Moving on from the non-conference schedule, let’s take a look at the first few weeks of conference play. The Gophers will see the Iowa Hawkeyes, Michigan Wolverines, and the USC Trojans.
WEEK 4 (Sept. 9)
Conference play in 2024 is going to begin with hosting rival Iowa in Minneapolis. This game will likely have the most dialogue between fans leading up to the matchup, as last year’s contest ended with, what only Iowa fans would call, a questionable call. This season the Gophers will see an improved Iowa offense, as they sadly released Brian Ferentz of his OC duties and starting QB Cade McNamara will be back after missing the 2023 game with an injury. Can Minnesota retain the first of their rivalry trophies in 2024, or will they have to hand over Floyd until next year?
6 years of sheer nepotism has been enough for the University of Iowa, as they will head into 2024 with a new OC. For years Iowa’s offense had been held back at the hands of Brian Ferentz’s play-calling abilities, but that is no longer. Coming in as OC is Tim Lester, who actually was P.J Fleck’s replacement at Western Michigan after leaving for the UMN job in 2017. I would expect their offense to continue to try and be a force on the ground and wear down opponents, but also be more aggressive and take some shots. At the end of the day the Hawkeyes will be the Hawkeyes again in 2024. They have a talented offensive line, a stud TE in Luke Lachey, and Kaleb Johnson as their starting back to try and pound the rock. The one difference is that Cade McNamara is their most talented QB in years and should be able to open up the passing game a bit more. Iowa’s offense is not going to be world-breakers all of a sudden, but they will be a much-improved group, especially if they can keep Mcnamara healthy this season. I would expect it to be a dogfight in the trenches on both sides, which means whatever team is able to pass the ball better and finish drives will likely take this one.
The side of the ball that did not need much improvement is the Iowa defense, as they will come into next season looking reloaded and ready. Linebacker Jay Higgens and DB/LB Sebastian Castro are two studs who are looking like locks for All-BIG10 1st team, as both received honors last season. They lost Cooper DeJean and others to the draft, but have quickly reloaded with guys like; Jermari Harris, John Nestor, and former 5-star recruit Xavier Nwankpa. Kirk Ferentz’s defenses are always prepared, get to the QB, and stuff the run game stoutly. The Gophers may need to get creative to catch this defense on its heels, but this game always seems to come down to a field position battle, placekickers, and working to finish drives with some touchdowns.
Score Prediction
WEEK 5 (Sept. 28)
The Michigan Wolverines are coming into 2024 looking to defend their National Championship that they won a season ago, but will have to do so with some new starters and a new head coach. Gopher fans will no longer be seeing J.J. McCarthy on Saturdays in maize and blue but instead will be seeing him play on the other side of town in purple and yellow. Along with J.J., Jim Harbaugh left for the Los Angeles Chargers and last year’s fill-in Sherrone Moore has now fully taken over the position. Not much will change from a philosophy standpoint for Michigan, as they will continue to execute BIG10 football to its highest level. That being; pound the rock, operate an elite defense, and control the game throughout.
The main question mark for Michigan is who is going to be their signal caller with J.J gone. The likely option is Alex Orji, who subbed in often in 2023 as a run-first, gadget QB for the Wolverines. Michigan will be looking to stick to the ground often, behind their first class O-Line and elite RB Donovan Edwards, so Orji would fit in nicely to keep this style of play going. Another option would be to use Orji like they did last year and start someone else at QB for the rest of the game. If they decide to go this route, it would likely be Jack Tuttle to take the reins, as he was the most used backup a season ago. In addition to their new starter at QB, they will also be having to replace numerous other offensive starters. Pass catchers will likely be headed by their stud TE Colston Loveland again, but beyond that it seems like an open competition to take over for their two NFL-bound receivers from a year ago. Although this team lost numerous starters, they have players with plenty of experience stepping in and will be quite the handful for the Minnesota defense, regardless of who they put on the field.
Defense is the area for the Wolverines where things get scary, as they again will have All-Americans and future NFL draft picks at every level. Starting with the D-Line, the duo of Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham lead the way for their elite interior. Will Johnson will be returning at CB for the Wolverines as well, who also was an All-American a season ago. Their defense will be led by longtime NFL D-Coordinator Wink Martindale. This group’s falloff from their championship season in 2023 is minimal, as they seem to be reloaded across all fronts. It will be extremely difficult to get a consistent run game going against this interior D-Line. Meaning the Gophers will need to get the passing game in sync and get numerous receivers involved, if they want a chance to sustain drives and put up points.
Score Prediction
- Minnesota 14 – Michigan 34
WEEK 6 (Oct. 5)
- vs. University of Southern California
Week 6 will bring Minnesota’s first BIG10 newcomer in the form of the USC Trojans. They are led by one of the best offensive minds in the country, Lincoln Riley. The majority of USC’s games are high scoring affairs, which is where they seem to feel the most comfortable playing. The BIG10 may be a stronger test for them, as the defenses are much stronger than the Pac-12. It will be key for the Gophers to stick to their own game and control the clock, while limiting big plays from the explosive Trojans.
The Trojans will be without 1st overall pick, Caleb Williams, in 2024, but his replacement has already shown flashes of being a suitable replacement. Miller Moss stepped in for Williams while he opted-out of the Holiday bowl last year, where he threw 372 yards and 6 touchdowns. He has been in Riley’s system for the past two years, so look for them to be just as aggressive as they were in past years. The running back room will not have as much ease in replacing MarShawn Lloyd. It looks to be a committee look for them, but will be mostly led by Mississippi State transfer Woody Marks. As for WR, the Trojans lost two explosive guys, but will not miss a beat. Zachariah Branch, who was an All-American in 2023, will be the main guy with a plethora of talent behind him. The key for the Gophers in this matchup will be limiting huge plays that speed up drives. It will be very difficult to keep up in a shootout, so keeping the clock ticking as much as possible will be key.
USC’s defense was their limiting factor a season ago, as their struggles likely kept them out of playoff contention. The biggest loss on defense is All-American Calen Bullock, but beyond that they needed a big turnover for this group. Riley made it a focus during the offseason, as they brought in numerous transfers who will be starters for them. Their linebacking group is likely the highlight of their defense, but it is still very penetrable. If this game does turn into a shootout, then attacking deep through the air will be critical. Although the Gophers should look to control the clock with Darius Taylor and company, and if they are able to get stops and slow down Riley’s offense, then an upset could be in store.
Score Prediction
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