We’ll all know soon enough how good the Minnesota Gophers football team is, but if you haven’t examined the 2023 schedule now is a good time to learn that it’s poised to test the Gophers on a weekly basis.
Minnesota faces five teams that are ranked in the preseason AP Top 25:
- North Carolina – 21st
- Iowa – 25th
- Wisconsin – 19th
- Ohio State – 3rd
- Michigan – 2nd
After a tough opener at Huntington Bank Stadium against Nebraska on Aug. 31, the Gophers should roll over Eastern Michigan before facing No. 21 North Carolina. The Tar Heels are led by quarterback Drake Maye, who could very well be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
They get a break in Week 4 against a troubled Northwestern program and then should dump Louisiana in Week 5 before a showdown in Minneapolis against national championship contender Michigan on Oct. 7.
The first bye is timed perfectly after the Michigan game, which should allow the Gophers to regroup before a tough road game against Iowa on Oct. 21. That’s followable by winnable games against Michigan, Illinois and Purdue before heading to Columbus for the Nov. 18 game at Ohio State.
The regular season closes in Minneapolis against Wisconsin.
Overall, that’s 41.6% of Minnesota’s schedule against teams ranked in the preseason top 25. For context, Alabama and LSU each play four teams ranked in the preseason top 25 while the No. 1 team in the country Georgia only has two games against teams ranked in the preseason top 25.
Despite those facts, the College Football News recently ranked Minnesota’s schedule the 36th hardest in the country and sixth toughest in the Big Ten.
