SEPT. 1: VS NEW MEXICO STATE

• New Mexico State head coach Jerry Kill returns to Minnesota coming off an abysmal 2-10 season in 2021. The Aggies lost their leading passer (Jonah Johnson) and rusher (Juwuan Price) to the transfer portal but have three starters returning on the offensive line. On defense, New Mexico State averaged 489 yards allowed and 40 points allowed in a game. This should be a very winnable game for the Gophers, but with their inconsistent track record playing down to their non-power five opponents, anything is possible for Jerry Kill to exact revenge against his former team. 

SEPT. 10: VS WESTERN ILLINOIS

• In 2021, the Leathernecks finished with a record of 2-9 with their lone wins over Youngstown State and Illinois State. Western Illinois will be without their leading passer, rusher and receiver in 2021, who all graduated. On defense, there is major turnover as most of their starters have either graduated or entered the transfer portal. Without much returning experience on both sides of the football, this should definitely be the Gophers easiest game on their schedule. 

SEPT. 17: VS COLORADO

• In 2021, the Gophers played their best game of football in Boulder, Colorado as they shutout the Buffaloes 30-0. Colorado offensive coordinator Mike Sanford Jr. returns to Minneapolis, where he was the Gophers offensive coordinator for the last two years. The Buffaloes enter 2022 with six starters transferring from the program including 2020 PAC-12 Offensive Player of the Year Jarek Broussard. Where Colorado is most dangerous is their defensive line, with standout defensive tackle Jalen Sami and defensive end Guy Thomas. Colorado is still in a heavy rebuild and will be in the basement of the Pac-12 again. 

SEPT. 24: AT MICHIGAN STATE

• Jarek Broussard, who transferred out of Colorado, will be the Spartans starting running back in 2022 filling the hole left by Walter Camp National Player of the Year, Kenneth Walker III, who declared for the NFL Draft. Even without Walker III, Michigan State should be as lethal on the offensive side of the ball with an experienced passing attack. QB Payton Thorne is a proven winner, cool under presser, mobile in the pocket and is a great decision maker. Add Jayden Reed, who was a 1,000 yard receiver in 2021, Tre Mosely returning (63 catches) and Illinois transfer TE Daniel Barker (11 career TD receptions), this is an incredibly dangerous air attack. On the other hand, on defense, Michigan State hopes to improve on their dead last ranking in passing yards allowed. Georgia transfer cornerback Ameer Speed joins the roster to help an expected improved defensive back group. Expect this to be the Gophers toughest game on their schedule. This is Minnesota’s biggest test defensively all season with a younger core than last season, coupled with this being the first road game on their schedule. 

OCT. 1: VS PURDUE (HOMECOMING) 

• P.J. Fleck has had Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm’s number, going undefeated against the Boilermakers since 2018. Purdue enters 2022 without its best player on offense (WR David Bell) and defense (DE George Karlaftis). QB Aidan O’Connell returns and will be targeting TE Payne Durham frequently. Durham led all Big Ten tight ends in touchdown receptions in 2021 (6). Purdue’s strength on defense in 2022 should be in its secondary with three returning starters including 6’3, 215-pound Cory Trice who has three career picks. They also return three starting defensive lineman even though their two top pass rushers from 2021 (Karlaftis and DaMarcus Mitchell) are gone. 

OCT. 15: AT ILLINOIS

• RB Chase Brown, the Fighting Illini’s MVP in their upset win over the Gophers in 2021 (33 rushes for 150 yards), is back for another round. Besides Brown, there’s not much to boast about. Syracuse transfer QB Tommy DeVito will try to replicate his 2019 season, where he threw for over 2,300 yards and tossed for 19 touchdowns. The offense overall is an inconsistent group but the defense was Illinois’ strength in 2021, finishing 29th in scoring defense nationally and jumped from 114th to 46th in total defense. 

OCT. 22: AT PENN STATE

• The atmosphere in Happy Valley will be nothing short of electric as the Nittany Lions will host Minnesota in their annual primetime “white out” game. Experienced QB Sean Clifford will lead the offense for a fourth straight season. In order for the Gophers to get a win at Beaver Stadium, they will need to make Clifford as uncomfortable as possible. With an inexperienced offensive line and unproven running backs (none rushed for over 100 yards a game last season) Penn State will have a lot of new pieces. Defensively, the Nittany Lions return two lineman who suffered season ending injuries (P.J. Mustipher and Adisa Isaac) in 2021. Free safety Ji’Ayir Brown returns after tying the FBS lead with six interceptions last season. 

OCT. 29: VS RUTGERS

• Without leading tackler Olakunle Fatukasi, Rutgers will be young in their front seven. Their secondary returns all starters at corner and safety and is extremely deep. On offense, the Scarlet Knights have never had an above average line since joining the Big Ten, yet with seven high school lineman signees and four transfers, this season could turn a corner. Four-star sophomore QB Gavin Wimstatt will likely head the offense with a duo of inexperienced tailbacks, Kyle Monangai and Aaron Young. Their strength on offense is at receiver with transfers Taj Harris (Syracuse) and Sean Ryan (West Virginia) with speedy Aron Cruickshank returning from a torn ACL. 

NOV. 5: AT NEBRASKA

• The Cornhuskers upgraded at quarterback even with their starter from 2021, Adrian Martinez, leaving for Kansas State. Casey Thompson coming from Texas should do a better job leading the offense. Nebraska had a massive offseason offensive overhaul with all assistants fired by head coach Scott Frost besides their tight end coach. On defense, Nebraska returns four out of its five top tacklers in 2021. There is no doubt it is the most athletic team in the Big Ten West yet they continue to struggle with turnovers and an inconsistent culture. 

NOV. 12: VS NORTHWESTERN

• In 2021, the Wildcats took a major step back on defense with first-year coordinator Jim O’Neil going from 5th to 89th in points allowed nationally. In 2022 it doesn’t get easier losing standout safety Brandon Joseph to Notre Dame, but the Wildcats do bring back both starting cornerbacks Cameron Mitchell and A.J. Hampton Jr. Northwestern will lean on their running game once again as their offensive firepower, with Cam Porter back from a torn ACL and 1,000 yard rusher Evan Hull returning as well. 

NOV. 19: VS IOWA

• Iowa on offense is a major question mark heading into 2022 while its defense is looking to be as sturdy as ever. The Hawkeyes lost Rimington Award winning center Tyler Linderbaum to the draft along with three-year starting running back Tyler Goodson. Defensively this could be the best unit in the nation. Iowa returns eight starters, including its entire starting linebacking core. Reigning Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year Riley Moss returns for a fifth season. If Minnesota can find a way to score on this insane defense it should have a chance at its first win over the Hawkeyes under Fleck’s tenure. 

NOV. 26: AT WISCONSIN

• The Badgers lose eight starters on defense while on offense they return five. Running back Braelon Allen, who was shut down in the 2021 “Axe game”, will return. Allen will be the foundation of the Badgers’ offense with a struggling QB Graham Mertz and no returning receivers. Defensively, Wisconsin loses eight starters. Luckily, the Badgers have one of the best defensive coordinators in the nation with Jim Leonhard, so they should still have an above average unit at least. Their secondary also added three transfers who have had plenty of experience on the gridiron.