Author: David Shama

What’s the ceiling now for University of Minnesota football?

P.J. Fleck has established a winning program since taking over in 2017.  The latest triumph was last night’s 24-10 Duke’s Mayo Bowl win over Virginia Tech in Charlotte.

The Gophers entered the game about a 10-point betting favorite.  With superior talent, a savvy college football authority told Sports Headliners he thought Minnesota might “play not to lose.”

But rather than take a conservative approach, the Gophers were aggressive on both sides of the ball.  The authority, a former Big Ten and NFL player who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the offensive play-calling was “creative and fun,” while speculating the Gophers used more trick plays last night than in Fleck’s previous eight years leading the program. Defensively, the Gophers were aggressive with blitzes and sacked Tech quarterbacks five times.

“This was a really good football team,” the source said about a program he follows closely.

The victory made Fleck’s bowl record at Minnesota 6-0 and was Minnesota’s eighth straight post season win. Since Fleck arrived at Minnesota his teams are 24-3 against nonconference opponents including bowl teams.  That’s one of the best marks in college football.

The Gophers finished 2024-2025 at 8-5.  During the last four seasons Minnesota has averaged eight wins per season. This season and in three of the last four the Gophers had winning records in Big Ten games, with a cumulative mark of 19-17.

Fleck’s eight-year record is 58-39. He is fourth in program history in Big Ten wins (34) and is fifth in overall wins. His 597 winning percentage is third best among Minnesota coaches with at least 45 games leading the program.

Being the head coach at Minnesota is far from a cushy assignment. With limited Big Ten prospects among the high school ranks, and no adjacency to states with hotbeds of talent to recruit from, attracting elite personnel has long been a challenge for Gopher head coaches. In reality, his assignment probably is more difficult than any other coach at the U or professional coach in this town.

Fleck has established success despite the challenge, too, of more limited Name, Image and Likeness money than much of his competition.  Not so long ago, Fleck could only wish a transferring player from his program good luck as he capitalized on NIL.

But through the efforts of Minnesota’s official collective, Dinkytown Athletes, that situation is improving.  It’s believed the football program now has a few million dollars in NIL money with which to compete.

Revenue sharing with college athletes is expected to begin this year, and the Gophers will have similar money to their rivals with which to pay players.  Power Four athletic departments are expected to devote about $20.5 million to revenue sharing with athletes in several sports.  Minnesota will divide its money among football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s hockey and women’s volleyball. Speculation is athletic departments, including Minnesota’s, could allocate $12 million or more annually to football players.

The revenue share model is a very positive development for programs like Minnesota. Fleck acknowledged as much recently when he expressed gratitude to the U administration and indicated the money will be a difference maker when recruiting against non-Power Four programs who don’t have the money to share revenue like the big boys.

“The SEC and the Big Ten have major TV contracts that allow that money to be real, allow that money to be there,” Fleck said. “Our NIL and collective with Dinkytown Athletes, that money is there. It’s real. I can’t say that for everybody around the country, you know?”

The marquee football schools will still have a money advantage over the Gophers because of NIL resources.  As Fleck says, it’s the thing “that separates” parity for all.

“But I think that you’re starting to see us being able to get a high-quality athlete, retain a high-quality athlete, and a student-athlete that we can (get),” Fleck said.

The Gophers have 14 transfer players coming in and the group is ranked No. 14 in the country by 247Sports.  Fleck credits his current players for the job they do as hosts in selling recruits on the Gophers program.

The thousands of players in the transfer portal each year has been a positive development for the Gophers. Minnesota has had few key losses in recent history, while adding talent such as they did a year ago with quarterback Max Brosmer and cornerback Ethan Robinson.

Truth is the portal can help the “have nots” of college football dramatically.  While the Gophers had 13 transfers come in last year, Indiana had 30 under new coach Curt Cignetti.  The formula worked with Indiana improving from a 3-9 team to 11-2 and a spot in the College Football Playoffs.

Along with revenue sharing and the transfer portal, the expansion of the playoffs to 12 teams is another development that raises the ceiling for Gopher football success.  A Big Ten team can now finish fourth, or even fifth in the standings, and potentially receive a playoff invitation.

Participation in the playoffs would be a huge lift for Minnesota’s program.  The fanbase would be energized and grow in numbers.  NIL dollars would flow like never before (not to mention athletic department donations and general giving to the U).

More revenue would be welcome in so many ways including football staff salaries.  The Gophers are known to rank near the bottom in money paid to assistant coaches.

Despite that situation, Fleck has one of his better staffs during his eight years at Minnesota headed by offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr. and defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman.

Give Fleck credit for those hires and the many other things he has helped to accomplish with his leadership, IQ and non-stop energy.

Even brighter days could be ahead for Golden Gophers football.