2018 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

The 2018 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 2018 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 second-year head coach P. J. Fleck.

2018 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
Quick Lane Bowl champion
Quick Lane Bowl, W 34–10 vs. Georgia Tech
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Division	West Division
2018 record	7–6 (3–6 Big Ten)
Head coach	P. J. Fleck (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Kirk Ciarrocca (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Robb Smith (2nd season; fired Nov. 4) Joe Rossi
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	TCF Bank Stadium (Capacity: 50,805)
Uniform

2018 Big Ten Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
No. 3 Ohio State xy$		8	–	1					13	–	1
No. 14 Michigan x		8	–	1					10	–	3
No. 17 Penn State		6	–	3					9	–	4
Michigan State		5	–	4					7	–	6
Maryland		3	–	6					5	–	7
Indiana		2	–	7					5	–	7
Rutgers		0	–	9					1	–	11
West Division
No. 21 Northwestern xy		8	–	1					9	–	5
Wisconsin		5	–	4					8	–	5
No. 25 Iowa		5	–	4					9	–	4
Purdue		5	–	4					6	–	7
Minnesota		3	–	6					7	–	6
Nebraska		3	–	6					4	–	8
Illinois		2	–	7					4	–	8
Championship: Ohio State 45, Northwestern 24
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

Minnesota began the year by sweeping its non-conference slate against New Mexico State, Fresno State, and Miami (OH); but opened Big Ten Conference play with four straight losses. The team secured wins against Indiana and Purdue, and then secured bowl eligibility by defeating rival Wisconsin for the first time since 2003, and the first time on the road since 1994. The team finished the regular season tied for fifth in the Big Ten West Division with a conference record of 3–6. They were invited to the Quick Lane Bowl where they defeated Georgia Tech to end the year with an overall record of 7–6.

The team's starting quarterback was true freshman Zack Annexstad before he suffered an internal midsection injury in the game against Nebraska on October 20.[1] He did not return for the rest of the season, and redshirt freshman Tanner Morgan took his place under center. Both Annexstad and Morgan finished with nine touchdowns on the year.[2] The team's leading rusher was Mohamed Ibrahim, with 1,160 rushing yards; and the team's leading receiver was Tyler Johnson with 1,169 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns, which tied for the conference lead.[2][3] Johnson was named first-team All-Big Ten by the media voters.[4] Defensive lineman Carter Coughlin and linebacker Blake Cashman each finished with 15 tackles for loss and were both named second-team All-Big Ten.

Previous season

The Golden Gophers finished the 2017 season 5–7, 2–7 in Big Ten play to finish in sixth place in the West Division.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Award	Player	Position	Year
Rimington Trophy[5]	Jared Weyler	C	SR
Chuck Bednarik Award[6]	Thomas Barber	LB	JR
Maxwell Award[7]	Rodney Smith	RB	SR
Doak Walker Award[8]	Rodney Smith	RB	SR
Butkus Award[9]	Thomas Barber	LB	JR
Lou Groza Award[10]	Emmit Carpenter	K	SR
Paul Hornung Award[11]	Rodney Smith	RB/KR	JR
Wuerffel Trophy[12]	Emmit Carpenter	K	SR

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	6:00 p.m.	New Mexico State*	TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN	BTN	W 48–10	41,291
September 8	6:30 p.m.	Fresno State*	TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN	FS1	W 21–14	38,280
September 15	2:30 p.m.	Miami (OH)*	TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN	BTN	W 26–3	41,162
September 22	11:00 a.m.	at Maryland	Maryland Stadium College Park, MD	BTN	L 13–42	36,211
October 6	2:30 p.m.	Iowa	TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN (Floyd of Rosedale)	BTN	L 31–48	48,199
October 13	11:00 a.m.	at No. 3 Ohio State	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	FS1	L 14–30	100,042
October 20	2:30 p.m.	at Nebraska	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE ($5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy)	BTN	L 28–53	89,272
October 26	7:00 p.m.	Indiana	TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN	FS1	W 38–31	33,273
November 3	2:30 p.m.	at Illinois	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	BTN	L 31–55	35,774
November 10	2:30 p.m.	Purdue	TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN	ESPN2	W 41–10	31,068
November 17	11:00 a.m.	Northwestern	TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN	BTN	L 14–24	32,134
November 24	2:30 p.m.	at Wisconsin	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI (Paul Bunyan's Axe)	ESPN2	W 37–15	74,038
December 26	4:15 p.m.	vs. Georgia Tech*	Ford Field Detroit, MI (Quick Lane Bowl)	ESPN	W 34–10	27,228
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Source:[13]

Roster

2018 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class RB 1 Rodney Smith  Sr QB 2 Tanner Morgan  Fr WR 3 Chris Autman-Bell  Fr RB 4 Shannon Brooks Sr QB 5 Zach Annexstad Fr WR 6 Tyler Johnson Jr RB 8 Nolan Edmonds Fr WR 11 Jornell Manns Fr WR 13 Rashod Bateman Fr QB 11 Jon Santaga  Fr WR 17 Seth Green  So WR 18 Clay Geary  So QB 19 Samuel Pickerign  Fr RB 21 Bryce Williams Fr RB 24 Mohamed Ibrahim  Fr WR 25 Phillip Howard  So WR 26 True Thompson  So WR 27 Paul Gossage  Jr RB 28 Jonathan Femi-Cole  Jr RB 31 Domink London  Fr RB 38 Preston Jelen Fr TE 42 Ko Kieft  So TE 44 Colton Beebe  Jr OL 51 Carlos Dunlap Jr. Fr OL 58 Quinn Oseland  Jr OL 60 John Michael Schmitz  Fr OL 61 Bronson Dovich  Jr OL 62 Jared Weyler  Sr OL 63 Austin Beier Fr OL 64 Conner Olson  So OL 65 Axel Ruschmeyer  Fr OL 66 Nathan Boe Fr OL 70 Sam Schlueter  So OL 71 Ben Davis  So OL 73 Donnell Greene  Sr OL 74 Grant Norton Fr OL 75 Kyle Sassack  Fr OL 76 Jack York Fr OL 77 Blaise Andries  Fr OL 78 Daniel Faalele Fr OL 79 Jason Dickson Jr TE 80 Jake Paulson  Fr WR 81 Brock Annexstad  Fr WR 82 Demetrius Douglas  Fr WR 83 Harry Van Dyne  Fr WR 84 Erik Gibson Fr TE 85 Bryce Witham  Jr TE 86 Clayton Witherspoon Fr WR 87 Yale Van Dyne  So TE 88 Brevyn Spann-Ford Fr WR 89 Matt Morse  Jr TE 96 Nathan Bursch  Fr TE 98 Max Jones Fr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DB 2 Jacob Huff Sr DL 3 Jerry Gibson  Sr DB 4 Terell Smith Fr LB 5 Trenton Guthrie  Fr DB 6 Chris Williamson  Jr DB 7 Ray Estes  Fr LB 8 Thomas Rush Fr DL 9 Esezi Otomewo  Fr DB 11 Antoine Winfield Jr.  So DL 12 Tai'yon Devers Jr DB 14 Braelen Oliver Fr LB 15 C. J. Smith Fr DB 16 Coney Durr Jr DL 19 Gary Moore  Sr LB 20 Julian Huff Sr LB 21 Kamal Martin Jr DB 22 Benny Sapp III Fr DB 23 Jordan Howden Fr DB 24 Bishop McDonald (I) Jr DB 26 Justus Harris So DB 27 Calvin Swenson  So DB 29 Jack Leius  So DL 30 Alex Reigelsperger Fr DB 31 Kiondre Thomas  So LB 32 Joe Russell  Fr DB 34 Antonio Shenault Sr LB 35 Danny Anderson  Fr LB 36 Blake Cashman Sr DB 40 Alex Strazzanti  Fr LB 41 Thomas Barber Jr LB 43 Bailey Schoenfelder  So LB 45 Carter Coughlin Jr DL 46 Winston DeLattiboudere  Jr DB 49 Josh Aune Fr DL 52 Jamaal Teague Fr LB 53 Owen Piche Fr LB 55 Mariano Sori-Marin Fr LB 56 Ty Barron Fr DL 59 Michael Roane Fr DL 67 Jack Kern Fr DL 69 Boye Mafe  Fr DL 75 Malcolm Robinson  Fr DL 87 Nate Umlor So DL 90 Sam Renner  Jr DL 91 Noah Hickcox  Fr DL 92 Mayan Ahanotu Fr DL 93 Connor Novak-Goar  So DL 94 Abi N-Okonji Fr DL 95 Victor White (I)  So DL 97 Royal Silver  Jr DL 99 O.J. Smith  Sr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class H 14 Casey O'Brien  Fr LS 25 Payton Jordahl  Sr K, P 33 Grant Ryerse  Fr K 34 Brock Walker Fr K 37 John Mack  So K 38 Emmit Carpenter  Sr LS 39 Michael Vojvodich Fr P 46 Alex Melvin  Jr P 47 Jacob Herbers  Jr K 48 Anders Gelecinskyj (I) So	Head coach P. J. Fleck (Head Coach) Coordinators/assistant coaches Kirk Ciarrocca (Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks) Robb Smith (Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers) Rob Wenger (Special Teams Coordinator / Outside Linebackers) Jahmile Addae (Defensive Backs) Kenni Burns (Running Backs) Brian Callahan (Offensive Line) Clay Patterson (Tight Ends) Joe Rossi (Defensive Line) Matt Simon (Wide Receivers) Marcus West (Defensive Line Pass Rush Specialist) Gerrit Chernoff (General Manager) Dan Nichol (Head Strength & Conditioning) Norries Wilson (Director of Player Development) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: August 29, 2018

Game summaries

New Mexico State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Aggies	7	3	0	0	10
Golden Gophers	7	28	3	10	48

See also: 2018 New Mexico State Aggies football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
1–1	2013	MINN, 44–21

Fresno State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	0	0	7	7	14
Golden Gophers	7	3	0	11	21

See also: 2018 Fresno State Bulldogs football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
First meeting

Miami (OH)

	1	2	3	4	Total
RedHawks	0	3	0	0	3
Golden Gophers	7	12	7	0	26

See also: 2018 Miami RedHawks football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
3–0	2011	MINN, 29–23

at Maryland

	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Gophers	0	10	3	0	13
Terrapins	14	7	14	7	42

See also: 2018 Maryland Terrapins football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
1–2	2017	UMD, 31–24

Iowa

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hawkeyes	14	14	10	10	48
Golden Gophers	7	10	7	7	31

See also: 2018 Iowa Hawkeyes football team and Iowa–Minnesota football rivalry

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
62–47–2	2017	IOWA, 17–10

at Ohio State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Gophers	7	7	0	0	14
No. 3 Buckeyes	10	7	3	10	30

See also: 2018 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
7–45	2015	OSU, 28–14

at Nebraska

	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Gophers	0	8	14	6	28
Cornhuskers	14	14	8	17	53

See also: 2018 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team and Minnesota–Nebraska football rivalry

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
32–24–2	2017	MINN, 54–21

Indiana

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hoosiers	6	3	0	22	31
Golden Gophers	7	14	10	7	38

See also: 2018 Indiana Hoosiers football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
38–26–3	2013	MINN, 42–39

at Illinois

	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Gophers	7	10	0	14	31
Fighting Illini	14	10	21	10	55

See also: 2018 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
38–29–3	2017	MINN, 24–17

Purdue

	1	2	3	4	Total
Boilermakers	3	0	0	7	10
Golden Gophers	3	10	21	7	41

See also: 2018 Purdue Boilermakers football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
37–33–3	2017	PUR, 31–17

Northwestern

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	7	6	0	11	24
Golden Gophers	0	7	0	7	14

See also: 2018 Northwestern Wildcats football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
53–35–5	2017	NW, 39–0

at Wisconsin

See also: 2018 Wisconsin Badgers football team and Minnesota–Wisconsin football rivalry

Paul Bunyon's Axe: Minnesota Golden Gophers (5–6) at Wisconsin Badgers (7–4)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Minnesota	3	14	6	14	37
Wisconsin	0	7	0	8	15

at Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, Wisconsin

• Date: November 24
• Game time: 2:30 p.m.
• Game weather: Cloudy • 42 °F (6 °C) • Wind W 12 miles per hour (19 km/h; 10 kn)
• Game attendance: 74,038
• Referee: R. Snodgrass
• Box Score

Game information
Minnesota Tanner Morgan 9/16, 124 Yds Mohamed Ibrahim 26 Rush, 121 Yds, TD Tyler Johnson 4 Rec, 76 Yds Wisconsin Alex Hornibrook 22/33, 189 Yds, 2 TD, 3 INT Jonathan Taylor 19 Rush, 120 Yds Danny Davis 10 Rec, 93 Yds

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP MINN WIS 1 2:37 10 65 5:04 Minnesota 34-yard field goal by Emmit Carpenter 3 0 2 2:21 9 59 5:46 Minnesota Mohamed Ibrahim 10-yard touchdown run, Emmit Carpenter kick good 10 0 2 1:05 Minnesota Punt returned 69 yards for touchdown by Demetrius Douglas, Emmit Carpenter kick good 17 0 2 0:01 8 76 0:59 Wisconsin Jake Ferguson 7-yard touchdown reception from Alex Hornibrook, Rafael Gaglianone kick good 17 7 3 7:47 8 51 4:01 Minnesota 23-yard field goal by Emmit Carpenter 20 7 3 1:02 9 31 4:52 Minnesota 42-yard field goal by Emmit Carpenter 23 7 4 4:56 1 23 0:07 Minnesota Bryce Williams 23-yard touchdown run, Emmit Carpenter kick good 30 7 4 2:31 6 29 2:12 Minnesota Bryce Williams 16-yard touchdown run, Emmit Carpenter kick good 37 7 4 1:12 7 75 1:19 Wisconsin Danny Davis 13-yard touchdown reception from Alex Hornibrook, kick good 37 15 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 37 15

vs. Georgia Tech (Quick Lane Bowl)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Yellow Jackets	0	3	7	0	10
Golden Gophers	10	3	7	14	34

See also: 2018 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team and 2018 Quick Lane Bowl

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
First Meeting

Awards and honors

All-Big Ten

Player	Position	Coaches	Media
Tyler Johnson	WR	2	1
Carter Coughlin	DL	2	2
Blake Cashman	LB	3	2
Jacob Huff	DB	HM	HM
Donnell Greene	OT	HM	HM
Jacob Herbers	P	HM	HM
Emmit Carpenter	K	HM	HM
Demetrius Douglas	PR/KR	–	HM
Blaise Andries	OG	–	HM
Daniel Faalele	OT	–	HM
Mohomed Ibrahim	RB	–	HM
Conner Olson	OG	–	HM
Jared Weyler	C	–	HM
HM = Honorable mention. Reference:[4]

Players drafted into the NFL

See also: 2019 NFL Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	NFL Club
5	157	Blake Cashman	LB	New York Jets

References

1. Johnson, Randy (October 23, 2018). "Availability of Gophers quarterback Zack Annexstad still uncertain for Indiana game". Star Tribune.
2. "2018 Minnesota Golden Gophers Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
3. "2018 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
4. "2018 All-Big Ten Football Teams and Individual Award Recipients" (PDF). BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. November 28, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
5. "Rimington Trophy Press Release". May 30, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
6. "2018 Bednarik Award Watch List - Maxwell Football Club". Maxwell Football Club. 2018-07-16. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
7. "2018 Maxwell Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
8. "2018 Doak Walker Award Candidates". July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
9. "Butkus Award - 2018 Collegiate Watchlist". The Butkus Award. July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
10. "Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Announces 2018 Preseason Watch List". July 25, 2018. Archived from the original on August 17, 2009. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
11. "43 PLAYERS NAMED TO 2018 PAUL HORNUNG AWARD WATCH LIST". July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
12. "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
13. http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-18/2018-minnesota-golden-gophers-football-schedule.php