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.
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.
Preseason
Award watch lists
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
| 6:00 p.m. | New Mexico State* | | 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 | | BTN | L 13–42 | 36,211 |
October 6 | 2:30 p.m. | Iowa | | BTN | L 31–48 | 48,199 |
October 13 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 3 Ohio State | | FS1 | L 14–30 | 100,042 |
October 20 | 2:30 p.m. | at Nebraska | | BTN | L 28–53 | 89,272 |
| 7:00 p.m. | Indiana | - TCF Bank Stadium
- Minneapolis, MN
| FS1 | W 38–31 | 33,273 |
November 3 | 2:30 p.m. | at Illinois | | 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 | | ESPN2 | W 37–15 | 74,038 |
| 4:15 p.m. | vs. Georgia Tech* | | 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
|
Defense
|
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
- 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
Roster Last update: August 29, 2018
|
Game summaries
New Mexico State
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Aggies
|
7
|
3
|
0
|
0 |
10 |
Golden Gophers
|
7
|
28
|
3
|
10 |
48 |
Fresno State
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Bulldogs
|
0
|
0
|
7
|
7 |
14 |
Golden Gophers
|
7
|
3
|
0
|
11 |
21 |
Miami (OH)
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
RedHawks
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
0 |
3 |
Golden Gophers
|
7
|
12
|
7
|
0 |
26 |
At Maryland
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Golden Gophers
|
0
|
10
|
3
|
0 |
13 |
Terrapins
|
14
|
7
|
14
|
7 |
42 |
Iowa
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Hawkeyes
|
14
|
14
|
10
|
10 |
48 |
Golden Gophers
|
7
|
10
|
7
|
7 |
31 |
At Ohio State
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Golden Gophers
|
7
|
7
|
0
|
0 |
14 |
No. 3 Buckeyes
|
10
|
7
|
3
|
10 |
30 |
At Nebraska
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Golden Gophers
|
0
|
8
|
14
|
6 |
28 |
Cornhuskers
|
14
|
14
|
8
|
17 |
53 |
Indiana
Game information
|
- First quarter
- (9:27) IU – Logan Justus 33-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 50 yards, 4:45; Indiana 3–0)
- (6:20) MINN – Seth Green 1-yard run, Emmit Carpenter kick (Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 3:08; Minnesota 7–3)
- (1:13) IU – Logan Justus 24-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 57 yards, 4:59; Minnesota 7–6)
- Second quarter
- (14:05) IU – Logan Justus 41-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 11 yards, 0:33; Indiana 9–7)
- (6:19) MINN – Tyler Johnson 8-yard pass from Tanner Morgan, Emmit Carpenter kick (Drive: 15 plays, 65 yards, 7:44; Minnesota 14–9)
- (0:35) MINN – Tyler Johnson 18-yard pass from Tanner Morgan, Emmit Carpenter kick (Drive: 8 plays, 99 yards, 2:34; Minnesota 21–9)
- Third quarter
- (7:56) MINN – Emmit Carpenter 37-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 71 yards, 6:22; Minnesota 24–9)
- (5:33) MINN – Shannon Brooks 17-yard run, Emmit Carpenter kick (Drive: 3 plays, 28 yards, 1:36; Minnesota 31–9)
- Fourth quarter
- (13:24) IU – Donavan Hale 43-yard pass from Peyton Ramsey (Drive: 2 plays, 47 yards, 0:32; Minnesota 31–15)
- (10:04) IU – Ty Fryfogle 37-yard pass from Peyton Ramsey, Peyton Ramsey two-point pass to Ty Fryfogle (Drive: 6 plays, 63 yards, 1:50; Minnesota 31–23)
- (3:57) IU – Stevie Scott III 3-yard run, Peyton Ramsey two-point pass to Donavan Hale (Drive: 11 plays, 50 yards, 3:14; Tied 31–31)
- (1:34) MINN – Rashod Bateman 67-yard pass from Tanner Morgan, Emmit Carpenter kick (Drive: 1 play, 67 yards, 0:11; Minnesota 38–31)
|
Statistics |
IU |
MINN
|
First downs |
20 |
22
|
Total yards |
385 |
482
|
Rushes/yards |
30–153 |
40–180
|
Passing yards |
232 |
302
|
Passing: Comp–Att–Int |
29–44–2 |
17–24–1
|
Time of possession |
29:37 |
30:23
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Indiana |
Passing |
Peyton Ramsey |
29/44, 232 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
|
Rushing |
Stevie Scott III |
18 carries, 96 yards, TD
|
Receiving |
Donavan Hale |
4 receptions, 51 yards, TD
|
Minnesota |
Passing |
Tanner Morgan |
17/24, 302 yards, 3 TD, INT
|
Rushing |
Shannon Brooks |
22 carries, 154 yards, TD
|
Receiving |
Rashod Bateman |
4 receptions, 108 yards, TD
|
At Illinois
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Golden Gophers
|
7
|
10
|
0
|
14 |
31 |
Fighting Illini
|
14
|
10
|
21
|
10 |
55 |
Purdue
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Boilermakers
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
7 |
10 |
Golden Gophers
|
3
|
10
|
21
|
7 |
41 |
Northwestern
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Wildcats
|
7
|
6
|
0
|
11 |
24 |
Golden Gophers
|
0
|
7
|
0
|
7 |
14 |
At Wisconsin
Paul Bunyon's Axe: Minnesota Golden Gophers (5–6) at Wisconsin Badgers (7–4)
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
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)
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Yellow Jackets
|
0
|
3
|
7
|
0 |
10 |
Golden Gophers
|
10
|
3
|
7
|
14 |
34 |
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
|
Mohamed Ibrahim
|
RB
|
–
|
HM
|
Conner Olson
|
OG
|
–
|
HM
|
Jared Weyler
|
C
|
–
|
HM
|
HM = Honorable mention. Reference:[4]
|
Players drafted into the NFL
References
- ^ Johnson, Randy (October 23, 2018). "Availability of Gophers quarterback Zack Annexstad still uncertain for Indiana game". Star Tribune.
- ^ a b "2018 Minnesota Golden Gophers Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
- ^ "2018 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
- ^ a b "2018 All-Big Ten Football Teams and Individual Award Recipients" (PDF). BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. November 28, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
- ^ "Rimington Trophy Press Release". May 30, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
- ^ "2018 Bednarik Award Watch List - Maxwell Football Club". Maxwell Football Club. July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ^ "2018 Maxwell Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ^ "2018 Doak Walker Award Candidates". July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
- ^ "Butkus Award - 2018 Collegiate Watchlist". The Butkus Award. July 23, 2018. Archived from the original on August 20, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- ^ "2018 Minnesota Football Schedule".
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National championship seasons in bold |