2020 Team Preview: Can Minnesota Win The Big Ten West?

It is an interesting time for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. A program which has known very little high-level success in college football over the past 50 years had one of its very best seasons last year, winning the Outback Bowl over Auburn. The Gophers very nearly made their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1962. There is a sense that the program can achieve big things. Yet, there is also a sense that what happened in 2019 was a one-year joyride and not an indicator of a new decade of prosperity and excellence. You will see why below. This is a program which could move significantly forward or regress and go back into the shadows. Few teams have a more feast-or-famine outlook heading into 2020.

Offseason Changes

The Golden Gophers lost elite cornerback Antoine Winfield to the NFL. They also lost Tyler Johnson, one of their better receivers, to the pros. Kamal Martin, Carter Coughlin, and Chris Williamson are the other Golden Gophers who were picked in the NFL Draft. The Gophers have a lot of work to do in replacing these players, but the biggest loss of all could be on the coaching staff.

Kirk Ciarrocca was head coach P.J. Fleck’s offensive coordinator at Western Michigan when Fleck rose to prominence in the coaching ranks. Ciarrocca helped Fleck succeed this past season at Minnesota. He was a trusted assistant who lent continuity and stability to Fleck’s operation as a head coach. Ciarrocca chose this past offseason to move to Penn State, where he will be head coach James Franklin’s offensive coordinator. It will be a big question if Fleck can keep the Gophers rolling without someone who knew his offensive system inside and out.

The Golden Gophers Will Succeed If…

They are able to replace the speed they lost from last season. Antoine Winfield and Tyler Johnson were elite players, Winfield at cornerback and Johnson at receiver. Winfield reduced the field for opposing teams’ passing games, and Johnson extended the field for Minnesota’s offense. They both expanded the Gophers’ capabilities, one on defense and one on offense. They weren’t just fast and athletic players, however; they had great instincts and were able to finish plays. The Golden Gophers are going to have a challenge getting replacements for these two players, but if they can succeed, they are going to be very tough to deal with.

The Golden Gophers Will Fail If…

Their offense lacks the rhythm of previous seasons. Kirk Ciarrocca was both a good offensive coordinator and a familiar one for P.J. Fleck. The two men worked well together, and they both helped the Golden Gophers get a lot better. Mike Sanford Jr. is the new offensive coordinator. He failed as head coach at Western Kentucky after a productive stint as offensive coordinator at Notre Dame. Sanford is bouncing around a lot in the coaching world. Minnesota could be just what he needs, but he might also lack confidence after the disastrous turn at Western Kentucky. If he does well, Minnesota should bounce back. If not, the program could unravel.

Prediction

Sanford will probably do a solid job – not great, but not terrible. Minnesota won’t be good enough to topple Wisconsin in the Big Ten West, but with Iowa in disarray, the Gophers actually have a very good chance of getting second place in the division, even if they fail to increase their win total from last year. The bottom won’t fall out for Minnesota, but the Gophers probably won’t make a net improvement over 2019.

Prediction: 2nd In Big Ten West