Minnesota

2026 season

Big Ten

2026 preseason report

Historical preseason snapshot from 2026-07-29, including roster context and illustrative season projections. This is not a live injury feed.

What every system says

Minnesota's rank in each system (1 = best). Middle rank 77.5 across 8 systems; best 57, worst 89, so they disagree by 32 places.

Lab EPA: #89; Through week 82026 · 138 rated FBS teams · Through week 8. Rank 1 is best; lower rank numbers are better. Higher rating values are better. Equal ratings take separate places, ordered by team name.
Lab SRS: #73; up 72026 · 138 FBS roster teams, including prior-only teams · Through week 8 · built 2026-10-30T11:17:06.745613+00:00. Rank 1 is best; lower rank numbers are better. Higher rating values are better. Equal ratings take separate places, ordered by team name.
SP+: #57; up 32026 · 138 published SP+ teams · Provider week 9 · captured 2026-10-25T21:28:39.844929+00:00. Rank 1 is best; lower rank numbers are better. Higher rating values are better. Published provider ranks; tie handling is not documented in this snapshot.
Elo: #82; up 12026 · 138 rated FBS teams · Through week 8 · captured 2026-10-30T11:02:01.130624+00:00. Rank 1 is best; lower rank numbers are better. Higher rating values are better. Equal ratings share the best tied rank; the next rank skips places.
FPI: #65; up 72026 · 138 rated FBS teams · Event cutoff not supplied · captured 2026-10-30T11:02:01.130624+00:00. Rank 1 is best; lower rank numbers are better. Higher rating values are better. Equal ratings share the best tied rank; the next rank skips places.
CORE: #83; up 4 · Through week 8 · captured 2026-10-30T11:02:01.130624+00:002026 · 138 rated FBS teams · Through week 8 · captured 2026-10-30T11:02:01.130624+00:00. Rank 1 is best; lower rank numbers are better. Higher rating values are better. Equal ratings share the best tied rank; the next rank skips places.
CFBD SRS: #65; up 122026 · 138 rated FBS teams · Event cutoff not supplied · captured 2026-10-30T11:02:01.130624+00:00. Rank 1 is best; lower rank numbers are better. Higher rating values are better. Equal ratings share the best tied rank; the next rank skips places.
WEPA: #89; up 122026 · 138 rated FBS teams · Event cutoff not supplied · captured 2026-10-30T11:02:01.130624+00:00. Rank 1 is best; lower rank numbers are better. Higher rating values are better. Equal ratings share the best tied rank; the next rank skips places.

Compare every team

FPI context

ESPN FPI via CFBD · 2026

Résumé and schedule

Results earned and schedule difficulty

Strength of record: #37 of 138
Schedule strength: #69 of 138
Remaining schedule strength: #9 of 138
Game control: #60 of 138

Unit efficiency

Performance by unit

Overall: #59 of 138
Offense: #107 of 138
Defense: #36 of 138
Special teams: #1 of 138

Ranks calculated among rated FBS teams; ties share rank. #1 means strongest résumé, hardest schedule, best game control or highest efficiency. These are separate measures, not a combined forecast. Captured Oct 30, 2026, 06:02:01 CDT. FPI supplies no results-through week; capture time records when we received it.

Why the ratings disagree

Minnesota · 2026. Each system answers a different question. The cards show each source's rank (published or computed here) and coverage, so a rank gap can also reflect which teams have data.

Record

5-2 wins–losses

No rank assigned

Results earned. Wins and losses do not account for opponent strength or victory margin.

2026, provider Week 9; captured 2026-10-25T21:28:39.844929+00:00

SP+ workbook record

Descriptive EPA

-0.053 net EPA/play

#89

2026 · 138 rated FBS teams · Through week 8. Rank 1 is best; lower rank numbers are better. Higher rating values are better. Equal ratings take separate places, ordered by team name.

Observed per-play efficiency after opponent adjustment. FBS-vs-FBS plays; no preseason strength prior. Sparse schedules can produce sharp early movement.

2026, through CFBD Week 8; opponent adjusted ridge

Lab EPA from CFBD plays

Local predictive SRS

-0.24 points

#73 · Up 7 places since the previous CFBD cutoff

2026 · 138 FBS roster teams, including prior-only teams · Through week 8 · built 2026-10-30T11:17:06.745613+00:00. Rank 1 is best; lower rank numbers are better. Higher rating values are better. Equal ratings take separate places, ordered by team name.

This season's 7 games, with recent games counting a bit more: average margin +2.26 (with blowouts capped at 35 points and overtime games counted as a 1-point result, then 2.5 points of home field removed) against opponents averaging -2.48, schedule #66 of 138 (#1 = toughest); 1 FCS opponent counts at −25; FBS opponents alone average +0.77. That is worth -0.22 on its own; the preseason prior of -0.32 still carries 25% of the weight, giving -0.24.

How each game enters this SRS rating

Minnesota · 2026, through CFBD Week 8. Margins are team minus opponent. The fit caps margins and treats overtime as a one-point result before adjusting for venue. Recent games carry more weight; the fit share includes the preseason prior in its denominator.

Game	Raw margin → transformed	Venue adjustment	Recency weight	Fit share	Opponent rating	Margin term	Opponent term	Total term
Week 1 · Eastern Illinois home · 2026-09-04 · ID 401858422	+52.00 → +35.00	-2.50	0.7637	9.48%	-25.00 (fixed lower division)	3.081	-2.370	0.711
Week 2 · Mississippi State home · 2026-09-12 · ID 401856677	-25.00 → -25.00	-2.50	0.7937	9.85%	+3.45	-2.709	0.340	-2.369
Week 3 · Akron home · 2026-09-19 · ID 401858451	+34.00 → +34.00	-2.50	0.8249	10.24%	-16.43	3.225	-1.682	1.543
Week 4 · Washington away · 2026-09-27 · ID 401858470	+3.00 → +3.00	+2.50	0.8572	10.64%	+2.07	0.585	0.220	0.806
Week 5 · Michigan home · 2026-10-03 · ID 401858474	+6.00 → +6.00	-2.50	0.8909	11.06%	+6.07	0.387	0.672	1.059
Week 6 · Purdue away · 2026-10-11 · ID 401858486	-28.00 → -28.00	+2.50	0.9259	11.49%	+0.88	-2.931	0.101	-2.829
Week 8 · Iowa home · 2026-10-24 · ID 401858497	+3.00 → +3.00	-2.50	1.0000	12.41%	+6.88	0.062	0.854	0.916

Game terms -0.16 points; prior term -0.08 points. Their unrounded sum is the fitted rating -0.24 points. The preseason prior is -0.32 with 24.83% of the fit weight. Displayed values are rounded; the producer checks the unrounded identity within 0.00000001 points.

These are additive terms of the current fit, not the effect of removing a game. Opponent ratings already reflect the connected schedule. Lower-division opponents use the fixed anchor, not an individually fitted rating. The rating's model-based 95% band is ±9.3 points; this decomposition does not reduce uncertainty or assign causal effects.

Download fitted terms and source hashes

Estimated strength from schedule-adjusted scoring margins, margin caps, home-field adjustment and recency weighting. Half of prior-season strength, including postseason, carries forward with two games of weight. SRS includes FCS opponents under a fixed strength assumption. 7 current games; prior available.

2026, through CFBD Week 8; generated 2026-10-30T11:17:06.745613+00:00

Lab SRS from CFBD scores

External SP+

3.9 SP+ points

#57 · Up 3 places

2026 · 138 published SP+ teams · Provider week 9 · captured 2026-10-25T21:28:39.844929+00:00. Rank 1 is best; lower rank numbers are better. Higher rating values are better. Published provider ranks; tie handling is not documented in this snapshot.

Bill Connelly's published predictive strength estimate. Its method and scale differ from local SRS.

2026, provider Week 9; captured 2026-10-25T21:28:39.844929+00:00

Bill Connelly SP+ workbook

External CORE

-4.40 net points per 100 offensive + 100 defensive plays

#83 of 138 by overall (ranked here; CORE publishes no rank)

2026 · 138 rated FBS teams in this CORE board · 2026, through regular Week 8; model core-v1; captured 2026-10-30T11:02:06.855798+00:00. Rank 1 is best; lower rank numbers are better. Higher rating values are better. Equal ratings share the best tied rank; the next rank skips places.

CFBD's context- and opponent-relative efficiency. Offense is higher-better; defense is points allowed above average, so lower is better; overall is offense minus defense. It counts only pass and rush plays from FBS-vs-FBS games, with no special teams, overtime or garbage time; early-week values are pulled toward average but are still uncertain, and it is not a résumé ranking. Its scale is not comparable to EPA, SRS or SP+. Offense -9.75 on 336 plays; defense -5.35 on 330 plays.

2026, through regular Week 8; model core-v1; captured 2026-10-30T11:02:06.855798+00:00

CFBD CORE rating CORE board: offense vs defense

EPA ranks Minnesota 16 places lower than local SRS at the matched cutoff. This identifies a disagreement; it does not isolate its cause. SP+ movement compares provider weeks 8 and 9. Provider weeks may differ from CFBD weeks, so no cross-provider rank gap is calculated. CORE reports its own inclusive cutoff and is shown beside these systems for comparison only; it is an external research rating and is never blended into the lab's opponent-adjusted EPA, local SRS or any pick.

Team ratings and rank gaps are not matchup spreads or win probabilities. Matchup context and a calibrated forecast mapping are required. Do not average EPA, SRS, SP+ and CORE values across their different scales.

Read local SRS assumptions and forecast evidence

Program context

2026 · CFBD records, polls, recruiting, coaches

Record: 5-2 · conf 3-1 · home 4-1 · away 1-1 · expected wins 4.7
Polls (Week 9): unranked
CFP latest: not published
CFP final: not published
Against the spread: 2026: 5-2 ATS (+0.3 avg) · 2025: 5-8 ATS (-0.7 avg)
Head coach: P.J. Fleck · hired 2017-01-06 · 22-17 over 4 captured seasons
Recruiting classes: 2024 #37 (212 pts) · 2025 #49 (201 pts) · 2026 #28 (227 pts)
Returning: 65% of production · 68% of usage
Passing, receiving and rushing detail
Category Production Usage
Passing 97% 99%
Receiving 45% 43%
Rushing 1000% 56%
Shares of prior-season PPA and usage returning in each category. Missing values are unavailable.

Category	Production	Usage
Passing	97%	99%
Receiving	45%	43%
Rushing	1000%	56%

Provider values from CFBD captures dated 2026-09-22, 2026-10-30. head coach for the season; tenure counts cover only the captured seasons, hire date is the provider's. Returning usage carries no signal beyond returning production in this repo's research; neither is a model input.

Recruiting by position group

2023–2026 classes · High school · CFBD · captured 2026-10-30 UTC

Position group	Commits	Avg. stars	Avg. rating	Total rating
Defensive Back	18	2.83	0.8498	15.30
Defensive Line	17	3.18	0.8719	14.82
Linebacker	9	3.11	0.8667	7.80
Offensive Line	16	3.19	0.8737	13.98
Quarterback	7	2.86	0.8399	5.88
Receiver	16	3.06	0.8696	13.91
Running Back	9	3.22	0.8722	7.85
Special Teams	11	3.00	0.8384	9.22

Recruiting class aggregates, not current roster strength. Commits count recruits across the window; total rating also reflects class size. JUCO, prep-school and transfer ratings are excluded. These values do not enter the prediction model.

Player efficiency and usage

2026 · observed 2026-10-30 UTC

Passing and rushing WEPA adjust efficiency for opponents. Kicker PAAR measures points added above replacement. Higher is better within each metric. Metric rows are ordered by sample size, followed by usage-only players. Usage is the share of team plays involving the player within each category; categories overlap and should not be added. CFBD definitions

Player / history	Metric	Value	Plays / attempts	Overall usage	Usage detail	Recruiting
Drake Lindsey · QB CFBD athlete 5144959. Minnesota (2024–2026)	Passing WEPA	0.184	205	53.4%	Pass 95.3% · Rush 7.4% 1st 50.8% · 2nd 46.5% · 3rd 68.4% Standard downs 47.1% · Passing downs 67.6%	2024: 3★ · 0.8717
Darius Taylor · RB CFBD athlete 4920901. Minnesota (2023–2026)	Rushing WEPA	0.052	62	25.9%	Pass 12.4% · Rush 43.5% 1st 26.5% · 2nd 27.4% · 3rd 21.4% Standard downs 28.0% · Passing downs 21.5%	2023: 4★ · 0.8981
TJ Thomas Jr. · RB CFBD athlete 5224792. Minnesota (2026–2026); Elon (2024–2025)	Rushing WEPA	0.151	51	18.4%	Pass 10.3% · Rush 28.7% 1st 20.3% · 2nd 21.1% · 3rd 11.2% Standard downs 20.6% · Passing downs 13.2%	Not linked
Luke Drzewiecki · PK CFBD athlete 5082358. Minnesota (2026–2026); New Mexico (2022–2025)	Kicker PAAR	9.830	12	—	Pass — · Rush — 1st — · 2nd — · 3rd — Standard downs — · Passing downs —	Not linked
Daniel Jackson · PK CFBD athlete 5255256. Minnesota (2025–2026)	Kicker PAAR	0.410	1	—	Pass — · Rush — 1st — · 2nd — · 3rd — Standard downs — · Passing downs —	2025: 3★ · 0.8058
A.J. Turner · RB CFBD athlete 5082548. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	9.3%	Pass 2.5% · Rush 22.2% 1st 8.6% · 2nd 12.5% · 3rd 7.4% Standard downs 11.8% · Passing downs 2.8%	Not linked
Bradley Martino · WR CFBD athlete 5204395. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	1.4%	Pass 3.1% · Rush 0.0% 1st 0.0% · 2nd 4.2% · 3rd 0.0% Standard downs 1.7% · Passing downs 0.0%	Not linked
Brady Palmer · QB CFBD athlete 5214645. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	11.0%	Pass 18.8% · Rush 5.1% 1st 9.1% · 2nd 12.5% · 3rd 13.3% Standard downs 10.2% · Passing downs 14.3%	Not linked
George Rohl · TE CFBD athlete 5311304. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	1.4%	Pass 3.1% · Rush 0.0% 1st 3.0% · 2nd 0.0% · 3rd 0.0% Standard downs 1.7% · Passing downs 0.0%	Not linked
Hayden Moore · WR CFBD athlete 5271219. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	2.9%	Pass 4.9% · Rush 0.0% 1st 3.3% · 2nd 0.0% · 3rd 7.1% Standard downs 2.9% · Passing downs 2.9%	Not linked
Jacob Simpson · TE CFBD athlete 5146754. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	1.4%	Pass 3.1% · Rush 0.0% 1st 0.0% · 2nd 4.2% · 3rd 0.0% Standard downs 1.7% · Passing downs 0.0%	Not linked
Jalen Smith · WR CFBD athlete 5144962. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	8.2%	Pass 15.0% · Rush 0.0% 1st 6.5% · 2nd 7.4% · 3rd 13.3% Standard downs 5.3% · Passing downs 14.4%	Not linked
Jaron Thomas · RB CFBD athlete 5214937. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	1.4%	Pass 0.0% · Rush 2.6% 1st 0.0% · 2nd 4.2% · 3rd 0.0% Standard downs 0.0% · Passing downs 7.1%	Not linked
Javon Tracy · WR CFBD athlete 4831976. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	12.1%	Pass 22.4% · Rush 1.0% 1st 10.7% · 2nd 12.0% · 3rd 15.3% Standard downs 10.6% · Passing downs 15.4%	Not linked
Julian Johnson · TE CFBD athlete 5144785. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	1.6%	Pass 2.7% · Rush 0.0% 1st 3.4% · 2nd 0.0% · 3rd 0.0% Standard downs 2.2% · Passing downs 0.0%	Not linked
Kaden Helms · TE CFBD athlete 4873418. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	3.1%	Pass 4.0% · Rush 0.0% 1st 3.7% · 2nd 0.0% · 3rd 7.7% Standard downs 2.3% · Passing downs 4.8%	Not linked
Max Shikenjanski · QB CFBD athlete 5150680. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	5.5%	Pass 9.4% · Rush 2.6% 1st 6.1% · 2nd 4.2% · 3rd 6.7% Standard downs 5.1% · Passing downs 7.1%	Not linked
Niko Castillo · RB CFBD athlete 5327140. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	5.5%	Pass 0.0% · Rush 10.3% 1st 6.1% · 2nd 4.2% · 3rd 6.7% Standard downs 6.8% · Passing downs 0.0%	Not linked
Noah Jennings · WR CFBD athlete 5164749. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	12.6%	Pass 23.3% · Rush 1.0% 1st 13.7% · 2nd 9.9% · 3rd 14.3% Standard downs 11.3% · Passing downs 15.4%	Not linked
Pierce Walsh · TE CFBD athlete 5044424. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	3.4%	Pass 6.5% · Rush 0.0% 1st 5.6% · 2nd 3.0% · 3rd 0.0% Standard downs 4.0% · Passing downs 1.9%	Not linked
Quayd Hendryx · WR CFBD athlete 5369947. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	1.5%	Pass 3.3% · Rush 0.0% 1st 1.6% · 2nd 2.3% · 3rd 0.0% Standard downs 2.0% · Passing downs 0.0%	Not linked
Roman Voss · TE CFBD athlete 5244731. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	3.3%	Pass 6.4% · Rush 0.0% 1st 4.6% · 2nd 1.3% · 3rd 3.6% Standard downs 3.1% · Passing downs 3.6%	Not linked
Ryan Estrada · RB CFBD athlete 5244756. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	6.8%	Pass 6.3% · Rush 7.7% 1st 3.0% · 2nd 12.5% · 3rd 6.7% Standard downs 3.4% · Passing downs 21.4%	Not linked
Xavier Ford · RB CFBD athlete 5264245. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	6.9%	Pass 1.0% · Rush 13.2% 1st 5.7% · 2nd 9.5% · 3rd 4.7% Standard downs 7.2% · Passing downs 6.1%	Not linked
Zion Steptoe · WR CFBD athlete 4833073. Team attribution from the captured season usage record.	Not available	—	—	1.4%	Pass 3.1% · Rush 0.0% 1st 3.0% · 2nd 0.0% · 3rd 0.0% Standard downs 1.7% · Passing downs 0.0%	Not linked

Transfers

Incoming · 19 reported

Player	From	Date	Stars / rating	Eligibility
Andrew Marshall · LB	Eastern Michigan	2026-01-05	3★ / 0.8500	Immediate
Aydan West · CB	Michigan State	2026-01-06	3★ / 0.8700	Immediate
Beckham Sunderland · K	Michigan	2026-01-06	— / —	Immediate
Bennett Warren · OT	Tennessee	2026-01-04	3★ / 0.8700	Immediate
Elisha West · CB	Michigan State	2026-01-06	3★ / 0.8300	Immediate
Jaron Thomas · RB	Purdue	2026-01-03	3★ / 0.8500	Immediate
Kaden Helms · TE	Oklahoma	2026-01-07	3★ / 0.8600	Immediate
Mekhai Smith · S	Lehigh	2026-01-06	3★ / 0.8600	Immediate
Michael Merdinger · QB	Liberty	2026-01-02	3★ / 0.8500	Immediate
Naquan Crowder · DL	Marshall	2026-01-05	3★ / 0.8600	Immediate
Noah Jennings · WR	Cincinnati	2026-01-10	3★ / 0.8700	Immediate
Parker Knutson · CB	Southwest Minnesota State	2026-01-06	3★ / 0.8600	Immediate
Perry Thompson · WR	Auburn	2026-01-06	4★ / 0.9000	Immediate
Sid Kaba · DL	Marshall	2026-01-12	3★ / 0.8900	Immediate
TJ Bush Jr. · EDGE	California	2026-01-07	3★ / 0.8700	Immediate
TJ Thomas Jr. · RB	Elon	2026-01-11	3★ / 0.8600	Immediate
Xion Chapman · DL	Florida International	2026-01-10	4★ / 0.9200	Immediate
Zachary Robbins · P	Utah State	2026-01-07	— / —	Immediate
Zion Steptoe · WR	Tulsa	2026-01-10	3★ / 0.8500	Immediate

Outgoing · 20 reported

Player	To	Date	Stars / rating	Eligibility
Brody Richter · P	New Mexico State	2026-01-20	3★ / 0.8300	Immediate
Caleb McGrath · P	North Dakota State	2026-01-11	2★ / —	Immediate
Cristian Driver · WR	Not reported	2025-12-05	4★ / —	Immediate
David Kemp · K	Kennesaw State	2026-01-27	2★ / —	Immediate
Drew Wilson · LB	Lafayette	2026-01-19	— / —	Immediate
Ethan Carrier · S	South Dakota	2026-01-09	— / —	Immediate
Fame Ijeboi · RB	Purdue	2026-01-09	3★ / 0.8500	Immediate
Harrison Brun · S	South Dakota	2026-01-14	2★ / —	Immediate
Jackson Kollock · QB	UC Davis	2026-01-21	3★ / 0.8500	Immediate
Jaylen Bowden · CB	East Carolina	2026-01-08	— / —	Immediate
Kahlee Tafai · OT	California	2026-01-14	3★ / 0.8700	Immediate
Kenric Lanier II · WR	Missouri	2026-01-16	3★ / 0.8500	Immediate
Koi Perich · S	Oregon	2026-01-13	4★ / 0.9500	Immediate
Legend Lyons · WR	Montana	2026-01-13	3★ / —	Immediate
Malachi Coleman · WR	Wisconsin	2026-01-12	3★ / 0.8600	Immediate
Quentin Redding · WR	Not reported	2025-12-03	— / —	Immediate
Reese Tripp · IOL	Middle Tennessee	2026-01-14	3★ / 0.8500	Immediate
Steven Curtis · DL	North Texas	2026-01-12	3★ / —	Immediate
Tre Berry · RB	Tennessee State	2026-01-11	3★ / —	Immediate
Za'Quan Bryan · CB	South Florida	2026-01-08	3★ / 0.8700	Immediate

Transfer observations can include unresolved destinations. CFBD supplies no timezone for transfer dates and no athlete ID linking these records to the efficiency table. These observations do not establish current roster membership or game availability.

Descriptive context only; no player or transfer value enters the prediction model. Adjusted metrics require unambiguous season/team history. Usage-only rows use the captured athlete ID and team; conflicting usage identities are omitted. Missing values are unavailable, not zero. Provider coverage is incomplete.

Coaching eras

Continuous appointments at Minnesota. Records are CFBD-attributed results; active tenures and the current season may be incomplete.

P.J. Fleck · career 96–66 across 14 seasons and 2 schools

Tenure timeline · 27 appointments

2017–present · P.J. Fleck · active at capture
66–44 · 110 attributed games · 10 seasons
Hired 2017-01-06. Exact effective dates unavailable.
2015–2016 · Tracy Claeys
11–8 · 19 attributed games · 2 seasons · incomplete attribution
Hired 2015-11-11. Exact effective dates unavailable.
2011–2015 · Jerry Kill
29–29 · 58 attributed games · 5 seasons · incomplete attribution
Hired 2010-12-06. Exact effective dates unavailable.
2010–2010 · Jeff Horton
2–3 · 5 attributed games · 1 seasons · incomplete attribution
Hired 2010-10-17. Exact effective dates unavailable.
2007–2010 · Tim Brewster
15–30 · 45 attributed games · 4 seasons · incomplete attribution
Hired 2007-01-15. Exact effective dates unavailable.
1997–2006 · Glen Mason
64–57 · 121 attributed games · 10 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1992–1996 · Jim Wacker
16–39 · 55 attributed games · 5 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1986–1991 · John Gutekunst
28–37–2 · 67 attributed games · 6 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1984–1985 · Lou Holtz
10–12 · 22 attributed games · 2 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1979–1983 · Joe Salem
19–35–1 · 55 attributed games · 5 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1972–1978 · Cal Stoll
39–39 · 78 attributed games · 7 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1954–1971 · Murray Warmath
87–78–7 · 172 attributed games · 18 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1951–1953 · Wesley Fesler
10–13–4 · 27 attributed games · 3 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1945–1950 · Bernie Bierman
30–23–1 · 54 attributed games · 6 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1942–1944 · George Hauser
15–11–1 · 27 attributed games · 3 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1932–1941 · Bernie Bierman
63–12–5 · 80 attributed games · 10 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1930–1931 · Fritz Crisler
10–7–1 · 18 attributed games · 2 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1925–1929 · Clarence Spears
28–9–3 · 40 attributed games · 5 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1922–1924 · William Spaulding
11–7–4 · 22 attributed games · 3 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1900–1921 · Henry Williams
136–33–11 · 180 attributed games · 22 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1899–1899 · William Leary
6–3–2 · 11 attributed games · 1 seasons · incomplete attribution
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1899–1899 · John Harrison
6–3–2 · 11 attributed games · 1 seasons · incomplete attribution
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1898–1898 · Jack Minds
4–5 · 9 attributed games · 1 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1896–1897 · Alexander Jerrems
12–6 · 18 attributed games · 2 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1895–1895 · Pudge Heffelfinger
7–3 · 10 attributed games · 1 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1894–1894 · Tom Cochrane
3–1 · 4 attributed games · 1 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.
1893–1893 · Wallie Winter
6–0 · 6 attributed games · 1 seasons
Exact effective dates unavailable.

Season résumé · 2015–2026

Coach-attributed records appear beside team-season ratings, recruiting and poll context. Shared seasons appear once per coach; rows are not assigned to individual stints. Ratings describe team performance, not a causal coaching effect.

Season / coach	Record	Conference	Postseason	SP+	SRS	Recruiting rank	Final poll
2026 · P.J. Fleck · incomplete attribution	0–0	—	—	3.1	0.8	28	—
2025 · P.J. Fleck	8–5	5–4	1–0	1.5	0.7	49	—
2024 · P.J. Fleck	8–5	5–4	1–0	10.4	12.6	37	—
2023 · P.J. Fleck	6–7	3–6	1–0	0.4	-2.3	45	—
2022 · P.J. Fleck	9–4	5–4	1–0	16	10.7	49	—
2021 · P.J. Fleck	9–4	6–3	1–0	14.4	6.8	37	—
2020 · P.J. Fleck	3–4	3–4	0–0	4.7	0.1	38	—
2019 · P.J. Fleck	11–2	7–2	1–0	19.4	15.2	45	10
2018 · P.J. Fleck	7–6	3–6	1–0	6.3	5.5	38	—
2017 · P.J. Fleck	5–7	2–7	0–0	0.4	2.8	59	—
2016 · Tracy Claeys	9–4	5–4	1–0	12.6	9	46	—
2015 · Jerry Kill · incomplete attribution	4–3	—	—	8.1	0.2	63	—
2015 · Tracy Claeys · incomplete attribution	2–4	—	—	8.1	0.2	63	—

Download coaching history JSON

Source: CFBD · captured 2026-10-26T02:02:59.394463+00:00 UTC. Season résumé covers 2015–2026; timeline spans all returned tenures. — means unavailable. Career summaries cover active coaches at capture. This snapshot is descriptive and is not a pregame cutoff.

CFBD season overview

2026 stored season snapshot, including postseason and garbage time. Raw CFBD PPA is not opponent-adjusted EPA or player WEPA. No week cutoff; these values do not enter our forecasts.

Captured 2026-10-26 04:10:14.047809 UTC · Source data

Stat rankings

CFBD FBS ranks · source updated 2026-10-25 23:10:44 UTC · calculated 2026-10-26 04:10:14 UTC · provider cache expiry 2026-10-26 04:20:14 UTC. Rank 1 is best; percentiles use CFBD’s 0–100 scale.

Statistic	Offense rank / population	Percentile	Defense rank / population	Percentile
PPA / play	113 / 138	18.2	28 / 138	80.3
Success rate	91 / 138	34.3	46 / 138	67.2
Explosiveness	126 / 138	8.8	41 / 138	70.8
Standard-down success	T57 / 138	58.8	30 / 138	78.8
Passing-down success	138 / 138	0.0	80 / 138	42.3
Pass PPA	86 / 138	38.0	35 / 138	75.2
Rush PPA	132 / 138	4.4	84 / 138	39.4
Pass explosiveness	116 / 138	16.1	35 / 138	75.2
Rush explosiveness	133 / 138	3.6	79 / 138	43.1
Line yards	137 / 138	0.7	64 / 138	54.0
Second-level yards	138 / 138	0.0	74 / 138	46.7
Open-field yards	94 / 138	32.1	42 / 138	70.1
Stuff rate	135 / 138	2.2	22 / 138	84.7
Power success	126 / 138	8.8	T30 / 138	78.5
Havoc	T88 / 138	36.1	6 / 138	96.4
Front-seven havoc	T100 / 138	26.6	T9 / 138	93.8
DB havoc	T56 / 138	58.0	T14 / 138	90.1
Points / opportunity	121 / 138	12.4	T106 / 138	23.0
Average field position	6 / 138	96.4	24 / 138	83.2
Field-position expected points	7 / 138	95.6	28 / 138	80.3

Player PPA and usage

Ordered by overall usage. Open a player for pass, rush, down and situation splits. Usage is the provider’s share of team plays in each situation; PPA is the provider’s average or total for that player. Missing values stay blank (—); play counts are not supplied here. Standard downs are 1st down, 2nd-and-7 or shorter, and 3rd/4th-and-4 or shorter; other situations are passing downs.

Drake Lindsey · QBUsage 53.4% · Avg PPA 0.133 · Total 31.578

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	0.133	31.578	53.4%
Pass	0.190	42.025	95.3%
Rush	-0.300	-4.493	7.4%
1st down	0.044	4.394	50.8%
2nd down	0.037	2.430	46.5%
3rd down	0.363	24.354	68.4%
Standard downs	0.091	13.303	47.1%
Passing downs	0.199	18.276	67.6%

Darius Taylor · RBUsage 25.9% · Avg PPA -0.060 · Total -5.895

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	-0.060	-5.895	25.9%
Pass	0.358	8.950	12.4%
Rush	-0.201	-14.846	43.5%
1st down	-0.177	-7.801	26.5%
2nd down	-0.043	-1.473	27.4%
3rd down	0.160	2.874	21.4%
Standard downs	-0.125	-9.094	28.0%
Passing downs	0.123	3.199	21.5%

TJ Thomas Jr. · RBUsage 18.4% · Avg PPA -0.068 · Total -5.596

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	-0.068	-5.596	18.4%
Pass	-0.074	-1.783	10.3%
Rush	-0.066	-3.814	28.7%
1st down	0.090	3.599	20.3%
2nd down	-0.354	-10.616	21.1%
3rd down	-0.070	-0.770	11.2%
Standard downs	0.042	2.670	20.6%
Passing downs	-0.459	-8.266	13.2%

Noah Jennings · WRUsage 12.6% · Avg PPA 0.285 · Total 15.973

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	0.285	15.973	12.6%
Pass	0.276	14.903	23.3%
Rush	0.535	1.069	1.0%
1st down	0.479	12.924	13.7%
2nd down	0.010	0.146	9.9%
3rd down	-0.005	-0.074	14.3%
Standard downs	0.456	15.943	11.3%
Passing downs	0.001	0.029	15.4%

Javon Tracy · WRUsage 12.1% · Avg PPA 0.408 · Total 22.040

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	0.408	22.040	12.1%
Pass	0.404	21.031	22.4%
Rush	0.505	1.010	1.0%
1st down	0.461	9.684	10.7%
2nd down	-0.193	-3.273	12.0%
3rd down	1.314	19.707	15.3%
Standard downs	0.270	8.909	10.6%
Passing downs	0.625	13.131	15.4%

Brady Palmer · QBUsage 11.0% · Avg PPA 0.155 · Total 1.239

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	0.155	1.239	11.0%
Pass	0.266	1.593	18.8%
Rush	-0.177	-0.354	5.1%
1st down	0.052	0.156	9.1%
2nd down	0.822	2.466	12.5%
3rd down	-0.692	-1.383	13.3%
Standard downs	0.295	1.767	10.2%
Passing downs	-0.264	-0.529	14.3%

A.J. Turner · RBUsage 9.3% · Avg PPA 0.043 · Total 0.522

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	0.043	0.522	9.3%
Pass	-0.507	-1.014	2.5%
Rush	0.154	1.536	22.2%
1st down	0.304	1.522	8.6%
2nd down	-0.217	-1.087	12.5%
3rd down	0.043	0.087	7.4%
Standard downs	0.105	1.153	11.8%
Passing downs	-0.631	-0.631	2.8%

Jalen Smith · WRUsage 8.2% · Avg PPA 0.508 · Total 15.733

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	0.508	15.733	8.2%
Pass	0.508	15.733	15.0%
Rush	—	0.000	0.0%
1st down	0.539	5.932	6.5%
2nd down	0.431	3.879	7.4%
3rd down	0.538	5.922	13.3%
Standard downs	0.566	7.929	5.3%
Passing downs	0.459	7.804	14.4%

Xavier Ford · RBUsage 6.9% · Avg PPA 0.089 · Total 2.394

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	0.089	2.394	6.9%
Pass	-0.986	-1.971	1.0%
Rush	0.175	4.365	13.2%
1st down	0.065	0.648	5.7%
2nd down	0.114	1.374	9.5%
3rd down	-0.603	-2.414	4.7%
Standard downs	0.142	2.843	7.2%
Passing downs	-0.064	-0.449	6.1%

Ryan Estrada · RBUsage 6.8% · Avg PPA 0.106 · Total 0.532

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	0.106	0.532	6.8%
Pass	0.091	0.182	6.3%
Rush	0.117	0.350	7.7%
1st down	-0.245	-0.245	3.0%
2nd down	-0.416	-1.248	12.5%
3rd down	2.026	2.026	6.7%
Standard downs	-0.838	-1.675	3.4%
Passing downs	0.736	2.208	21.4%

Max Shikenjanski · QBUsage 5.5% · Avg PPA 1.174 · Total 4.696

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	1.174	4.696	5.5%
Pass	0.717	2.152	9.4%
Rush	2.545	2.545	2.6%
1st down	0.862	1.724	6.1%
2nd down	0.428	0.428	4.2%
3rd down	2.545	2.545	6.7%
Standard downs	1.423	4.269	5.1%
Passing downs	0.428	0.428	7.1%

Niko Castillo · RBUsage 5.5% · Avg PPA -0.446 · Total -1.784

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	-0.446	-1.784	5.5%
Pass	—	0.000	0.0%
Rush	-0.446	-1.784	10.3%
1st down	-0.817	-1.634	6.1%
2nd down	-0.386	-0.386	4.2%
3rd down	0.236	0.236	6.7%
Standard downs	-0.446	-1.784	6.8%
Passing downs	—	0.000	0.0%

Pierce Walsh · TEUsage 3.4% · Avg PPA 0.239 · Total 1.676

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	0.239	1.676	3.4%
Pass	0.239	1.676	6.5%
Rush	—	0.000	0.0%
1st down	-0.007	-0.033	5.6%
2nd down	0.855	1.709	3.0%
3rd down	—	0.000	0.0%
Standard downs	0.311	1.867	4.0%
Passing downs	-0.191	-0.191	1.9%

Roman Voss · TEUsage 3.3% · Avg PPA 0.842 · Total 6.736

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	0.842	6.736	3.3%
Pass	0.842	6.736	6.4%
Rush	—	0.000	0.0%
1st down	0.642	3.210	4.6%
2nd down	-0.151	-0.151	1.3%
3rd down	1.838	3.677	3.6%
Standard downs	0.642	3.210	3.1%
Passing downs	1.175	3.526	3.6%

Kaden Helms · TEUsage 3.1% · Avg PPA 0.175 · Total 0.350

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	0.175	0.350	3.1%
Pass	0.175	0.350	4.0%
Rush	—	0.000	0.0%
1st down	0.318	0.318	3.7%
2nd down	—	0.000	0.0%
3rd down	0.032	0.032	7.7%
Standard downs	0.318	0.318	2.3%
Passing downs	0.032	0.032	4.8%

Hayden Moore · WRUsage 2.9% · Avg PPA 0.553 · Total 2.212

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	0.553	2.212	2.9%
Pass	0.553	2.212	4.9%
Rush	—	0.000	0.0%
1st down	1.003	2.005	3.3%
2nd down	—	0.000	0.0%
3rd down	0.103	0.207	7.1%
Standard downs	0.558	1.673	2.9%
Passing downs	0.539	0.539	2.9%

Julian Johnson · TEUsage 1.6% · Avg PPA -0.307 · Total -0.920

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	-0.307	-0.920	1.6%
Pass	-0.307	-0.920	2.7%
Rush	—	0.000	0.0%
1st down	-0.307	-0.920	3.4%
2nd down	—	0.000	0.0%
3rd down	—	0.000	0.0%
Standard downs	-0.307	-0.920	2.2%
Passing downs	—	0.000	0.0%

Quayd Hendryx · WRUsage 1.5% · Avg PPA 1.692 · Total 3.384

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	1.692	3.384	1.5%
Pass	1.692	3.384	3.3%
Rush	—	0.000	0.0%
1st down	2.558	2.558	1.6%
2nd down	0.826	0.826	2.3%
3rd down	—	0.000	0.0%
Standard downs	1.692	3.384	2.0%
Passing downs	—	0.000	0.0%

Bradley Martino · WRUsage 1.4% · Avg PPA 1.117 · Total 1.117

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	1.117	1.117	1.4%
Pass	1.117	1.117	3.1%
Rush	—	0.000	0.0%
1st down	—	0.000	0.0%
2nd down	1.117	1.117	4.2%
3rd down	—	0.000	0.0%
Standard downs	1.117	1.117	1.7%
Passing downs	—	0.000	0.0%

George Rohl · TEUsage 1.4% · Avg PPA 0.392 · Total 0.392

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	0.392	0.392	1.4%
Pass	0.392	0.392	3.1%
Rush	—	0.000	0.0%
1st down	0.392	0.392	3.0%
2nd down	—	0.000	0.0%
3rd down	—	0.000	0.0%
Standard downs	0.392	0.392	1.7%
Passing downs	—	0.000	0.0%

Jacob Simpson · TEUsage 1.4% · Avg PPA -0.827 · Total -0.827

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	-0.827	-0.827	1.4%
Pass	-0.827	-0.827	3.1%
Rush	—	0.000	0.0%
1st down	—	0.000	0.0%
2nd down	-0.827	-0.827	4.2%
3rd down	—	0.000	0.0%
Standard downs	-0.827	-0.827	1.7%
Passing downs	—	0.000	0.0%

Jaron Thomas · RBUsage 1.4% · Avg PPA 0.068 · Total 0.068

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	0.068	0.068	1.4%
Pass	—	0.000	0.0%
Rush	0.068	0.068	2.6%
1st down	—	0.000	0.0%
2nd down	0.068	0.068	4.2%
3rd down	—	0.000	0.0%
Standard downs	—	0.000	0.0%
Passing downs	0.068	0.068	7.1%

Zion Steptoe · WRUsage 1.4% · Avg PPA 0.361 · Total 0.361

Split	Average PPA	Total PPA	Usage
Overall	0.361	0.361	1.4%
Pass	0.361	0.361	3.1%
Rush	—	0.000	0.0%
1st down	0.361	0.361	3.0%
2nd down	—	0.000	0.0%
3rd down	—	0.000	0.0%
Standard downs	0.361	0.361	1.7%
Passing downs	—	0.000	0.0%

Where Minnesota sits · 2026 FBS distributions138 teams · raw PPA

2026 · Through provider Week 8. Each metric uses only published FBS teams with a numeric value. Higher percentile is better; tied values receive the midpoint of their positions, rounded to a whole percentile. Missing values are unranked.

Values and percentiles

Minnesota metric values with FBS percentiles, 2026
Metric	Value	Percentile	Better
Offense PPA/play	0.036	18th138 teams	higher
Offense success rate	0.410	34th138 teams	higher
Offense explosiveness	1.109	9th138 teams	higher
Offense pass PPA/play	0.186	38th138 teams	higher
Offense rush PPA/play	-0.083	4th138 teams	higher
Defense PPA/play	-0.012	80th138 teams	lower
Defense success rate	0.384	67th138 teams	lower
Defense explosiveness	1.173	71st138 teams	lower
Defense havoc created	0.217	96th138 teams	higher

Passing profile

2026 · CFBD passing family · raw PPA

Captured 2026-10-30. Offense: 100% of 232 attempts charted. Average depth of target 6.4 yards (1st percentile of FBS). Yards after catch 6.3 per completion. Completion 63.8%, 6.7 yards per attempt, pass PPA 0.16.

Completion percentage over expected (CPOE)
Side	Actual	Expected	CPOE (pp)	Qualifying / all attempts
Offense	60.9%	63.7%	-2.8	197 / 232
Defense allowed	57.9%	61.9%	-4.0	171 / 186

Actual and expected use the same qualifying attempts, which can be fewer than all passes. CPOE is their difference in percentage points (pp); higher is better on offense, lower allowed is better on defense. CFBD models FBS-vs-FBS passes, excluding spikes, throwaways, intentional grounding and attempts without air yards. — means unavailable; small samples have fewer than 40 qualifying attempts.

Depth of target vs yards after catch, FBS offenses

138 teams with at least 40 charted attempts. The highlighted point is Minnesota.

Target mix by zone, Minnesota offense

Highlighted bars are deep zones. Shares are of located attempts only.

Defense and rushing detail

Minnesota passing defense and rushing profile, 2026
Side	Attempts	Charted	ADOT	YAC	Comp %	PPA	CPOE	CPOE att
Passing offense	232	100%	6.4	6.3	63.8%	0.16	-2.8 pp	197
Passing defense	186	100%	8.0	5.7	58.1%	0.02	-4.0 pp	171

Rushing production

Side	Attempts	Yards / carry	Success	PPA	Line yards / rush	Second-level yards / rush	Open-field yards / rush	Stuff rate	Power success
Offense	206	3.5	39.8%	-0.03	2.40	0.70	1.00	22.4%	60.5%
Defense allowed	226	3.9	42.4%	0.11	3.00	1.00	0.80	20.5%	66.7%

Second-level yards are gained 5–10 yards past the line; open-field yards are beyond 10. These are provider per-rush averages, not totals. Power success measures success with two or fewer yards needed. Exact line-metric and power-success denominators are not supplied in this feed.

Rushing sample and attribution

Side	Yards recorded	Individual	Unattributed	Sacks	Kneels	Team rushes	Multiple carriers	Direction located / eligible
Offense	204 / 206	200	6	6	2	4	0	196 / 196 · 100.0%
Defense allowed	224 / 226	222	4	14	2	2	0	209 / 210 · 99.5%

Counts are attempts. Team totals include sacks, kneels, team-only rushes and unresolved attribution; these categories can overlap and must not be summed. Direction coverage uses ordinary direction-eligible rushes, not all attempts. Missing fields in older captures remain unavailable.

Raw provider values, no opponent adjustment; not model inputs. CFBD metric definitions.

Game-by-game passing and rushing

MetricSide

2026 · Passing CPOE · percentage points. Dashed line: season -2.8 pp. 6 of 7 captured games have this metric. Missing observations break the line.

CPOE is completion percentage over expected on qualifying FBS-vs-FBS attempts; positive means more completions than expected. PPA is raw provider PPA. These are game observations, not opponent-adjusted forecasts. P labels postseason weeks.

Game log and attempt coverage

Week	Opponent	Pass att	CPOE att	Comp %*	Expected %*	CPOE	ADOT	Pass PPA	Rush att	Rush yds/carry	Rush PPA
W1	Eastern Illinois	33	0	—	—	—	5.8	0.48	38	3.9	0.26
W2	Mississippi State	48	48	64.6%	62.9%	+1.7 pp	7.6	0.02	15	0.9	-0.19
W3	Akron	31	31	54.8%	59.3%	-4.5 pp	7.3	0.17	32	6.6	0.31
W4	Washington	29	28	71.4%	66.0%	+5.4 pp	5.6	0.44	33	3.8	-0.20
W5	Michigan	25	25	68.0%	67.5%	+0.5 pp	4.7	-0.30	40	3.2	-0.09
W6	Purdue	39	39	56.4%	63.3%	-6.9 pp	8.4	0.19	13	1.8	-0.66
W8	Iowa	27	26	50.0%	64.9%	-14.9 pp	3.4	0.09	35	2.1	-0.14

*Completion and expected rates use the same CPOE-eligible attempts. ADOT uses available air-yard attempts; a game needs at least one. No missing family is filled with the other family’s data.

Punting and returns

2026 season to date · CFBD · captured 2026-10-30T11:16:37.416814+00:00. Descriptive totals, including postseason when present.

Our punts

37 punts · 41.1 gross yards/punt · 38.0 net yards/punt

6 inside the 20 · 0 touchbacks · 2 blocked

Known gross yards: 37/37 punts. Known net yards: 26/37 punts.

Our punt returns

21 returns · 18.6 yards/return · 2 touchdowns

2 muffs · 1 opponent punts blocked

Known return yards: 21/21 returns. Return totals include team-only and unattributed plays.

Recent games

Game	Punts	Gross yd/punt	Net yd/punt	Known net yards
Week 8 · Iowa	9	41.8	36.1	8/9
Week 6 · Purdue	5	45.4	39.0	3/5
Week 5 · Michigan	5	39.4	32.0	4/5
Week 4 · Washington	6	35.8	34.0	4/6
Week 3 · Akron	5	48.6	49.8	4/5

Team style

Rating history