The Minnesota Gophers concluded the 2024 regular season triumphantly by defeating the Wiscansin Badgers, 24-7! PAUL BUNYAN'S AXE HAS RETURNED HOME! The Gophers ended the season with a 7-5 record (5-4 in the Big Ten) and ranked 7th in the newly expanded 18-team Big Ten. This is quite an achievement given how bleak the season looked early on. Another highlight of ending the season with a victory over Wiscansin is that it prevented the Badgers from becoming bowl eligible for the first time in 23 seasons. I love that. In their win, the Gophers executed a flawless game. It was a fantastic conclusion to a tumultuous season, bringing everything together in the end. The offense, defense, and special teams all performed excellently, and the only reason the Badgers scored was due to a careless penalty by the Gophers. Honestly, this was the first season I couldn't name a single Badgers players. How are the Wiscansin fans feeling about Coach Fickell? I was a bit concerned when they hired him, but it seems like he was an ideal choice, and they should keep him indefinitely. Anyway, I've already marked the Minnesota State Fair on my calendar for next year and can't wait to take a picture with Mr. Axe and make it my Facebook profile picture.
Let's go over some of the game highlights:
Quarterback Max Brosmer completed 17 of 26 passes for 191 yards, 2 touchdowns, no interceptions, and added a rushing touchdown. In his final collegiate season, Max consistently improved each week, proving himself to be an outstanding QB. Pro Football Focus awarded Brosmer a 94.0, making him the top-ranked QB in Week 14 nationwide. He also achieved a 90.1 passer grade for the season, ranking him as the 6th highest-graded QB in college football. It would be quite surprising if he isn't drafted or at least finds a spot on an NFL roster. All Gopher fans would agree that we wish we could have just one more season with Max Brosmer leading the team! His success will aid Fleck and the staff in recruiting another strong veteran QB from the portal for the next season.
Star running back Darius Taylor recorded 32 carries for 143 rushing yards, caught 2 passes for 13 receiving yards, and executed a remarkable pass block against a blitzing linebacker, giving Brosmer the crucial extra second to throw a TD pass to tight end Jameson Geers late in the game. Darius Taylor has declared he will be returning for the 2025 season!
The impressive wide receiver duo of Daniel Jackson and Elijah Spencer had outstanding performances. Jackson made 6 receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown, while Spencer caught 5 passes for 75 yards. The highlight pass of the day occurred early on when Brosmer delivered an incredible throw down the near sideline to a triple-covered Jackson. It was a flawless pass and an even more remarkable "Willie Mays" catch! Jackson now ranks 4th in Gopher's all-time receiving yards.
Koi Perich and the Gophers' defense were utterly dominant. Although they didn't force any turnovers, Wiscansin struggled to make any progress throughout the day. Aside from one touchdown, which resulted more from a foolish penalty on Minnesota, the Badgers' offense was ineffective. Star freshman safety Koi Perich led the team with eight tackles and was the key player in this commanding Gophers defensive effort. He also had a 32-yard kick return that nearly resulted in a touchdown, stopped only by a shoestring tackle. Perich was named First Team All-Big Ten as a defensive back, becoming the first true freshman from Minnesota to achieve this honor since Darrell Thompson in 1986. Additionally, Perich is one of the five finalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, recognizing the most outstanding freshman player in college football. Koi Perich announced today that he will be returning to Minnesota in 2025.
Minnesota Gophers/Big Ten End of Season Awards & News:
Offensive Lineman Aireontae Ersery received the Big Ten's Offensive Lineman of the Year award and was also named First Team Big Ten Offensive Tackle.
Linebacker Cody Lindenberg was named to the First Team All-Big Ten.
Safety Koi Perich received First Team honors as a Big Ten Defensive Back and Second Team recognition as a Big Ten Return Specialist.
Cornerback Justin Walley received the honor of Second Team Big Ten Defensive Back.
As the 2025 recruitment signings progress, Minnesota recently signed 20 out of their 22 verbal commitments. This marks the 9th recruiting class under PJ Fleck, and it is currently ranked 51st nationally, making it the 6th best class during Fleck's tenure. Although not perfect, I typically don't focus heavily on the national rankings of his classes. Fleck recruits strong, dependable players who suit his program and has increasingly utilized the transfer portal in recent seasons.
Fleck has successfully landed the top player from Minnesota for the 7th time in 9 seasons. In the past, this was unheard of, making it thrilling to see Minnesota's top talent choosing to stay home!
I anticipate the Gophers will actively utilize the transfer portal once more. They are likely to seek a new QB, 1-2 RBs, as well as players for the OL, DL, LB, and other positions. With several key roles needing replacements due to graduations or NFL draft entries this year, there will be numerous gaps to address. The transfer portal activity officially begins on December 9, and the Gophers are expected to secure some crucial players for 2025 as soon as it opens.
PJ Fleck Shoutout:
PJ Fleck is staying put, and I couldn't be happier! Like any Gophers fan, I sometimes question his in-game decisions and other shortcomings, but there's no denying he's revitalized this program. Now that he's been here for eight seasons, let's revisit some of the goals we set for him that previous coaches couldn't achieve. We wanted trophies back in Minnesota, and he's delivered by defeating Wiscansin, Iowa, Penn State, and Nebraska (some more frequently than others). We asked him to secure top local recruits, and he's convinced seven of the No. 1 recruits to stay in-state over nine years, consistently attracting top Minnesota talent beyond just the top-ranked player. This level of success hadn't been seen consistently for many years and decades in the Gophers program. We desired a significant bowl game on New Year's Day, and he led us to the Outback Bowl, where we triumphed over Auburn (we're undefeated in bowl games under Fleck at 5-0). We wanted a clean program, and he's delivered on that front as well. His players stay out of trouble, the team's GPA is at an all-time high, and the program's community involvement is truly inspiring.
PJ Fleck has significantly elevated the standards at the University of Minnesota, ensuring the football program's ongoing success. Under Fleck, our conference play record stands at 34-36, showing a steady improvement in our competitive Big Ten performance. Another season like 2019 is on the horizon; it's only a matter of time. Meanwhile, enjoy the exciting games and value Fleck's achievements. Many seem to have forgotten the struggles faced for nearly 60 years under Tim Brewster and other subpar head coaches.
Happy 44th birthday to PJ Fleck, who also achieved a 4-4 overall record against Wiscansin on his birthday!
Bowl Season:
While this season didn't go entirely as planned, the Gophers still had a strong year. We certainly could have ended with 9 or 10 wins, but that's just how college football can be. We unfortunately let games against UNC, Michigan, Rutgers, and Penn State slip away. Instead of dwelling on what the Gophers didn't achieve, let's focus on the incredible season we did have! We defeated both LA teams in dramatic "Hollywood" fashion, dominated Maryland, beat ranked Illinois (and Bret Bielema for the first time), and reclaimed the Axe from Wiscansin. I'm excited to see this Gophers team play one final game with players like Max Brosmer, Daniel Jackson, and others in their last appearance in Maroon & Gold. We should find out on Sunday which bowl we're in and who our opponent will be. Make sure to return to Birdman's Blog in a couple weeks for the Bowl info, breakdown, and prediction! Go Gophers!
I hope we get the Mayo Bowl.
LET'S JUMP AROUND IN THE ROW BOAT! SKI U MAH!