

I think it’s more about going 2-1 against Minnesota / SC / Mizzou before we get into the meat of our schedule. But I get it if people think Minnesota is the most winnable of those.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

We should probably have a plan for this guy…

We’re never gonna need to punt

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Meh. It’s just the first of about 6 “most important game of the season”’s.

What I meant is, we essentially have to beat them or it’s going to likely be bad.

 

[Drebin]

Meh. It’s just the first of about 6 “most important game of the season”’s.

While I agree with you, if they mess around and lose to MN, 2-10 is squarely on the table

 

[patdog]

While I agree with you, if they mess around and lose to MN, 2-10 is squarely on the table

It’s possible. But a lot would have to go wrong to go 2-10. I certainly don’t think this is the 3rd easiest win on the schedule being in the road. I think South Carolina, Vandy & Auburn are more winnable.

 

[Ranchdawg]

It’s possible. But a lot would have to go wrong to go 2-10. I certainly don’t think this is the 3rd easiest win on the schedule being in the road. I think South Carolina, Vandy & Auburn are more winnable.

Minnesota will not be a pushover after going undefeated at home last season. We will have better talent so that offsets the home field advantage. It will come down to coaching. Great game for Lebby to exercise his head coaching abilities.

 

[patdog]

Minnesota will not be a pushover after going undefeated at home last season. We will have better talent so that offsets the home field advantage. It will come down to coaching. Great game for Lebby to exercise his head coaching abilities.

Unfortunately Fleck is a good experienced coach. Lebby? Let’s just say unproven & leave it at that.

 

[Drebin]

It’s possible. But a lot would have to go wrong to go 2-10. I certainly don’t think this is the 3rd easiest win on the schedule being in the road. I think South Carolina, Vandy & Auburn are more winnable.

A lot would have to go wrong? Really? If you lose that game, I dare you to find me another Win on the schedule besides the out of conference pushovers. Vanderbilt? Auburn? They are more winnable than freaking Minnesota???

 

[patdog]

A lot would have to go wrong? Really? If you lose that game, I dare you to find me another Win on the schedule besides the out of conference pushovers. Vanderbilt? Auburn? They are more winnable than freaking Minnesota???

I’m in the minority on Auburn. But i am very much not sold on their coach or transfers. Auburn has 5 straight losing seasons & very well could be looking at #6. And that game is at home.

 

[ETK99]

The team MN played was held to 34 TOTAL yards by AL last year and AL scored 56 with backups in.