2023 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

2023 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
Quick Lane Bowl champion
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record6–7 (3–6 Big Ten)
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinatorMatt Simon (4th season)
Co-offensive coordinatorGreg Harbaugh Jr. (1st season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorJoe Rossi (6th season)
Co-defensive coordinatorNick Monroe (1st season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumHuntington Bank Stadium
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 1 Michigan xy$#^   9 – 0     15 – 0  
No. 10 Ohio State   8 – 1     11 – 2  
No. 13 Penn State   7 – 2     10 – 3  
Maryland   4 – 5     8 – 5  
Rutgers   3 – 6     7 – 6  
Michigan State   2 – 7     4 – 8  
Indiana   1 – 8     3 – 9  
West Division
No. 24 Iowa xy   7 – 2     10 – 4  
Northwestern   5 – 4     8 – 5  
Wisconsin   5 – 4     7 – 6  
Minnesota   3 – 6     6 – 7  
Illinois   3 – 6     5 – 7  
Nebraska   3 – 6     5 – 7  
Purdue   3 – 6     4 – 8  
Championship: Michigan 26, Iowa 0
  • # – College Football Playoff champion
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Gophers were led by P. J. Fleck in his seventh year as head coach. They played their home games at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The team was originally ineligible for a bowl game due to a losing record; however, they were awarded a berth due to having the highest Academic Progress Rating among 5–7 teams.[1]

The Minnesota Golden Gophers football team drew an average home attendance of 48,453 in 2023.

Schedule

[edit]
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 317:00 p.m.Nebraska
FOXW 13–1053,629
September 96:30 p.m.Eastern Michigan*
  • Huntington Bank Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
BTNW 25–648,101
September 162:30 p.m.at No. 20 North Carolina*
ESPNL 13–3145,151
September 236:30 p.m.at Northwestern
BTNL 34–37 OT20,148
September 3011:00 a.m.Louisiana*dagger
  • Huntington Bank Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
BTNW 35–2446,843
October 76:30 p.m.No. 2 Michigan
NBCL 10–5252,179
October 212:30 p.m.at No. 24 Iowa
NBCW 12–1069,250
October 282:30 p.m.Michigan State
  • Huntington Bank Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
BTNW 27–1247,392
November 42:30 p.m.Illinois
  • Huntington Bank Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
BTNL 26–2742,906
November 112:30 p.m.at Purdue
NBCL 30–4959,049
November 183:00 p.m.at No. 2 Ohio State
BTNL 3–37104,019
November 252:30 p.m.Wisconsin
  • Huntington Bank Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)
FS1L 14–2848,119
December 261:00 p.m.vs. Bowling Green*
ESPNW 30–2428,521

Rankings

[edit]
Further information: 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
APRVRVRV————————————
CoachesRVRVRV————————————
CFPNot released——————Not released


Game summaries

[edit]

Nebraska

[edit]
Nebraska at Minnesota
Rivalry
1 234Total
Cornhuskers 0 073 10
• Golden Gophers 0 3010 13
  
Scoring summary
212:31MinnDragan Kesich 34-yard field goalMinn 3–0
314:03NebAlex Bullock 34-yard pass from Jeff Sims (Tristan Alvano kick)Neb 7–3
412:42NebTristan Alvano 27-yard field goalNeb 10–3
2:32MinnDaniel Jackson 13-yard pass from Athan Kaliakmanis (Dragan Kesich kick)Tied 10–10
0:00MinnDragan Kesich 47-yard field goalMinn 13–10
See also: 2023 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
Sunset over a sold-out Huntington Bank Stadium for the season opener.
WR Daniel Jackson and QB Athan Kaliakmanis talk about Jackson's game-tying, toe-dragging touchdown catch in the 4th Quarter against Nebraska.

[3]

Eastern Michigan

[edit]
Eastern Michigan at Minnesota
1 234Total
Eagles 0 600 6
• Golden Gophers 0 10105 25
  • Date: September 9
  • Location:
    Huntington Bank Stadium
    Minneapolis, MN
  • Game start: 6:40 pm CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:05
  • Game attendance: 48,101
  • Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C), Cloudy, Wind NW 11 mph (18 km/h)
  • Referee: Mark Kluczynski
  • TV announcers (BTN): Connor Onion (play-by-play), Tommy Olson (analyst), and Audrey Dahlgren (sideline)
See also: 2023 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team

at No. 20 North Carolina

[edit]
Minnesota at No. 20 North Carolina
1 234Total
Golden Gophers 0 1030 13
• No. 20 Tar Heels 7 1437 31
    
Scoring summary
111:47UNCNate McCollum 46 yd. pass from Drake Maye (Noah Burnette kick)
(9 plays, 75 yards, 3:13)		UNC 7–0
213:17UNCOmarion Hampton 1 yd. rush (Noah Burnette kick)
(6 plays, 80 yards, 2:25)		UNC 14–0
9:47MINDragan Kesich 23 yd. field goal
(7 plays, 11 yards, 2:29)		UNC 14–3
2:23UNCBryson Nesbit 19 yd. pass from Drake Maye (Noah Burnette kick)
(7 plays, 80 yards, 2:29)		UNC 21–3
0:30MINDarius Taylor 2 yd. rush (Dragan Kesich kick)
(7 plays, 75 yards, 1:53)		UNC 21–10
310:22MINDragan Kesich 42 yd. field goal
(9 plays, 48 yards, 4:38)		UNC 21–13
1:26UNCNoah Burnette 42 yd. field goal
(8 plays, 56 yards, 1:26)		UNC 24–13
45:00UNCBritish Brooks 1 yd. rush (Noah Burnette kick)
(11 plays, 76 yards, 5:23)		UNC 31–13
See also: 2023 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

at Northwestern

[edit]
Minnesota at Northwestern
1 234Total
Golden Gophers 7 1770 31
Wildcats 0 7321 31
  • Date: September 23
  • Location:
    Ryan Field
    Evanston, IL
  • Game start: 6:40 pm CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:39
  • Game attendance: 20,148
  • Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), Clear, Wind E 9 mph (14 km/h)
  • Referee: Tim O'Dey
  • TV announcers (BTN): Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst), and Elise Menaker (sideline)
See also: 2023 Northwestern Wildcats football team

Louisiana

[edit]
Louisiana at Minnesota
1 234Total
Ragin' Cajuns 7 1007 24
• Golden Gophers 7 7714 35
  • Date: September 30
  • Location:
    Huntington Bank Stadium
    Minneapolis, MN
  • Game start: 11:01 am CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:06
  • Game attendance: 46,843
  • Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C), Sunny
  • Referee: Ron Snodgrass
  • TV announcers (BTN): Chris Vosters (play-by-play), Brock Vereen (analyst), and Dannie Rogers (sideline)
     
Scoring summary
110:36LAPeter LeBlanc 7-yard pass from Zeon Chriss (Kenneth Almendares kick)
(10 plays, 75 yards, 4:24)		LA 7–0
02:30MINDaniel Jackson 10-yard pass from Athan Kaliakmanis (Dragan Kesich kick)
(9 plays, 86 yards, 5:03)		TIE 7–7
213:26LAKenneth Almendares 28-yard field goal
(7 plays, 64 yards, 4:04)		LA 10–7
07:21MINAthan Kaliakmanis 2-yard rush (Dragan Kesich kick)
(10 plays, 75 yards, 6:05)		MIN 14–10
01:47LARobert Williams 6-yard pass from Zeon Chriss (Kenneth Almendares kick)
(11 plays, 75 yards, 5:41)		LA 17–14
308:48MINZach Evans 18-yard rush (Dragan Kesich kick)
(11 plays, 80 yards, 6:09)		MIN 21–17
413:45MINBryce Williams 2-yard rush (Dragan Kesich kick)
(8 plays, 42 yards, 3:59)		MIN 28–17
05:21MINDaniel Jackson 37-yard pass from Athan Kaliakmanis (Dragan Kesich kick)
(7 plays, 56 yards, 4:30)		MIN 35–17
03:01LAJacob Kibodi 52-yard rush (Kenneth Almendares kick)
(6 plays, 75 yards, 2:20)		MIN 35–24
See also: 2023 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team

No. 2 Michigan

[edit]
Michigan at Minnesota
Little Brown Jug
1 234Total
• No. 2 Wolverines 10 14217 52
Golden Gophers 3 700 10
Scoring summary
114:14MICHWill Johnson 35-yard interception return (James Turner kick)MICH 7–0
17:33MICHJames Turner 31-yard field goalMICH 10–0
12:35MINNDragan Kesich 54-yard field goalMICH 10–3
210:08MICHBlake Corum 1-yard run (James Turner kick)MICH 17–3
25:50MICHJ. J. McCarthy 5-yard run (James Turner kick)MICH 24–3
20:06MINNDaniel Jackson 35-yard pass from Athan Kaliakmanis (Dragan Kesich kick)MICH 24–10
38:28MICHJ. J. McCarthy 7-yard run (James Turner kick)MICH 31–10
33:20MICHColston Loveland 24-yard pass from J. J. McCarthy (James Turner kick)MICH 38–10
31:43MICHKeon Sabb 29-yard interception return (James Turner kick)MICH 45–10
49:21MICHLeon Franklin 2-yard run (James Turner kick)MICH 52–10
See also: 2023 Michigan Wolverines football team

at No. 24 Iowa

[edit]
Minnesota at No. 24 Iowa
Floyd of Rosedale
1 234Total
• Golden Gophers 3 063 12
No. 24 Hawkeyes 3 700 10
  • Date: October 21
  • Location:
    Kinnick Stadium
    Iowa City, IA
  • Game start: 2:33 pm CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:38
  • Game attendance: 69,250
  • Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C), Sunny, Wind NW 22 mph (35 km/h)
  • Referee: Tim O'Dey
  • TV announcers (NBC): Paul Burmeister (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst), Zora Stephenson (sideline)
  
Scoring summary
110:35IowaDrew Stevens 23-yard field goalIowa 3–0
0:17MinnDragan Kesich 43-yard field goalTied 3–3
20:49IowaDeacon Hill 1-yard run (Drew Stevens kick)Iowa 10–3
38:59MinnDragan Kesich 44-yard field goalIowa 10–6
2:25MinnDragan Kesich 28-yard field goalIowa 10–9
48:33MinnDragan Kesich 31-yard field goalMinn 12–10
See also: 2023 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

Michigan State

[edit]
Michigan State at Minnesota
1 234Total
Spartans 6 006 12
• Golden Gophers 0 10017 27
     
Scoring summary
113:19MSUJonathan Kim 38-yard field goal
(4 plays, 5 yards, 1:22)		MSU 3–0
9:49MSUJonathan Kim 42-yard field goal
(4 plays, 9 yards, 0:50)		MSU 6–0
24:54UMNDragan Kesich 22-yard field goal
(8 plays, 94 yards, 2:55)		MSU 6–3
0:19UMNDaniel Jackson 22-yard pass from Athan Kaliakmanis (Dragan Kesich kick)
(8 plays, 94 yards, 2:55)		UMN 10–6
412:07UMNJordan Nubin 18-yard run (Dragan Kesich kick)
(9 plays, 87 yards, 5:25)		UMN 17–6
8:37MSUTyell Henry 9-yard pass from Sam Leavitt (two-point conversion failed)
(8 plays, 75 yards, 3:30)		UMN 17–12
4:11UMNJordan Nubin 2-yard run (Dragan Kesich kick)
(7 plays, 46 yards, 4:25)		UMN 24–12
3:25UMNDragan Kesich 31-yard field goal
(4 plays, 9 yards, 0:30)		UMN 27–12
See also: 2023 Michigan State Spartans football team

Illinois

[edit]
Illinois at Minnesota
1 234Total
• Fighting Illini 14 076 27
Golden Gophers 7 1036 26
  • Date: November 4
  • Location:
    Huntington Bank Stadium
    Minneapolis, MN
  • Game start: 2:45 pm CST
  • Elapsed time: 3:08
  • Game attendance: 42,906
  • Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C), Sunny, Wind S 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
  • Referee: Gregory Blum
See also: 2023 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

at Purdue

[edit]
Minnesota at Purdue
1 234Total
Golden Gophers 10 10010 30
• Boilermakers 14 14714 49
  • Date: November 11
  • Location:
    Ross–Ade Stadium
    West Lafayette, IN
  • Game start: 3:32 pm EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:29
  • Game attendance: 59,049
  • Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C), Sunny, Wind E 4 mph (6.4 km/h)
  • Referee: Jeffrey Servinski
See also: 2023 Purdue Boilermakers football team

at Ohio State

[edit]
Minnesota at Ohio State
1 234Total
Golden Gophers 0 003 3
• Buckeyes 7 6177 37
  • Date: November 18
  • Location:
    Ohio Stadium
    Columbus, OH
  • Game start: 4:01 pm EST
  • Elapsed time: 2:55
  • Game attendance: 104,019
  • Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C), Sunny, Wind S 4 mph (6.4 km/h)
  • Referee: Kole Knueppel
  • TV announcers (BTN): Cory Provus (play-by-play), Jake Butt (analyst) and Brooke Fletcher (sideline reporter)
    
Scoring summary
19:22OSUTreVeyon Henderson 9-yard run (Jayden Fielding kick)
(8 plays, 85 yards, 4:02)		OSU 7–0
213:05OSUJayden Fielding 47-yard field goal
(9 plays, 58 yards, 2:46)		OSU 10–0
4:51OSUJayden Fielding 26-yard field goal
(11 plays, 81 yards, 4:24)		OSU 13–0
314:48OSUTreVeyon Henderson 75-yard run (Jayden Fielding kick)
(1 play, 75 yards, 0:12)		OSU 20–0
13:53OSUMarvin Harrison Jr. 4-yard pass from Kyle McCord (Jayden Fielding kick)
(3 plays, 6 yards, 0:43)		OSU 27–0
10:17OSUJayden Fielding 32-yard field goal
(5 plays, 15 yards, 1:13)		OSU 30–0
413:43OSUCade Stover 1-yard pass from Kyle McCord (Jayden Fielding kick)
(16 plays, 84 yards, 9:18)		OSU 37–0
6:43MINNDragan Kesich 54-yard field goal
(12 plays, 39 yards, 7:00)		OSU 37–3
See also: 2023 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

Wisconsin

[edit]
Wisconsin at Minnesota
Paul Bunyan's Axe
1 234Total
• Badgers 0 14140 28
Golden Gophers 7 700 14
   
Scoring summary
112:21MINNJordan Nubin 1-yard run (Dragan Kesich kick)
(6 plays, 72 yards, 2:34)		MIN 7–0
213:04WISBraelon Allen 5-yard run (Nathanial Vakos kick)
(11 plays, 86 yards, 5:16)		TIED 7–7
4:30MINNDaniel Jackson 7-yard pass from Athan Kaliakmanis (Dragan Kesich kick)
(11 plays, 71 yards, 5:36)		MIN 14–7
2:38WISWill Pauling 11-yard pass from Tanner Mordecai (Nathanial Vakos kick)
(4 plays, 75 yards, 1:52)		TIED 14–14
39:24WISBraelon Allen 4-yard run (Nathanial Vakos kick)
(2 plays, 54 yards, 0:25)		WIS 21–14
0:10WISRiley Nowakowski 5-yard pass from Tanner Mordecai (Nathanial Vakos kick)
(10 plays, 86 yards, 4:55)		WIS 28–14
See also: 2023 Wisconsin Badgers football team

Despite the loss giving them an overall 5–7 record, the Golden Gophers would head to a bowl game due to their Academic Progress Rate.

vs. Bowling Green (Quick Lane Bowl)

[edit]
Quick Lane Bowl: Bowling Green vs. Minnesota
1 234Total
Falcons 7 3014 24
• Golden Gophers 6 3147 30
  • Date: December 26
  • Location:
    Ford Field
    Detroit, Michigan
  • Game start: 2:04 pm EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:20
  • Game attendance: 28,521
  • Game weather: Indoor
  • Referee: Tim Rich
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Connor Onion (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst), and Tori Petry (sideline)
     
Scoring summary
113:47BGSUOdieu Hiliare 46-yard pass from Connor Bazelak (Alan Anaya kick)
(3 plays, 75 yards, 1:13)		BGSU 7–0
5:56MINNElijah Spencer 4-yard pass from Cole Kramer (two-point run conversion failed)
(13 plays, 75 yards, 7:51)		BGSU 7–6
28:57MINNDragan Kesich 31-yard field goal
(7 plays, 42 yards, 2:58)		MINN 9–7
1:38BGSUAlan Anaya 33-yard field goal
(4 plays, 0 yards, 1:02)		BGSU 10–9
39:20MINNCole Kramer 1-yard run (Dragan Kesich kick)
(11 plays, 78 yards, 5:40)		MINN 16–10
4:18MINNJameson Geers 7-yard pass from Cole Kramer (Dragan Keisch kick)
(6 plays, 27 yards, 3:31)		MINN 23–10
411:10BGSUPaSean Wimberly 18-yard run (Alan Anaya kick)
(7 plays, 80 yards, 3:29)		MINN 23–17
8:03MINNDarius Taylor 17-yard run (Dragan Kesich kick)
(5 plays, 48 yards, 3:07)		MINN 30–17
2:33BGSUConnor Bazelak 2-yard run (Alan Anaya kick)
(14 plays, 75 yards, 5:30)		MINN 30–24
See also: 2023 Bowling Green Falcons football team and 2023 Quick Lane Bowl

Roster

[edit]
2023 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 0 Le'Meke Brockington  So
RB 1 Darius Taylor Fr
RB 2 Sean Tyler  Sr
WR 4 Corey Crooms Jr.  Sr
WR 7 Chris Autman-Bell  GS
QB 8 Athan Kaliakmanis  So
WR 9 Daniel Jackson Sr
WR 11 Elijah Spencer Jr
QB 12 Cole Kramer  Sr
WR 13 Kristen Hoskins  Fr
WR 14 Evan Redding  Fr
WR 15 Kenric Lanier II Fr
WR 17 Cade Conzemius  Fr
QB 18 Drew Viotto Fr
RB 21 Bryce Williams Injured  GS
RB 26 Zach Evans  Fr
WR 28 Zach Jorgensen  Fr
RB 30 Jordan Nubin  So
RB 33 Max Grand  Fr
OL 50 J. J. Guedet  Sr
OL 52 Spencer Alvarez  Fr
OL 55 Karter Shaw  GS
OL 58 Jackson Hunter  So
OL 59 Tony Nelson  Fr
OL 65 Greg Johnson Fr
OL 66 Nathan Boe  GS
OL 68 Jackson Ruschmeyer Injured  Jr
OL 69 Aireontae Ersery  Jr
OL 70 Cade McConnell  Fr
OL 71 Martes Lewis  Jr
OL 73 Tyrell Lawrence  Jr
OL 75 Tyler Cooper  Sr
OL 76 Reese Tripp Fr
OL 77 Quinn Carroll GS
OL 78 Ashton Beers  Fr
OL 79 Logan Purcell  So
WR 80 Dino Kaliakmanis  So
WR 81 Quentin Redding  So
TE 82 Wyatt Schroeder  Sr
TE 84 Jack DiSano  Fr
TE 85 Frank Bierman  Jr
TE 86 Jameson Geers  So
TE 87 Nick Kallerup  Sr
TE 88 Brevyn Spann-Ford  GS
TE 89 Nathan Jones  Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DL 0 Anthony Smith  Fr
DB 5 Justin Walley Jr
LB 6 Maverick Baranowski  Fr
DL 8 Darnell Jefferies Injured GS
LB 9 Devon Williams  So
DB 12 Darius Green  So
DL 13 Chris Collins GS
DB 14 Kerry Brown Fr
DB 16 Coleman Bryson  Fr
DL 17 Jah Joyner  Jr
DB 18 Rhyland Kelly  Fr
LB 19 Joey Gerlach  Fr
DB 20 Jack Henderson Sr
DB 23 Garrison Monroe Fr
DB 24 Tariq Watson  Fr
DB 26 Victor Pless  Jr
DB 27 Tyler Nubin GS
DL 28 Colton Gregersen  Fr
DB 31 Jordan Greenhow  So
LB 33 Ryan Selig GS
LB 34 Jack Tinnen  Fr
LB 35 Derik LeCaptian Injured  Sr
LB 41 Cade Larson  Fr
DL 42 Jack Hawkinson  So
LB 43 Eli Mau  So
LB 44 Tyler Stolsky  Fr
LB 45 Cody Lindenberg  Jr
LB 46 Lucas Finnessy Sr
DL 47 Hayden Schwartz  Fr
DL 52 Luther McCoy  So
DL 62 Jacob Schuster  So
DL 87 Martin Owusu Fr
DL 89 Nate Becker  So
DL 91 Deven Eastern  So
DL 92 Danny Striggow Sr
DL 93 Kyler Baugh GS
DL 96 Logan Richter  Sr
DL 97 Jalen Logan-Redding  Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P 36 Ryan Shamburger  Jr
LS 37 Brady Weeks GS
K 48 Jacob Lewis  Jr
P 96 Mark Crawford Sr
K 99 Dragan Kesich Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Greg Harbaugh Jr. (co-offensive coordinator / quarterbacks)
  • Matt Simon (co-offensive coordinator / wide receivers)
  • Joe Rossi (defensive coordinator / linebackers)
  • Nick Monroe (co-defensive coordinator / cornerbacks)
  • Rob Wenger (special teams coordinator / defensive ends)
  • Danny Collins (safeties / pass game coordinator)
  • Brian Callahan (run game coordinator / offensive line)
  • Winston DeLattiboudere III (defensive line)
  • Nic McKissic-Luke (running backs)
  • Andrew Sowder (tight ends)
  • Gerrit Chernoff (general manager)
  • Dan Nichol (head strength & conditioning)
  • Norries Wilson (director of player development)
  • Eric Koehler (offensive analyst)
  • Mariano Sori-Marin (defensive analyst)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: November 6, 2023

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Minnesota Golden Gophers score bowl spot, thanks to good grades". KARE (TV). November 26, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  2. ^ "2023 Football Schedule". Minnesota Go Gophers Sports. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  3. ^ "Minnesota rallies late to beat Nebraska 13-10 and ruin Rhule's debut". AP News. August 31, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
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