Recent content from Randy Johnson
Saturday's college football feast has enough to last the whole day
College football insider: Florida State vs. Clemson; Colorado vs. Oregon, Ohio State vs. Notre Dame and Penn State vs. Iowa to name a few.
Ohio State-Notre Dame winner? Find out in Randy Johnson's Big Ten picks
The Big Ten schedule heats up with two Top 25 matchups and an interesting test for Michigan against a team that usually isn't undefeated.
Gophers' to-do list: Settle in Kaliakmanis, more explosive plays
The Gophers have yet to produce a gain of 30 or more yards, and the path toward fixing that starts with sophomore quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis.
Gophers uniform dust-up: Fans tell Fleck they don't like all-black look
The Gophers wore black helmets, black jerseys and black pants for their Sept. 9 game against Eastern Michigan. That look didn't sit well with those who prefer maroon and gold.
Morgan, Sori-Marin back with Gophers football as volunteer analysts
Gophers coach P.J. Fleck welcomed two of his former leaders back into the fold after each got a taste of the NFL as undrafted free agents.
After 'failure' in loss, Gophers hope to grow their game vs. Northwestern
Among the failures in the loss to North Carolina: Giving up too many big plays, not converting offensive chances and other things coach P.J. Fleck said could have been done 'way better.'
Big Ten power rankings: Here's the impact of that Gophers loss
There are six undefeated teams remaining in the Big Ten, a group that no longer includes Minnesota after its loss at North Carolina. But not all of them are ahead of the Gophers.
Gophers weren't blown out by North Carolina, but plenty went wrong
Gophers Football Insider: Coach P.J. Fleck offered a solid summary on the 31-13 loss. "People open downfield, dropped balls, tipped balls, balls that were inaccurate. We also missed explosive plays, and we were still in the game."
Five Gophers takeaways include too many field goals, defense exposed
Minnesota's offense couldn't get the ball in the end zone enough to keep up with a ranked North Carolina team and the defense learned what it was like to face on the nation's top quarterbacks.
Spann-Ford returns for Gophers but Lindenberg remains out
Wide receiver Chris Autman-Bell, who was questionable, played but did not have a catch.
Tamed on Tobacco Road: Maye, No. 20 UNC dominate Gophers 31-13
Blown coverages by the Gophers and the big arm of North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye combined for a flurry of big plays by the 20th-ranked Tar Heels. Maye threw for 414 yards.
Gophers TE Brevyn Spann-Ford in line to play against No. 20 North Carolina
Linebacker Cody Lindenberg and wide receiver Chris Autman-Bell are questionable for Minnesota.
Top running back Taylor committed to Gophers — then the hard work began
Darius Taylor gave a verbal commitment to the U in April of his junior year in high school. Then it became a precarious ride for P.J. Fleck when other top teams, including Michigan, still keep coming after him.
Can Gophers upset North Carolina? Here's Randy Johnson's prediction
The No. 20 Tar Heels started with a convincing 31-17 victory over South Carolina before needing double-OT to escape a loss to Appalachian State. Which team will lose its first game of the season?
Gophers football schedule continues to deliver marquee trips for fans
College Football Insider: This weekend's trip to North Carolina is another example of how the Gophers are trying to create a more attractive non-conference schedule.
Which Big Ten teams reach 3-0? Find out in Randy Johnson's picks
Penn State faces Illinois and Michigan State plays host to Washington in two of the Big Ten's most intriguing matchups.
Gophers know North Carolina's Maye 'can do it all' at quarterback
Drake Maye was a five-star recruit and highly coveted by teams wishing he would transfer after a breakout season last fall. North Carolina is glad he stayed.
Facing ACC's top offensive player is U's challenge vs. North Carolina
Drake Maye of 20th-ranked North Carolina was the ACC Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 after passing for 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns while rushing for 698 yards and seven TDs.
Fleck gathers Gophers football team for Sept. 11 remembrance
P.J. Fleck also said there is "definitely a chance" Gophers linebacker Cody Lindenberg returns from injury for Saturday's game at North Carolina.
Big Ten power rankings: Badgers tumble, impact of a Gophers win
Wisconsin suffered a loss at Washington State that knocked them down in Randy Johnson's rankings. Meanwhile, Maryland is a team on the rise after a slow start and fast finish.
Five Gophers takeaways include proof there's more than one way to win
From establishing the run game to getting solid special teams play, the Gophers improved to 2-0 with a 25-6 win.
Key to Gophers win? Defender with a 'Mighty Mouse-type mentality'
Defensive tackle Kyler Baugh, who transferred to Minnesota from a small school in Texas, was a key asset against Eastern Michigan. His dominance came via a big assist from the Gophers defense.
Gophers stick to the ground, grind out 25-6 victory over Eastern Michigan
A clock-draining running attack and a stingy defense helped the Gophers pull away Saturday night at Huntington Bank Stadium. True freshman Darius Taylor rushed 33 times for 193 yards and a touchdown.
Gophers LB Lindenberg, RB Williams out vs. EMU
Wide receiver Chris Autman-Bell also was listed as questionable in the Big Ten's availability report
Gophers seek 2-0 start against upset-minded Eastern Michigan
Minnesota rallied late last week to edge Nebraska and now faces an opponent that's made a habit of beating Power Five foes.
Big leg, big personality, Gophers kicker Kesich feeds on pressure
Dragan Kesich's game-winning field goal beat Nebraska, a moment the fourth-year player of Serbian heritage has been preparing for all his competitive life.
Randy Johnson's Gophers prediction: Who wins Saturday and why?
Memories of a loss to another Mid-American Conference opponent — 20-14 to Bowling Green in 2021 — should keep the team focused Satirday night's game against Eastern Michigan.
Nebraska vs. Coach Prime. Battle of Iowa. Randy Johnson's Big Ten picks
Coach Deion Sanders' Colorado looks to build on a stunning opener at TCU, facing a Nebraska team that needs to bounce back after blowing a late lead vs. the Gophers.
College football's new clock rule shortens games, forcing adjustments
The Gophers saw what a difference the rule can make against Nebraska in their opener. Each team essentially had only three first-half possessions.
Gophers, Fleck know they can look past a MAC opponent at own risk
Tenth-year Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton has built a Mid-American Conference program that seems to feast on Power Five opponents.
Gophers Nubin, Kesich earn Big Ten honors for play against Nebraska
Tyler Nubin's second interception set up Dragan Kesich's winning field goal in the 13-10 win over Nebraska.
44 passes? Fleck says that's what Gophers needed to beat Nebraska
The Gophers ran more than twice as many pass plays in their opener as they averaged during the 2022 season. P.J. Fleck explained why they turned away from the running game.
Big Ten power rankings: Are Gophers half-empty or half-full?
The first weekend of Big Ten football featured a couple of overpowering performances, a few teams with concerns and others that will need more of a challenge to best judge them.
Nubin makes good on promise to pick off game-changing pass for U
Fleck said Monday safety Tyler Nubin called his shot before intercepting a pass that set up the Gophers' game-winning field goal vs. Nebraska. He also added some context.
How'd that happen? Five things from Gophers' shocking rally over Nebraska
The Huskers still looked like a team coached by Scott Frost, and the Gophers showed a ton of resiliency — though the running game and offensive line are works in progress.
Can Jackson's tiptoe TD propel Gophers like Autman-Bell in 2019?
The Gophers needed every inch for Daniel Jackson to complete his catch against Nebraska, just as they did when Chris Autman-Bell worked his magic vs. Fresno State.
A catch. A kick. A win. Gophers stun Nebraska with clutch plays late
Daniel Jackson made a spectacular 13-yard touchdown catch, dragging his back foot along the end zone sideline. Dragan Kesich's extra point tied the game, and he won it as time expired.
Gophers linebacker Lindenberg misses Thursday's game with injury
The Gophers listed Chris Autman-Bell as questionable for Thursday night's game against Nebraska.
In with the new: Story lines to watch during tonight's Gophers opener
The Gophers open against a team it knows well from the Big Ten West. But this matchup figures to look different for a number of reasons.
Gophers vs. Nebraska: Story lines, stats, Randy Johnson's prediction
Randy Johnson makes his pick as Nebraska will be breaking in a new coach (Matt Rhule) and new quarterback (Jeff Sims) in Thursday night's sold-out season opener against the Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium.
Big hopes, bigger role: Kaliakmanis ready to be face of the Gophers
Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis has embraced the leadership role that comes with the position. His first major test comes tonight with the Gophers open their season against Nebraska.
Utah State or Iowa? Find out in Randy Johnson's weekly Big Ten picks
The Hawkeyes have an intriguing match-up to start the season, and both Purdue and Illinois should also get tested.
Can Gophers reach championship dreams under Fleck this season?
The schedule will be unrelenting for a football team in transition, but coach P.J. Fleck remains focused on his stated goal of winning the Big Ten West.
Seven newcomers who could be difference-makers for U football
The Gophers bolstered their roster — especially at running back and wide receiver — with some key new faces from the transfer portal.
Gophers men's hockey schedule features North Dakota, Minnesota-Duluth
The Gophers men's hockey team announced its full schedule Monday. It starts vs. St. Thomas on Oct. 13 at Xcel Energy Center.
Gophers safety Nubin looks to raise his NFL stock even higher
The Gophers have been on a roll producing NFL defensive backs. Tyler Nubin could be next, and he has a big fan in former U safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
Gophers football preparing for 'ghosts' in opener against Nebraska
Gophers coach P.J. Fleck's staff has studied video from Matt Rhule's previous stops before Nebraska.
Eight key Gophers football players are ready for their close-up
Athan Kaliakmanis, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Tyler Nubin and five other Gophers will have a lot to say about the team's success this season.
Gophers' Big Ten West rivals get an extreme coaching makeover
Matt Rhule at Nebraska and Luke Fickell at Wisconsin are two of the division's four new coaches. Both are looking to restore success to programs that have been struggling.
Who wins the Big Ten? Where's the U? Randy Johnson's Big Ten forecast
New coaches and quarterbacks dot the landscape in the final year of the Big Ten being split into East and West divisions. College football writer Randy Johnson on who comes on top and which teams will go to bowl games.
A game-by-game breakdown of the Gophers' treacherous football schedule
Coach P.J. Fleck is challenging his players to view the upcoming games as opportunities. College football analysts believe it's the second-toughest schedule in the country.
U football reaches training camp midpoint with 'a long way to go'
Coach P.J. Fleck continues to say how much he likes this team but knows there are "a lot of challenges ahead."
SEC, Big Ten flex muscles in AP Preseason college football poll
Georgia is a near-unanimous pick to win its third consecutive national championship. The Gophers received some votes, but not enough to make the Top 25.
Lucky seventh season? Gophers' Autman-Bell seeks fantastic finish
A season-ending injury last season and a COVID waiver has put Chris Autman-Bell in that small group of players returning to a college team for a seventh season.
U gets commitment from 16-year-old, high-scoring New York defenseman
Matthew Grimes played for Mount St. Charles Academy in Rhode Island last season and will skate for Sioux Falls of the USHL in 2023-24.
305-pound 'kid out of Nowhere' primed to be Gophers run-stopper
Kyler Baugh wasn't a four-star recruit out of high school, where he played in a small Oklahoma town with a population under 1,000. He's brought an attitude to Minnesota that's served the Gophers well on the defensive line.
Gophers try keeping minds on football amid conference chaos
While curious and excited about the expanding Big Ten conference, Gophers football players say they're remaining focused on the upcoming season.
On second thought, ex-Edina star Carroll finds home with the Gophers
Quinn Carroll chose Notre Dame after finishing at Edina as the state's top-ranked prospect in his graduating class, then took the transfer portal back to Minnesota. He's found a home — and a starting job.
Position battles progress as U football holds open practice
Afterlosing key players over the offseason, a number of starting spots are up for grabs if players can impress coach P.J. Fleck.
As sports betting rattles college athletics, Minnesota schools brace
Minnesota is the only state in the Big Ten that doesn't allow sports gambling, but administrators know the time is coming and scandals at Iowa and Iowa State show how serious the consequences can be for athletes.
B1G moves: Oregon, Washington join Big Ten as Pac-12 disintegrates
The two West Coast schools will join the conference for all sports in the 2024-2025 season, creating an 18-team league.
Why Fleck is turning to a 1980s glam metal band to motivate U players
After losing some top players to graduation, Gophers coach P.J. Fleck has taken a musical approach to getting ready for what ESPN has called the second-most challenging football schedule in the nation.
Fleck calls report of player mistreatment, intimidation 'baseless'
Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said that allegations like the ones reported by Front Office Sports aren't uncommon, and the majority come from players "dismissed or removed from our football team."
Gophers' Fleck suddenly Big Ten West's second-longest tenured coach
Wisconsin, Nebraska, Purdue and Northwestern were all breaking in new coaches at Big Ten media days this week.
Gophers, Michigan lead Big Ten football preseason honors list
Gophers safety Tyler Nubin and tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford were among 10 players named to the Big Ten preseason honors list.
Hazing is Big Ten's top topic as football coaches face tough questions
The heat was on in Indianapolis for Northwestern's new interim coach David Braun, along with new Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti.
From hazing to suspensions, Big Ten turmoil at center of media days
Northwestern's players announced they won't attend the event in the wake of a hazing scandal, and Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is facing a possible four-game suspension.
Big Ten football Media Days schedule
Gophers coach P.J. Fleck is slated to talk to reporters on Thursday morning
Big Ten media poll is out: Where did the Gophers land?
The annual Cleveland.com poll has become a staple the same week as Big Ten media days.
5 U football updates feature Autman-Bell's injury, schedule challenge
With 50 days until the season-opener against Nebraska, the Gophers gathered for photos, videos and media interviews. Here are the highlights.
Gophers' next big hope at QB loves his family, football and fishing
Athan Kaliakmanis is an Antioch, Ill., native who is soaking up the outdoors in Minnesota while getting ready for training camp.
Gophers backup goalie leaving team to play in USHL next season
Owen Bartoszkiewicz will join the Youngstown Phantoms, the team for which he played in 2021-22. He retains two years of college eligibility.
Gophers football lands two more recruits, raises profile of 2024 class
With 23 players committed to the 2024 recruiting class — the most among FBS teams — the Gophers currently are ranked 10th nationally by one scouting service.
No. 1-ranked Wisconsin recruit in 2024 class commits to U football
Nathan Roy is the top overall player in Wisconsin and the highest-ranked player in the 2024 class to pick Minnesota.
How the end of Big Ten football divisions could impact the Gophers
College Football Insider: The Gophers get one more chance to win the Big Ten West. But then the climb to the conference title game gets steeper.
