THE ESSENTIALS
Date/Time: Nov. 14, 2025 / 8 p.m.
Site: Eugene, Ore.
Stadium: Autzen Stadium
Surface: FieldTurf
Capacity: 54,000
Series Overall: Minnesota leads 3-1
Streak Overall: Minnesota won 1
Series in Oregon: Never met
First Meeting: Minnesota won 14-7 in Minneapolis (10/7/1961)
Last Meeting: Minnesota won 31-30 in 2003 Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas (12/31/2003)
CARRIER CHATS
Mason Carrier
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. Coming off its second bye of the season, Minnesota (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) returns to action Friday night when it travels to Eugene, Ore., for the first time ever to face the No. 7/6 Oregon Ducks (8-1, 5-1). Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. CT on FOX and the Gopher Radio Network. The Golden Gophers are 6-4 under P.J. Fleck when coming off a regular season bye (excluding the 2020 COVID season), including a 31-28 win over Rutgers earlier this year.
2. Last time out, Minnesota played in the first ever overtime game in the 17-year history of Huntington Bank Stadium with a 23-20 win over Michigan State. It marked the 17th overtime game in program history, and the Gophers improved to 7-10 in such games, including a 2-3 record under P.J. Fleck. Minnesota’s last home OT game was a 41-35 triple overtime victory versus Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 8, 2007 at the Metrodome. In the win, Drake Lindsey tied the game with less than 30 seconds left on a QB sneak and then provided the winning score with a 3-yard run on third down in overtime.
3. The Golden Gophers enter the contest with a 6-3 record overall. In five of the past six seasons, Minnesota has had a record of 6-3 or better at the nine-game mark. Minnesota was also 6-3 last year and from 2021-22, while in 2019 they were 9-0 at this point of the season. They’re looking to improve to 7-3 or better at the 10-game mark for the third time under P.J. Fleck, also getting to 7-3 in 2022 and 9-1 in 2019.
4. Minnesota is one of the best teams in the country at getting after the quarterback, posting 32 sacks in nine games. The rate of 3.56 sacks per game leads the Big Ten and is fourth in the country. The total of 32 sacks is tied for sixth most in the Minnesota record book (with records dating to 1984). The Golden Gophers have three games this year with 7+ sacks.That’s tied with six other teams for the most in a season in the FBS going back to 2005. No team has had four such games in a season. In addition, Minnesota is averaging 7.6 tackles for loss this season, ranking sixth nationally and second in the Big Ten. Against Michigan State, the team finished with 12 TFLs, which stands as the most in the Fleck era and tied for 6th all-time (records date to 1977). Eight of the tackles for loss came in the first half, the team’s most in any half since at least 2019. More on the sack totals can be found on Page 8 of the notes.
5. The 2025 campaign is the ninth for P.J. Fleck at Minnesota. He is the fifth-longest tenured coach in program history and the second-longest active tenured coach in the Big Ten. Fleck’s record stands at 64-42, putting him tied for fourth in program history in overall wins. He’s also fourth at Minnesota in Big Ten wins (38) and fifth in games coached (106). Fleck’s overall win percentage of .604 is third best among Minnesota coaches with at least 45 games under their helm behind only Henry L. Williams (.786, 1900-21) and Bernie Bierman (.716, 1932-41, ’45-50). In his 13th season overall as a college head coach, Fleck is 94-64 (.595).
(info and photos courtesy of Gopher Sports)
