Tag: fleck

Minnesota’s starting quarterback is entering the transfer portal

Minnesota’s starting quarterback is entering the transfer portal

The week gets rougher for Wisconsin’s border rival Minnesota, as its starting quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis announced recently he would be entering the transfer portal.

Kaliakmanis started for a year and a half in Minneapolis, taking over for an injured Tanner Morgan in 2022. He finished his Minnesota career with a 9-9 record as the starter, a completion percentage of 53.3, 2784 total yards, 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Given the general mediocrity of the offense and the four-game losing streak to end the 2023 season after a 5-3 start, maybe Gophers fans aren’t crushed to see the news today. After all, losing large quantities of production off of poor units isn’t always the worst thing for the future.

But what it does mean is P.J. Fleck has some big moves to make entering 2024.

Fleck’s mantra and attitude don’t work nearly as well when the team is missing bowl games (but yet still somehow making one because they’re good at academics).

Minnesota has now had one 10-win season under Fleck (11 wins in 2019), and seemed to step backwards in 2023 after consecutive 9-4 seasons in 2021 and 2022. Now with an opening at quarterback, it’s a significant offseason for Fleck and his staff.

 

UPDATE: Minnesota third-string QB Drew Viotto has also entered the portal. That’s two of the program’s top three quarterbacks.

CFP Rankings: Live Reaction!

Hello and welcome to the live chat for tonight’s unveiling of the latest College Football Playoff rankings.

[jwplayer OoFi41Mv-er0jUifI]

7:03 ET —

Hello and welcome to the live chat for tonight’s unveiling of the latest College Football Playoff rankings.  Where will everyone fall?  What changes if any will there be in the top four and what does Tua’s injury mean for Alabama’s chances?  We’ll discuss it all right here as the rankings get released over the next little bit.  Pull up a chair and follow along live with us at FIW!

7:05 ET —

Rankings are out so time for me to get typing, here they are with my immediate reaction to follow.  Meanwhile – did Joey Galloway just say he’s most excited to see where Texas A&M is rated?  Did I hear that correctly during the live broadcast?  Tell me I didn’t.  C’mon Joey!!

25 SMU
24 Appalachian State
23 USC
22  Iowa State
21 Oklahoma State
20 Boise State
19 Cincinnati
18 Memphis
17 Iowa
16 Notre Dame
15 Auburn
14 Baylor
13 Michigan
12 Wisconsin
11 Florida
10  Minnesota
9  Oklahoma
8  Penn State
7  Utah
6  ….hmmm

7:10 ET —
Top Six Released
1 LSU
2 Ohio State
3 Clemson
4 Georgia
5 Alabama
6 Oregon

7:11 ET —
What did Oklahoma do to tick off the committee I do have to ask.  The Sooners got a huge win, coming from behind to beat a previously unbeaten Baylor team, a win more impressive than any that is on the resume of Utah, Oregon, Penn State, Alabama, Georgia, Clemson or Ohio State.  Yet the loss at K-State is what is keeping them down?  Man alive, no love for the Big XII this year and I can’t say I agree with it.

7:14 ET –
Alabama stays at No. 5 and they deserve to.  I hate the idea this week that has been tossed around that if Tua is out that they’re not worthy of being a playoff team.  You can argue they don’t deserve a chance and I would, because they lost a home game to LSU and the Tigers should have to potentially beat Alabama another time to win it all.  But if they were number five a week ago and they won easily, they don’t deserve to fall, even if their star quarterback is out.  Those arguing the contrary, tell me how that worked out for Ohio State back in 2014.

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