No. 2: Minnesota takes a step backwards after an 11-2 2019 season

The Golden Gophers and the Badgers will battle for the Big Ten West division crown, that much is known.

Aside from that, P.J. Fleck’s team repeating their impressive 2019 campaign is extremely unlikely and here’s why:

Nearly all of their big games last season were at home and late in the season where the weather plays a huge factor, games which became victories against Penn State and a loss against Wisconsin.

Put simply, last season was their best shot at the division as–aside from playing at Iowa– they had their two most important games at home in November.

Now, even though the team returns senior quarterback Tanner Morgan, the Gophers lost key defensive and offensive playmakers to the NFL, lose three easy out-of-conference contests and will not have the luxury of playing the Badgers on their home turf.

Their schedule isn’t close to a gauntlet, but many would agree that last season was an anomaly for Fleck and his team given the program’s recent history. I don’t expect anything close to a disappointing season for Minnesota, but more of a return to the mean and one without a New Year’s Six bowl appearance.

I’ll get into it later but the contest between the Badgers and Golden Gophers will decide the Big Ten West. This time around, though, it is extremely unlikely the game will be the only thing that keeps the Gophers from a one-loss season.

 

Next…another division rival for the Badgers that is in for a rough stretch of a season