The Minnesota Gophers are gearing up for their ninth season under head coach PJ Fleck — but not everyone is buying into the optimism.
CBS Sports isn’t holding back when it comes to Minnesota’s outlook for 2024, especially when it comes to a potential worst-case scenario.
The harsh prediction? A brutal 4-8 finish for the Gophers.
CBS Sports analyst Tom Fornelli laid out a scenario where Minnesota’s season completely unravels — and it starts in the trenches.
“Losses on the offensive line prove too much to overcome, and Minnesota is unable to run the ball effectively against any defense with a pulse,” Fornelli wrote. “This leads to far too much being put on Drake Lindsey's shoulders offensively, and he can't handle it.”
The Gophers are still waiting to see what Lindsey brings as a first-year starting signal caller.
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With losses on the offensive line, the team will need to rely heavily on star running back Darius Taylor. However, as Fornelli points out, things could quickly go sideways if Minnesota has to depend on Lindsey’s arm to win games — a scenario Fleck has historically been reluctant to embrace.
The defense doesn’t get off easy either. According to the prediction, the Gophers start strong but wear down physically as the season progresses, leading to injuries and inexperienced players being forced into key roles.
“On defense, the unit starts the season well but wears down physically as the season progresses, leading to injuries that put too many inexperienced players at key spots,” Fornelli wrote. “The only wins come against Buffalo, Northwestern State, Rutgers, and Purdue, as the season ends with six straight losses.”
The only projected wins? Non-conference matchups against Buffalo and Northwestern State, plus Big Ten wins over Rutgers and Purdue.
After a surprising 7-5 season, it’s hard to imagine Minnesota falling off this badly. But with so many changes, it’s not out of the question.
This prediction serves as a harsh reality check for Fleck and the program — a worst-case scenario for a team aiming to establish itself in a tough Big Ten.