Minnesota Golden Gophers Football

Minnesota opens the 2026 season against Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Sep 3 at Huntington Bank Stadium.

The Read

Minnesota opens a 42.5-point favorite. Our model gives Minnesota a 99% chance.

WIN PROBABILITY

MINN 99% EIU 1%

PROJECTED FINAL

Minnesota

49

Eastern Illinois

7

MINN win
99% One-score game
2%

What's driving the model

Home-field edge MINN

Market lean MINN

Model projection MINN

Each game samples a margin around the market spread and a final total around the market total.

Sim the game Eastern Illinois @ Minnesota

Your sims:Sims: MINN 0, EIU 0

EIU@

Eastern Illinois @ Minnesota

Thu, Sep 3 · 7:00 PM CDT

CFB VIBES MODELMINN 99% to win

SIM NOW →

@

Mississippi State @ Minnesota

Sat, Sep 12 · 2:30 PM CDT

CFB VIBES MODELMINN 63% to win

CBSSIM NOW →

@

Akron @ Minnesota

Sat, Sep 19 · 11:00 AM CDT

CFB VIBES MODELMINN 97% to win

BTNSIM NOW →

@#17

Minnesota @ Washington

TBD

CFB VIBES MODELWASH 79% to win

SIM NOW →

Standings

Full standings →

Place	TEAM	CONF	OVERALL
10	MDMarylandMD	0–0	0–0
11	MSUMichigan StateMSU	0–0	0–0
12	MINNMinnesotaMINN	0–0	0–0
13	NEBNebraskaNEB	0–0	0–0
14	NUNorthwesternNU	0–0	0–0

Rankings

All rankings →

Rank	AP TOP 25
1	OSUOhio StateOSU
2	OREOregonORE
3	UGAGeorgiaUGA
4	NDNotre DameND
–	MINNMinnesotaMINN

Rank	COACHES
1	OSUOhio StateOSU
2	OREOregonORE
3	UGAGeorgiaUGA
4	TEXTexasTEX
–	MINNMinnesotaMINN