The 2024 Minnesota Golden Gopher football schedule has been released. The Gophers will open the season at home against the New Mexico State Aggies on September 7th. They will then travel to face the Colorado Buffaloes on September 14th.
Minnesota will return home for two straight games, hosting the Miami (OH) Redhawks on September 21st and the Purdue Boilermakers on September 28th. They will then travel to face the Maryland Terrapins on October 5th.
The rest of the Gophers’ schedule includes home games against the Illinois Fighting Illini, Wisconsin Badgers, and Iowa Hawkeyes, and road games against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Michigan State Spartans, and Ohio State Buckeyes.
Minnesota Football Schedule 2024
Packed with Big Ten battles and intriguing non-conference matchups.
- Opens at home vs New Mexico State
- Early road test at Colorado
- Homecoming vs Purdue
- Rivalry clash at Wisconsin
- Late-season showdown vs Ohio State
- Seeks first win at Michigan State since 2006
- Five home games in Minneapolis
- Three straight Big Ten road games in October
- Season ends at home vs Iowa
- National TV appearances likely
The Gophers will look to build on their recent success and make a run at the Big Ten West Division title in 2024.
Opens at home vs New Mexico State
The Minnesota Golden Gophers will kick off their 2024 football season at home against the New Mexico State Aggies on Saturday, September 7th. The game will be played at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
New Mexico State is a member of the Football Championship Series (FCS), which is one level below the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), where Minnesota competes. The Aggies finished the 2022 season with a record of 5-6, including a 4-4 mark in conference play. They are led by head coach Jerry Kill, who is in his second season at the helm of the program.
The Gophers will be looking to start the season strong against an FCS opponent before facing a tougher test the following week at Colorado. Minnesota has a history of success against FCS teams, having won their last 10 meetings against such opponents.
The game against New Mexico State will also be a homecoming for Gophers’ head coach PJ Fleck, who was born and raised in New Mexico. Fleck played college football at Northern Illinois and was an assistant coach at Rutgers and Western Michigan before taking over at Minnesota in 2017.
The Gophers will be looking to use the game against New Mexico State to build momentum heading into the rest of their non-conference schedule, which includes a road game at Colorado and a home game against Miami (OH) before they open Big Ten play.
Early road test at Colorado
After opening the season at home against New Mexico State, the Minnesota Golden Gophers will face their first road test of the 2024 season when they travel to Boulder, Colorado to take on the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday, September 14th.
Colorado finished the 2022 season with a record of 1-11, including a 1-8 mark in Pac-12 play. They are led by head coach Karl Dorrell, who is in his fourth season at the helm of the program. The Buffaloes have struggled in recent years, but they have a talented roster and will be looking to make a statement against the Gophers in their home opener.
The Gophers have a 5-4 record all-time against Colorado, but the Buffaloes won the last meeting between the two teams in 2020 by a score of 48-10 in Minneapolis. Minnesota will need to be prepared for a hostile environment in Boulder, as the Buffaloes’ home crowd is known for being one of the most passionate in the Pac-12.
The game against Colorado will be a good test for the Gophers’ defense, as the Buffaloes have a talented offense led by quarterback JT Shrout and running back Deion Smith. The Gophers will also need to find a way to protect quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, who will be making his first career road start.
The Gophers will be looking to start the season 2-0 with a win over Colorado before returning home to face Miami (OH) in their Big Ten opener the following week.
Homecoming vs Purdue
The Minnesota Golden Gophers will celebrate homecoming on Saturday, September 21st, when they host the Purdue Boilermakers at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Purdue finished the 2022 season with a record of 9-4, including a 6-3 mark in Big Ten play. They are led by head coach Jeff Brohm, who is in his seventh season at the helm of the program. The Boilermakers have been one of the most consistent teams in the Big Ten West Division in recent years, and they will be looking to challenge for the division title in 2024.
The Gophers have a 47-36-3 record all-time against Purdue, but the Boilermakers have won the last two meetings between the two teams, including a 29-22 victory in West Lafayette last season. Minnesota will need to be at their best to beat Purdue in front of their homecoming crowd.
The game against Purdue will be a key test for the Gophers’ offense, as the Boilermakers have one of the best defenses in the Big Ten. The Gophers will need to find a way to move the ball against a Purdue defense that is led by All-American linebacker Jayden McGowan.
The Gophers will be looking to improve to 3-1 with a win over Purdue before they travel to Maryland the following week.
Rivalry clash at Wisconsin
The Minnesota Golden Gophers will travel to Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday, October 12th to take on their ุฅูrivals, the Wisconsin Badgers, at Camp Randall Stadium.
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Historic Rivalry:
The Gophers and Badgers have one of the most heated rivalries in the Big Ten Conference. The two teams have met 129 times since 1890, with Wisconsin holding a 63-60-6 advantage in the all-time series.
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Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe:
The winner of the annual Gophers-Badgers game is awarded the Paul Bunyan’s Axe, a trophy that is one of the most recognizable in college football. Minnesota has won the axe three times in the last five years, including a 31-24 victory in Minneapolis last season.
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Key Matchup:
The game between the Gophers and Badgers is often decided in the trenches. Both teams have strong offensive and defensive lines, so the battle for control of the line of scrimmage will be crucial. The Gophers will need to find a way to slow down Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen, who is one of the best running backs in the country.
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Big Ten West Implications:
The game against Wisconsin could have major implications in the Big Ten West Division race. Both teams are expected to be contenders for the division title in 2024, so the winner of this game will have a leg up in the standings.
The Gophers will be looking to win their fourth straight game against Wisconsin and retain Paul Bunyan’s Axe. A win over the Badgers would also give Minnesota a major boost in their quest for a Big Ten West Division title.
Late-season showdown vs Ohio State
The Minnesota Golden Gophers will host the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, November 16th in a late-season showdown at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Ohio State is one of the top teams in the country and is always a contender for the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes finished the 2022 season with a record of 11-2, including a 8-1 mark in Big Ten play. They are led by head coach Ryan Day, who is in his fifth season at the helm of the program. Ohio State has a loaded roster, led by quarterback CJ Stroud, running back TreVeyon Henderson, and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
The Gophers have not beaten Ohio State since 2000, and they have lost the last nine meetings between the two teams. However, Minnesota will be looking to make a statement in this game and show that they are capable of competing with the best teams in the country.
The game against Ohio State will be a major test for the Gophers’ defense, as the Buckeyes have one of the most potent offenses in college football. The Gophers will need to find a way to slow down Stroud and his talented group of receivers.
The Gophers will also need to be able to move the ball against an Ohio State defense that is led by All-American linebacker Tommy Eichenberg. The game is sure to be a high-scoring affair, and it could have major implications for the Big Ten East Division title race.
Seeks first win at Michigan State since 2006
The Minnesota Golden Gophers will travel to East Lansing, Michigan on Saturday, October 26th to take on the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium.
The Gophers have not won at Michigan State since 2006, and they have lost the last six meetings between the two teams. The Spartans have been one of the most dominant teams in the Big Ten East Division in recent years, and they are always a tough opponent at home.
Michigan State finished the 2022 season with a record of 11-2, including a 7-2 mark in Big Ten play. They are led by head coach Mel Tucker, who is in his fourth season at the helm of the program. The Spartans have a strong defense, led by All-American linebacker Cal Haladay.
The Gophers will need to find a way to move the ball against a Michigan State defense that is known for its physicality. The Gophers will also need to be able to stop the Spartans’ running game, which is led by running back Jarek Broussard.
The game against Michigan State is a big opportunity for the Gophers to prove that they can compete with the top teams in the Big Ten East Division. A win over the Spartans would also give Minnesota a major boost in their quest for a bowl game.
Five home games in Minneapolis
The Minnesota Golden Gophers will play five home games at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis during the 2024 season.
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New Mexico State (September 7th):
The Gophers will open their season at home against the New Mexico State Aggies, an FCS opponent.
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Miami (OH) (September 21st):
The Gophers will play their homecoming game against the Miami (OH) RedHawks, a team from the Mid-American Conference.
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Purdue (September 28th):
The Gophers will host the Purdue Boilermakers, a Big Ten West Division rival, in a key early-season matchup.
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Illinois (October 19th):
The Gophers will take on the Illinois Fighting Illini, a Big Ten West Division rival, in a battle for the Land of 10,000 Lakes Trophy.
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Iowa (November 23rd):
The Gophers will close out their regular season at home against the Iowa Hawkeyes, their oldest rival, in the battle for Floyd of Rosedale.
The Gophers will be looking to make the most of their home-field advantage in 2024. They have a strong record at Huntington Bank Stadium in recent years, and they will be looking to continue that success in 2024.
Three straight Big Ten road games in October
The Minnesota Golden Gophers will have a tough stretch in October, as they will play three straight Big Ten road games.
The Gophers will first travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan to take on the Michigan Wolverines on October 5th. The Wolverines are one of the top teams in the country and are always a contender for the College Football Playoff. Michigan won the Big Ten Championship in 2022 and finished the season with a record of 13-1.
The following week, the Gophers will travel to West Lafayette, Indiana to take on the Purdue Boilermakers. Purdue is a rising program under head coach Jeff Brohm, and they are always a tough opponent at home. The Boilermakers finished the 2022 season with a record of 9-4.
The Gophers will then travel to Madison, Wisconsin to take on their rivals, the Wisconsin Badgers, on October 12th. The Badgers are another top team in the Big Ten West Division, and they are always a tough opponent at home. Wisconsin finished the 2022 season with a record of 11-2.
The Gophers will need to be at their best to win any of these three road games. They will need to be able to move the ball against tough defenses and stop the run against some of the best running backs in the Big Ten.
Season ends at home vs Iowa
The Minnesota Golden Gophers will close out their 2024 regular season at home against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday, November 23rd.
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Battle for Floyd of Rosedale:
The game between the Gophers and Hawkeyes is known as the Battle for Floyd of Rosedale, a bronze pig that is awarded to the winner of the annual matchup. Minnesota has won the Floyd of Rosedale trophy in each of the last two seasons.
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Senior Day:
The game against Iowa will also be Senior Day for the Gophers, as they will honor their graduating seniors before the game.
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Chance to Finish Strong:
The Gophers will be looking to finish the 2024 season on a high note with a win over their rivals. A win over Iowa would give Minnesota a winning record in the Big Ten and a chance to go to a bowl game.
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Home-Field Advantage:
The Gophers will be looking to make the most of their home-field advantage in the season finale. They have a strong record at Huntington Bank Stadium in recent years, and they will be looking to send their seniors out with a victory.
The game against Iowa is always a special one for the Gophers and their fans. It is a chance to celebrate the seniors, compete for a trophy, and finish the season on a high note.
National TV appearances likely
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are likely to make several appearances on national television during the 2024 season.
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Big Ten Network:
The Big Ten Network will broadcast all of Minnesota’s home games, as well as some of their road games. The Gophers’ games against Purdue, Illinois, and Iowa are all likely to be televised on the Big Ten Network.
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ESPN:
ESPN is likely to broadcast Minnesota’s game against Ohio State on November 16th. The game is a late-season showdown between two of the top teams in the Big Ten, and it is sure to be a highly-anticipated matchup.
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FOX:
FOX is also likely to broadcast one of Minnesota’s games during the 2024 season. The Gophers’ game against Wisconsin on October 12th is a possibility, as it is a rivalry game between two of the top teams in the Big Ten West Division.
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Other Networks:
Other networks, such as CBS and NBC, could also broadcast Minnesota’s games in 2024. The Gophers’ game against Michigan on October 5th is a possibility for CBS, and their game against Iowa on November 23rd is a possibility for NBC.
The exact number of national TV appearances that Minnesota will make in 2024 will depend on their overall record and the performance of their opponents. However, the Gophers are a rising program with a talented roster, and they are likely to be featured on national television several times during the 2024 season.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about the 2024 Minnesota Golden Gopher football schedule:
Question 1: When does the 2024 Minnesota Golden Gopher football season start?
Answer 1: The 2024 Minnesota Golden Gopher football season starts on Saturday, September 7th, with a home game against the New Mexico State Aggies.
Question 2: How many home games will the Gophers have in 2024?
Answer 2: The Gophers will have five home games in 2024: against New Mexico State, Miami (OH), Purdue, Illinois, and Iowa.
Question 3: Which Big Ten teams will the Gophers play at home in 2024?
Answer 3: The Gophers will play Purdue, Illinois, and Iowa at home in 2024.
Question 4: Which Big Ten teams will the Gophers play on the road in 2024?
Answer 4: The Gophers will play Michigan, Purdue, Wisconsin, Maryland, Nebraska, Michigan State, and Ohio State on the road in 2024.
Question 5: When is the Gophers’ homecoming game in 2024?
Answer 5: The Gophers’ homecoming game in 2024 is on Saturday, September 21st, against Miami (OH).
Question 6: When is the Gophers’ rivalry game against Wisconsin in 2024?
Answer 6: The Gophers’ rivalry game against Wisconsin in 2024 is on Saturday, October 12th, in Madison, Wisconsin.
Question 7: How many national TV appearances will the Gophers likely have in 2024?
Answer 7: The Gophers are likely to make several appearances on national television during the 2024 season, including games on the Big Ten Network, ESPN, FOX, and potentially CBS or NBC.
Closing Paragraph for FAQ: These are just some of the frequently asked questions about the 2024 Minnesota Golden Gopher football schedule. For more information, please visit the Gophers’ official website.
Here are some tips for following the Gophers’ 2024 football season:
Tips
Here are some tips for following the Gophers’ 2024 football season:
Tip 1: Buy tickets early.
Gopher football tickets are always in high demand, so it is important to buy them early, especially for the more popular games. You can purchase tickets online, over the phone, or at the Gophers’ ticket office.
Tip 2: Arrive early on game day.
Traffic and parking can be a nightmare on game days, so it is important to arrive early. You should also allow yourself plenty of time to go through security and find your seat.
Tip 3: Wear Gopher gear.
One of the best ways to show your support for the Gophers is to wear their colors. You can find Gopher gear at the team store, online, or at most sporting goods stores.
Tip 4: Be loud and proud.
The Gophers’ fans are known for being some of the most passionate in the country. Make sure to cheer loud and proud for the Gophers, even when they are losing.
Closing Paragraph for Tips: These are just a few tips for following the Gophers’ 2024 football season. By following these tips, you can make sure that you have a great experience at every game.
The 2024 Minnesota Golden Gopher football season is sure to be an exciting one. The Gophers have a talented roster and a challenging schedule, and they are looking to make a run at the Big Ten West Division title. Make sure to follow the tips above so that you can enjoy the season to the fullest.
Conclusion
The 2024 Minnesota Golden Gopher football season is shaping up to be an exciting one. The Gophers have a talented roster and a challenging schedule, and they are looking to make a run at the Big Ten West Division title.
The Gophers will open the season at home against the New Mexico State Aggies, an FCS opponent. They will then travel to Colorado to take on the Buffaloes before returning home for a homecoming game against Miami (OH). The Gophers will also host Purdue, Illinois, and Iowa at home in 2024.
The Gophers’ road schedule includes games at Michigan, Purdue, Wisconsin, Maryland, Nebraska, Michigan State, and Ohio State. The game against Ohio State will be a late-season showdown between two of the top teams in the Big Ten.
The Gophers are likely to make several appearances on national television during the 2024 season, including games on the Big Ten Network, ESPN, FOX, and potentially CBS or NBC.
Closing Message: The Gophers are looking to build on their recent success and make a run at the Big Ten West Division title in 2024. With a talented roster and a challenging schedule, the Gophers are sure to be a fun team to watch in 2024.