The 2020 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Gophers played their home games at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and competed in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by fourth-year head coach P. J. Fleck.
On August 11, 2020, the Big Ten Conference canceled all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, on September 16, the Big Ten reinstated the season, announcing an eight-game season beginning on October 24.
Big Ten preseason poll The Big Ten preseason media prediction poll was released on July 31, 2020. The Golden Gophers were predicted to finish second in the Big Ten West.
+West 1 Wisconsin 221 (19) 2 Minnesota 209.5 (14) 3 Iowa 157 4 Nebraska 117 5 Purdue 105 6 Northwestern 87.5 (1) 7 Illinois 55
Schedule Minnesota had games scheduled against Florida Atlantic, Tennessee Tech, and BYU, but canceled these games on July 9 due to the Big Ten Conference's decision to play a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source:
Rankings
Game summaries No. 18 Michigan
Statistics MICHMINN First downs 18 21 Total yards 481 326 Rushing yards 256 129 Passing yards 225 197 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 24:13 35:47 Team Category Player StatisticsMichigan Passing Joe Milton 15/22, 225 yards, TD Rushing Hassan Haskins 6 rushes, 82 yards, 2 TD Receiving Ronnie Bell 4 receptions, 74 yardsMinnesota Passing Tanner Morgan 18/31, 197 yards, TD, INT Rushing Mohamed Ibrahim 26 rushes, 140 yards, 2 TD Receiving Rashod Bateman 9 receptions, 101 yards
At Maryland
Statistics MINNMD First downs 24 28 Total yards 451 675 Rushing yards 262 281 Passing yards 189 394 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 33:12 26:48 Team Category Player StatisticsMinnesota Passing Tanner Morgan 10/15, 189 yards, TD Rushing Mohamed Ibrahim 41 rushes, 207 yards, 4 TD Receiving Chris Autumn-Bell 4 receptions, 112 yards, TDMaryland Passing Taulia Tagovailoa 26/35, 394 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Jake Funk 21 rushes, 221 yards, TD Receiving Jeshaun Jones 3 receptions, 103 yards, TD
At Illinois
Statistics MINNILL First downs 30 14 Total yards 541 287 Rushing yards 325 181 Passing yards 216 106 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 37:35 22:25 Team Category Player StatisticsMinnesota Passing Tanner Morgan 17/27, 216 yards, TD, INT Rushing Mohamed Ibrahim 30 rushes, 224 yards, 4 TD Receiving Rashod Bateman 10 receptions, 139 yards, TDIllinois Passing Coran Taylor 6/17, 106 yards, TD Rushing Mike Epstein 11 rushes, 108 yards, TD Receiving Josh Imatorbhebhe 2 receptions, 60 yards, TD
Iowa
Statistics IOWAMINN First downs 20 19 Total yards 346 312 Rushing yards 235 145 Passing yards 111 167 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 23:50 36:10 Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Spencer Petras 9/18, 111 yards, TD, INT Rushing Tyler Goodson 20 rushes, 142 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tyrone Tracy Jr. 3 receptions, 36 yardsMinnesota Passing Tanner Morgan 16/33, 167 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Mohamed Ibrahim 33 rushes, 144 yards Receiving Rashod Bateman 8 receptions, 111 yards, TD
Purdue
Statistics PURMINN First downs 28 20 Total yards 492 394 Rushing yards 125 130 Passing yards 367 264 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 29:42 30:18 Team Category Player StatisticsPurdue Passing Jack Plummer 35/42, 367 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Zander Horvath 10 rushes, 68 yards Receiving Rondale Moore 15 receptions, 116 yardsMinnesota Passing Tanner Morgan 15/22, 264 yards Rushing Mohamed Ibrahim 25 rushes, 102 yards, 3 TD Receiving Chris Autumn-Bell 5 receptions, 129 yards
At Nebraska
Statistics MINNNEB First downs 19 17 Total yards 387 308 Rushing yards 206 197 Passing yards 181 111 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 35:48 24:12 Team Category Player StatisticsMinnesota Passing Tanner Morgan 17/30, 181 yards, TD Rushing Mohamed Ibrahim 20 rushes, 108 yards, 2 TD Receiving Chris Autumn-Bell 5 receptions, 82 yardsNebraska Passing Adrian Martinez 16/27, 111 yards, TD Rushing Adrian Martinez 15 rushes, 96 yards, TD Receiving Wan'Dale Robinson 6 receptions, 41 yards
At Wisconsin
Statistics MINNWISC First downs 18 18 Total yards 326 322 Rushing yards 146 175 Passing yards 180 147 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 29:32 30:28 Team Category Player StatisticsMinnesota Passing Tanner Morgan 13/25, 160 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Mohamed Ibrahim 26 rushes, 151 yards Receiving Daniel Jackson 4 receptions, 67 yardsWisconsin Passing Graham Mertz 12/20, 132 yards Rushing Garrett Groshek 24 rushes, 154 yards, TD Receiving Jack Dunn 7 receptions, 76 yards, TD
Players drafted into the NFL
1 27 Rashod Bateman WR Baltimore Ravens 2 74 Benjamin St-Juste CB Washington Football Team
References