Minnesota

Drake Lindsey's rise at quarterback represents Minnesota's clearest path forward after a 7-5 campaign that saw the Gophers finish dead last in the Big Ten in rushing offense. The Golden Gophers enter 2026 with a +2.5 JP+ rating that ranks 49th nationally, buoyed by an offense that grades at +2.3 (#43) but dragged down by a defense sitting at -0.3 (#70). Minnesota added significant firepower through the portal, bringing in quarterback Michael Merdinger from Liberty (16.4 PPA), wide receiver Zion Steptoe from Tulsa (15.7 PPA), and Cincinnati receiver Noah Jennings (10.6 PPA) to replace departed talents like running back Fame Ijeboi (Purdue) and receivers Malachi Coleman (Wisconsin) and Kenric Lanier II (Missouri).

JP+ projects 6.2 wins for Minnesota in a Big Ten schedule that features brutal road tests at Indiana, Washington, and Penn State but offers home opportunities against UCLA, Akron, and Eastern Illinois. The gap between that projection and double-digit aspirations hinges entirely on whether the Gophers can establish any semblance of a ground attack to complement Lindsey's aerial development and their solid special teams unit that ranks 18th nationally. If the rushing offense climbs from basement dweller to merely mediocre and Lindsey maximizes the new receiver talent, Minnesota could surprise with nine or ten wins. If the run game remains broken, another middling Big Ten finish awaits.