Minnesota Golden Gophers News

TJ Thomas Jr. - Commits to Minnesota Thomas has committed to Minnesota, Ryan Burns of 247Sports reports.

Impact While out for dinner Saturday night, Minnesota called Thomas to recruit him. A couple of hours later, his UMN commitment became official. The running back will transfer colleges from Elon to Minnesota. Between the 2024 and 2025 FCS seasons, he logged 180 rushing attempts for 972 yards and 11 touchdowns. Thomas scored at least five both years.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Zion Steptoe - Headed to Minnesota Steptoe has committed to Minnesota, On3.com reports.

Impact Steptoe reentered the portal after two seasons at Tulsa, where he totaled 36 receptions for 475 yards. He'll return to the Big Ten -- he started his career at Purdue -- with Minnesota.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Noah Jennings - Commits to Minnesota Jennings has committed to Minnesota for the 2026 season, Ryan Burns of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Jennings has 95 catches for 1,208 yards and four touchdowns in his three-year college career. The wideout will have one year of eligibility while playing with the Golden Gophers.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Kaden Helms - Signs with Gophers Helms will transfer to Minnesota, per Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com.

Impact Helms caught five passes for 35 yards in what was his third season at Oklahoma. The 6-foot-5, 238-pound tight end will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Gophers.

JANUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Beckham Sunderland - Transfers to MInnesota Sunderland has committed to Minnesota, Pete Nakos of On3.com reports.

Impact Sunderland transferred from Texas State to Michigan for the 2025 season, and he didn't attempt any kicks for the Wolverines. He'll look to claim a starting role with the Golden Gophers.

JANUARY 6 • ROTOWIRE

It's a good time to be Anthony Smith. Two players with that name make AP's all-bowl team

This was a great bowl season for guys named Anthony Smith

JANUARY 5 • Associated Press

Miami's defense has been airtight to fuel run to CFP semifinals. And now Ole Miss awaits

Miami's biggest signing this season might be defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman from Minnesota

JANUARY 5 • Associated Press

Jaron Thomas - Commits to Minnesota Thomas has signed with Minnesota, On3 reports.

Impact Despite limited stats with Purdue, Thomas will enroll at another Big Ten college, one with a better 2025 than the Boilermakers' latest season. Along with a negative reception, the running back logged two rushing attempts for 15 yards, 7.5 averaged per carry.

JANUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Michael Merdinger - Commits to Minnesota Merdinger has committed to Minnesota for the 2026 season, Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com reports.

Impact Merdinger notified his plans to enter the transfer portal back in December, and he's now already landed on a new squad for his redshirt sophomore campaign. The 6-foot-2 quarterback played with Liberty in the 2025 season, completing 21 of 41 passes for 350 yards with one passing touchdown and zero interceptions, along with 19 rushes for 28 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He'll have three years of eligibility to use up with the Golden Gophers, that is if he ends up staying there.

JANUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Darius Taylor - Returning to Gophers in 2026 Taylor will return to Minnesota for the 2026 season, per Ryan Burns of 247Sports.com.

Impact This is a massive development for Minnesota as Taylor is arguably the most talented player on the Gophers' roster. He was banged up at times this season, resulting in his lowest rushing output since he got to Minneapolis (670 rushing yards and four touchdowns). Still, he remained the same dynamic playmaker more often than not, and his return gives head coach PJ Fleck a huge piece to build his 2026 offense around.

JANUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Radio host just handed Vikings fans the funniest Brian Flores take yet It feels unlikely Brian Flores will leave the Vikings for another defensive coordinator job, but that won't stop some wild ideas from coming...

DECEMBER 31, 2025 • THEVIKINGAGE.COM

Jalen Smith - Records multi-TD game Smith accrued six receptions (on eight targets) for 64 yards and two touchdowns during Friday's 20-17 overtime win against New Mexico.

Impact For 2025, Smith doubled his touchdown tally, from two to four. During the year, he logged 28 receptions (on 53 targets) for 419 yards, establishing himself as among the best of Minnesota's receiver corps. Smith will be a redshirt sophomore during 2026.

DECEMBER 29, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Darius Taylor - Excellent again during bowl Taylor recorded 24 carries for 116 yards and one touchdown and gathered in 4 of 6 targets for 23 yards during Friday's 20-17 overtime win over New Mexico.

Impact In back-to-back games, Taylor has logged triple-digit yards and one touchdown. For 2025, he recorded 143 rushing attempts, 915 all-purpose yards (670 rushing and 245 receiving) and four touchdowns. Though all that is slightly down from 2024, the data is excellent and showcases what has been expected of Taylor throughout his collegiate career. If he chooses to re-enroll at Minnesota or use his senior year of collegiate eligibility, his return would be a big deal.

DECEMBER 29, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Drake Lindsey - Clean bill continues Lindsey completed 18 of 28 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns during Friday's 20-17 overtime win against New Mexico.

Impact Since Week 9, when Lindsey logged a 0-3 TD-INT ratio at Iowa, he has not turned the ball over. Across five games, the quarterback scored 10 times, averaging two touchdowns per matchup. During 2025, his first full year under center, he completed 63.2 percent of 389 pass attempts for 2,382 yards and an 18-6 TD-INT ratio. On the run, Lindsey's four touchdowns mean he surpassed the 20-TD threshold as well.

DECEMBER 29, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Smith's diving TD catch in overtime sends Minnesota to 20-17 win over New Mexico in Rate Bowl

Jalen Smith scored his second touchdown a diving 12-yard catch in the first overtime and Minnesota extended its postseason winning streak to nine straight games with a 20-17 win ov...

DECEMBER 27, 2025 • Associated Press

Minnesota Looks to Stretch Big Ten-Record Bowl Winning Streak Against New Mexico

Minnesota has the longest active bowl win streak, the longest in Big Ten history and the fourth-longest in all of college football history....

DECEMBER 26, 2025 • FOX SPORTS

Minnesota Looks to Stretch Big Ten-Record Bowl Winning Streak Against New Mexico

Sam Henson - Inactive for Rate Bowl Henson (undisclosed) is out for Friday's matchup against New Mexico in the Rate Bowl.

Impact Henson has been battling with an undisclosed injury for most of this season, and he didn't end up appearing in the game as he was the backup kicker even when healthy. As a redshirt senior this season, he's likely used up all of his collegiate eligibility, unless he attempts to use a medical redshirt and return for another year.

DECEMBER 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Dylan Wittke - Out for Rate Bowl Wittke (undisclosed) is out for Friday's game against New Mexico in the Rate Bowl.

Impact Wittke has been the backup quarterback all season for the Golden Gophers, but he will not be active for the Rate Bowl. With the redshirt sophomore out and teammate Emmett Morehead (undisclosed) also sidelined, Max Shikenjanski will be the likely QB2 versus the Lobos.

DECEMBER 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Emmett Morehead - Not active Friday Morehead (undisclosed) is out for Friday's game against New Mexico.

Impact Morehead will not be active for the Golden Gophers' appearance in the Rate Bowl. The redshirt senior quarterback was buried in the depth chart this year, and he did not appear in a game all season. He's now run out of collegiate eligibility.

DECEMBER 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Le'Meke Brockington - Not playing in bowl game Brockington (undisclosed) is out for Minnesota's game against New Mexico in the Rate Bowl.

Impact Brockington will sit out for the Golden Gophers' bowl game after a career-high redshirt senior season. The 6-foot wideout brought in 46 receptions for 484 yards and four touchdowns this campaign. He'll now focus on new horizons as he's run out of collegiate eligibility.

DECEMBER 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

How to Watch Minnesota vs. New Mexico: Rate Bowl Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – December 26, 2025

Learn which TV channel or how to live stream the Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. New Mexico Lobos Rate Bowl game, Friday, Dec. 26.

DECEMBER 26, 2025 • Data Skrive

How to Watch Minnesota vs. New Mexico: Rate Bowl Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – December 26, 2025

Minnesota vs. New Mexico Prediction, Odds, Picks - December 26, 2025

Preview the Dec. 26 matchup between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and New Mexico Lobos with predictions, odds, over/under, spread, betting li...

DECEMBER 24, 2025 • Data Skrive

Minnesota vs. New Mexico Prediction, Odds, Picks - December 26, 2025

Cristian Driver - Leaving Minneapolis Driver (undisclosed) will enter the transfer portal, per Andy Greder of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Impact Driver didn't play at all in 2025, missing the entire season with an undisclosed injury. Prior to that, the former Penn State receiver caught seven passes for 49 yards and one touchdown in 2024 with Minnesota. He should have one season of eligibility remaining at his next stop.

DECEMBER 12, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Jackson Kollock - Entering transfer portal Kollock is entering the NCAA's transfer portal, On3 reports.

Impact Kollock becomes questionable for Minnesota's bowl game with New Mexico, scheduled Dec. 26. If the quarterback does transfer colleges, he would have spent less than a year as part of the Gophers.

DECEMBER 12, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Fame Ijeboi - Hits portal Ijeboi will enter the transfer portal, per 247Sports.com.

Impact Ijeboi got plenty of opportunities in his redshirt freshman season, in part taking advantage of the fact that starter Darius Taylor missed several games. Ijeboi finished as the Gophers' second leading rusher with 441 yards and two touchdowns on 4.5 yards-per-carry, also reeling in 12 catches for 54 yards and a score. With three seasons of eligibility remaining and a solid year at a Big Ten program under his belt, Ijeboi should have plenty of suitors in the portal.

DECEMBER 9, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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It's a good time to be Anthony Smith. Two players with that name make AP's all-bowl team

Miami's defense has been airtight to fuel run to CFP semifinals. And now Ole Miss awaits

Smith's diving TD catch in overtime sends Minnesota to 20-17 win over New Mexico in Rate Bowl

Minnesota Looks to Stretch Big Ten-Record Bowl Winning Streak Against New Mexico

How to Watch Minnesota vs. New Mexico: Rate Bowl Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – December 26, 2025

Minnesota vs. New Mexico Prediction, Odds, Picks - December 26, 2025