We Are Maroon and Gold Episode 075

The Vikings' win, a college football roundup, and previewing Purdue.

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here.

We Are Maroon and Gold Episode 074

The Vikings' loss, the Gophers' near-loss, and this weekend's college football slate.

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here.

In Review: Georgia Southern 32-35 Minnesota

On my podcast last week, I predicted that in Georgia Southern, Minnesota finally had an opponent who would give them a relatively stress-free game for once. That prediction was anything but accurate.

This was supposed to be the game that showed Minnesota was alright, and that confirmed the Gophers were better than their struggles would suggest. Instead, it heightened concerns that Minnesota could see those struggles continue (if not increase) once Big Ten play begins after the bye week.

Yes, the Gophers won, and yes, there were positives beyond the final result. But it was not remotely pretty. Though style points don't count toward bowl eligibility, and P.J. Fleck's final record at Minnesota will include no asterisk for winning his first three games of 2019 by a combined 13 points, the way those wins have happened must inspire concern.

We're going full-on listicle for this week's post. Here are (some of) the five reasons Minnesota almost lost, as well as (some of) the five reasons Minnesota didn't lose.

We Are Maroon and Gold Episode 073

The Who and college football.

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In Review: Minnesota 38-35 Fresno State (OT)

Minnesota and Fresno State have no arrangements to play each other again in the future, and it's probably best for everyone's health that they take a break.

Despite repeatedly making mistakes against a tough opponent, the Gophers survived the Valley. Last year's game was decided by an interception on the Bulldogs' final drive, and so was this year's — and the same player made the interception. Whatever forces gave the Gophers the win Saturday night — talent, strategy, luck, fate, famous relatives — they needed all of them to continue the nation's longest non-conference winning streak and stay undefeated.

There was a lot to unpack in this game, but we must try to unpack it all anyway.

We Are Maroon and Gold Episode 072

The Vikings, the Gopher game that was, and the Gopher game that will be.

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here.

In Review: South Dakota State 21-28 Minnesota

Well, that was tense.

I think anyone familiar with South Dakota State expected the Jacks to hang with Minnesota for a little while — I did — but it was more surprising to see them hold a lead into the final six minutes of the game. The close score said as much about SDSU's talent and effective strategy as it did Minnesota's deficiencies.

Even with those deficiencies, though, the Gophers won. As in any win, there were positives. Here's what we learned Thursday.