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.

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.

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.

2019 Minnesota Opponent Previews: Purdue

Gopher football approaches. To prepare you, Chandler is previewing every opponent as many opponents as he can on the Gophers' schedule. Here, he analyzes Big Ten upstart Purdue.

2019 Minnesota Opponent Previews: Georgia Southern

Gopher football approaches. To prepare you, Chandler is previewing every opponent on the Gophers' schedule. Today, he wraps up the non-conference slate with Georgia Southern.

2019 Minnesota Opponent Previews: Fresno State

Gopher football approaches. To prepare you, Chandler is previewing every opponent on the Gophers' schedule. Here is the preview of Jeff Tedford's Fresno State Bulldogs.

2019 Minnesota Opponent Previews: South Dakota State

Gopher football approaches. To prepare you, Chandler is previewing every opponent on the Gophers' schedule. We begin today with the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.

An Argument for Each Minnesota Twin to Have Made the All-Star Game This Year

Last night, the MLB All-Star Game took place in Cleveland. Three players – José Berrios, Jake Odorizzi, and Jorge Polanco – represented the Twins on the American League roster. Minnesota leads the Central by 5.5 games and finished the first half with the best offense in franchise history and one of the two best in baseball.

For a team with such ability, it seems unfitting that only three players, including one position player, would be All-Stars. There are some other Twins who definitely had an argument to be included. There are true snubs, like Max Kepler, and there are guys who might have deserved a spot among the reserves, like Taylor Rogers. But why stop there? This is one of the majors' best teams, and it's been that way despite losing some key position players to injuries over the past month. Surely a lot of other guys have résumés that were worth considering.

Excluding the three All-Stars, 38 players have appeared in a game for the Twins this season. Below are reasons for all 38 of them to have been All-Stars too, beginning with the least deserving and ending with the most deserving. Let us begin.