Minnesota Football: Will Gophers bounce back in 2021?

LINCOLN, NE - DECEMBER 12: Defensive back Jordan Howden #23 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers and linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin #55 lead the team on the field in the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first half at Memorial Stadium on December 12, 2020 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

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Minnesota football heads into year five of PJ Fleck at the helm. After a weird 3-4 COVID-19-shortened season in which they played a game against Nebraska with 33 players out and had two others canceled, the Gophers look to prove 2020 was an aberration.

The hardships of last season could really bring a team together and Fleck is counting on his team’s bonding experience to springboard into this year. With 17 starters back on both sides of the ball, the Gophers are one of the most experienced teams in the conference.

In his head coaching career, Fleck has turned around two programs. He took Western Michigan from 1-11 in his first season to 13-1 in his fourth year. Fleck then was hired by Minnesota and the Gophers went 5-7 his first year. By 2019 he had them Rowing the Boat at 11-2 which included an upset win over Penn State and an Outback Bowl victory over Auburn.

Fleck’s teams clearly buy into what he is selling. With last year’s oddball season, it is easy to give the Gophers a mulligan. Can Fleck and the Gophers get over the hump and finally make it to Indianapolis?

Let’s take a look at an experienced Gophers team and analyze their 2021 schedule.

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