Look, let’s be real for a second. If you’re a Gophers fan, you’ve spent the last few seasons on a rollercoaster that only P.J. Fleck could design. One week we’re rowin’ the boat straight into a New Year's Day bowl conversation, and the next, we’re wondering how a 31-point favorite loses to a MAC team.
But looking at the mn gophers 2025 football schedule, things feel... different. There is a weirdly high amount of home cooking this year. Usually, the Big Ten tries to bury us with back-to-back road trips to places like Happy Valley or Ann Arbor, but the 2025 slate is surprisingly friendly to the Huntington Bank Stadium turf.
Honestly, if this team doesn’t make a serious run with seven home games, we’re going to have some very loud conversations at the local Buffalo Wild Wings.
The Non-Conference "Sandwiches"
The season kicks off on Thursday, August 28, against Buffalo. Opening on a Thursday night is kind of a tradition now. It’s that perfect late-August vibe where it’s still 80 degrees, the student section is actually full because they haven't failed any midterms yet, and the hope is still at 100%.
Buffalo isn't a total pushover, though. They went 9-4 recently and they always play Big Ten teams tough. Remember 2017? Fleck’s first game was actually against Buffalo, and it was a 17-7 grind. Don't expect a blowout.
Then we get Northwestern State on September 6. This is your classic "get the backups some reps" game. They’ve had a rough couple of years (literally 0-20 over a two-year stretch), so if this isn't a 40-point win, the message boards are going to explode.
🔗 Read more: When is Georgia's next game: The 2026 Bulldog schedule and what to expect
The real test of the early season is September 13 at California. This is a weird one. Cal is in the ACC now (which still feels wrong to say), and it’s a long flight for a 9:30 PM Central kickoff. Jet lag is real, and the Bears are notorious for being scrappy at home.
Navigating the Big Ten Minefield
After a very early bye week on September 20—which, personally, I hate; give me a bye in late October when everyone’s hamstrings are held together by tape—we dive into the conference.
September 27 vs. Rutgers is basically the "Athan Kaliakmanis Revenge Tour" game. Seeing our former QB lead the Scarlet Knights back into Minneapolis is going to be surreal. It’s a classic trap game because of what happens the week after.
On October 4, the Gophers head to Ohio State. I’m not going to sugarcoat it: this is the "Mountain" of the schedule. The Buckeyes have Jeremiah Smith, who might be the best receiver in the country, and Columbus is where dreams go to die for most Big Ten West teams. We’ve won there twice in 75 years. Just being honest here.
But the schedule gods gave us a gift right after:
💡 You might also like: Vince Carter Meme I Got One More: The Story Behind the Internet's Favorite Comeback
- October 11 vs. Purdue (Homecoming): The Boilermakers are in a total rebuild under Barry Odom.
- October 17 vs. Nebraska: This is a Friday night game. Expect it to be loud. Nebraska fans travel well, but Fleck has had Matt Rhule's number lately.
- October 25 at Iowa: The battle for Floyd of Rosedale. This is always a 10-7 or 13-10 kind of game. It’s ugly. It’s boring to outsiders. We love it.
The November Gauntlet and the Axe
November is when the mn gophers 2025 football schedule gets truly spicy. We start with Michigan State at home on November 1. The Spartans are unpredictable, but having them in Minneapolis is a massive advantage.
Then another bye on November 8 before the "Tour of the West."
November 15 at Oregon is going to be a nightmare for the equipment managers. Autzen Stadium is deafening. Oregon is likely going to be ranked in the Top 5. It’s our first trip there as conference foes, and it’ll show us exactly how far we are from the "elite" tier of the new Big Ten.
Then, things get quirky. November 22 at Northwestern, but it's at Wrigley Field. Playing football in a baseball stadium is always a mess—remember the "one-way" end zone game?—but it’s a bucket-list experience for fans.
Finally, the one that matters. November 29 vs. Wisconsin. Paul Bunyan’s Axe is back on the line at Huntington Bank Stadium. There is nothing better than cold weather, the smell of heaters on the sidelines, and the chance to chop down the goalposts against the Badgers.
📖 Related: Finding the Best Texas Longhorns iPhone Wallpaper Without the Low-Res Junk
2025 Schedule Recap (Dates and Locations)
| Date | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 28 | Buffalo | Minneapolis, MN |
| Sep 6 | Northwestern State | Minneapolis, MN |
| Sep 13 | at California | Berkeley, CA |
| Sep 20 | BYE | — |
| Sep 27 | Rutgers | Minneapolis, MN |
| Oct 4 | at Ohio State | Columbus, OH |
| Oct 11 | Purdue | Minneapolis, MN |
| Oct 17 | Nebraska (Friday) | Minneapolis, MN |
| Oct 25 | at Iowa | Iowa City, IA |
| Nov 1 | Michigan State | Minneapolis, MN |
| Nov 8 | BYE | — |
| Nov 15 | at Oregon | Eugene, OR |
| Nov 22 | at Northwestern | Chicago, IL (Wrigley) |
| Nov 29 | Wisconsin | Minneapolis, MN |
Why This Schedule is a Massive Opportunity
The biggest takeaway from the mn gophers 2025 football schedule is the lack of "Blue Blood" road trips outside of Ohio State and Oregon. We don't have to go to Michigan. We don't have to go to Penn State. We host Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Michigan State.
If the Gophers can protect home turf—which they did well in 2024—an 8-win or 9-win season isn't just a "fan's dream," it's the expectation. The "Rate Bowl" win against New Mexico to cap off last season showed some life in the young guys like QB Drake Lindsey.
However, let's acknowledge the elephant in the room: the defense. With a new defensive coordinator and some key departures to the NFL draft, that October stretch against Ohio State and Nebraska will test whether we have the depth to keep up.
If you're planning your Saturdays (and that one Friday in October), focus on the home games. The university is leaning hard into the "favorable home schedule" narrative to sell season tickets, and honestly, they're not wrong.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the Friday Night Lights: The Nebraska game on Oct 17 is a Friday. If you work a 9-to-5, you'll need to leave early. Traffic in Stadium Village for a weekday game is a nightmare.
- Wrigley Field Logistics: If you're going to the Northwestern game on Nov 22, book your Chicago hotels now. Wrigleyville gets packed for these "special" games, and it's much better to stay within walking distance than trying to Uber from the Loop.
- The "Border Battle" Finale: The Wisconsin game is on Nov 29 (Saturday after Thanksgiving). Tickets for this usually sell out the fastest, so keep an eye on the secondary market by early October if you aren't a season ticket holder.
The path to a successful 2025 is clearly laid out. It's just a matter of whether the Gophers can actually row the boat through the choppy waters of the new-look Big Ten.