Ranking Minnesota’s 2020 Big Ten opponents

After the Big Ten’s original 10-game conference season was postponed, the Big Ten will be playing football the fall of 2020 in the form of an eight-game schedule. It will remain an all-conference slate and each team will play a ninth game against its divisional counterpart (No. 1 in West vs. No. 1 in East, No. 2 in West vs. No. 2 in East, and so on) on Dec. 19.

P. J. Fleck’s Minnesota squad will have star wideout Rashod Bateman back after he originally decided to opt out of the season to focus on the 2021 NFL draft. Bateman’s return strengthens a Gophers squad which finished 11-2 in 2019 and also returns promising quarterback Tanner Morgan and running back Mo Ibrahim.

As far as its 2020 schedule, Minnesota will miss Ohio State and Penn State – two of the best teams in the conference. The Gophers were supposed to play Indiana and Michigan State in their 10-game schedule but now will only play Michigan and Maryland from the East division.

With that said, here’s how Minnesota’s 2020 Big Ten opponents shake out, in order of easiest to hardest.

8. Maryland (away, Oct. 30)

Last matchup: Minnesota defeated Maryland 52-10 at home last season.

Alabama transfer Taulia Tagovailoa has been deemed eligible by the NCAA, so there is a decent chance the former four-star recruit will start at quarterback for the Terps in 2020. Still, do we trust Maryland, which went 3-9 last season with its only Big Ten win coming against Rutgers, to be any sort of threat this season? Believe it when you see it and you probably won’t see it this year.

7. Northwestern (home, Dec. 5)

Last matchup: Minnesota defeated Northwestern 38-22 on the road last season.

The Wildcats were absolutely putrid in 2019. There is no other way to put it. However, considering the recent success Pat Fitzgerald has brought to the program, one can expect Northwestern to bounce back to at least a .500 level. Fitzgerald’s Wildcats almost always have a good defense and Indiana grad transfer quarterback Peyton Ramsey, who started seven games for the Hoosiers in 2019 and completed 68% of his passes for 2,454 yards with 13 touchdowns and five picks, should make the offense respectable.

6. Purdue (home, Nov. 20)

Last matchup: Minnesota defeated Purdue 38-31 on the road last season. 

Wide receiver Rondale Moore, like Bateman, originally decided to opt out but will now play in 2020. That will certainly help Purdue and potential starting quarterback Jack Plummer, who was very average as a freshman, throwing for 1,603 yards with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions in seven games. The Boilermakers do have incredible defensive end George Karlaftis but it is not like this is one of the better rosters in the conference.

5. Illinois (away, Nov. 7)

Last matchup: Minnesota defeated Illinois 40-17 at home last season.

The Illini were feisty last season and with quarterback Brandon Peters returning for his redshirt senior season, there is no reason to think Illinois won’t be a tough out in 2020. Last season Peters threw for 1,884 yards with 18 touchdowns and eight picks and ran for 213 yards and three scores, so if he can improve on those numbers then Illinois will be an even tougher out.

4. Nebraska (away, Dec. 12)

Last matchup: Minnesota defeated Nebraska 34-7 at home last season.

Is this the year for Scott Frost and Nebraska? With new offensive coordinator Matt Lubick, it could be what Adrian Martinez (10 TD, 9 INT) needs to improve after his disappointing sophomore season. The Huskers will also need their defense (27.8 points, 388.8 yards per game allowed in 2019) to take a step up if they want to compete in a real way.

3. Iowa (home, Nov. 13)

Last matchup: Minnesota lost to Iowa 23-19 on the road last season.

The Hawkeyes will probably have the same type of hardnosed, giant-killer type team that they usually do in 2020. They will lean on ball control and good defense, which will be extra important for them this season with Nate Stanley now off to the NFL. Iowa limited opposing teams to 308.5 total yards and 14 points per game (fifth-best in the nation) but lost A.J. Epenesa, Michael Ojemudia and Geno Stone in the 2020 NFL draft, so if it can overcome their absences on defense then the Hawkeyes should be able to make life easier for newly-named starter Spencer Petras under center.

2. Michigan (home, Oct. 24)

Last matchup: Minnesota lost to Michigan 33-10 on the road in 2017.

Michigan will have to replace Shea Patterson but the Wolverines return talented skill position players, including running back Zach Charbonnet and wide receiver Ronnie Bell. That should make things easier for Joe Milton, who won the starting quarterback job. Michigan should have a good defense once again even though it lost some players to the NFL, including linebacker Josh Uche in the second round. Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis is also in his second season with the Wolverines, so Michigan’s offense should operate better in its second year in the system.

1. Wisconsin (away, Nov. 28)

Last matchup: Minnesota lost to Wisconsin 38-17 at home last season.

Even though Jonathan Taylor is suiting up for the Indianapolis Colts in 2020, it’s a bad idea to bet against the Badgers’ running game. Wisconsin will probably resemble all of its recent teams. The Badgers will have a mauling offensive line, a tough defense and will be well-coached. It all comes down to how well the quarterback – whether it’s Jack Coan, who is out indefinitely with a foot injury, or redshirt freshman Graham Mertz – plays.