Run the North | Golden Gophers football

[ShireNiner]

Week 4 in the CFB Universe: Defending champs drop again, Gophers hanging onto top 25 spot


Miami drops another game, this time to Boston College as the Canes show no signs of a repeat /ShireNiner PS5 Images

By:Steven Koenig
Week 4, 2026 | NCAAF

The Miami Hurricanes continue to show a championship hangover, losing for the second time in four weeks, this time falling to Boston College 31-24. The Hurricanes fall to 18th in the rankings and travel to 24th ranked North Carolina in a desperate week 5. Another loss and Miami’s playoff chances are done.

Clemson moved into the top-25 for the first time this season, beating Georgia Tech to move to 4-0. Missouri also continues to climb, all the way up to 13th now and will face the 9th ranked Blue Devils of Duke next week.

Next week there will finally be some shakeup in the top-25. Ohio State hosts Oregon in what could be a Big Ten championship preview, Texas and Arch Manning will face newly ranked LSU while Indiana travels to the Big House looking to repeat with another win over Michigan.


Heisman watch
A.J. Turner, RB
He did it again, another 200+ yard game for the senior back. Turner is now at 852 rush yards and 8 rushing touchdowns on 106 attempts. If Minnesota can stay in the top-25 and continue being in the spotlight, Turner has a chance to shock everyone with a Heisman.
Arch Manning, QB
Another week and another two touchdown game for Manning, this time over the Gamecocks. Manning is up to 11 touchdowns without a turnover and almost to 1500 yards already. The schedule is starting to get tough with SEC competition and all eyes are on the Golden Boy now.
Ty Simpson, QB
The only new name in the group this week, Simpson is catching attention with his 12 touchdowns and zero turnovers through four games.
Colton Joseph, QB
The Irish are back into the top-25, sitting 21st now after two losses in the opening four weeks. Joseph is doing what he can though, 1,347 passing yards with 12 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, the Cali native is trying to stay alive in the Heisman race.
Kevin Jennings, QB
Jennings willed the Mustangs to a 38-35 win over Cal last week with 333 pass yards, 3 touchdowns and 81 rushing yards. The #3 Mustangs will have a chance against anyone with Jennings on his game with 1,229 pass yards, 14 touchdowns, and 225 rushing yards this season.


AP Top 25
1. Ohio State (3-0)
2. Texas (4-0)
3. SMU (4-0)
4. Georgia (4-0)
5. Oregon (4-0)
6. Indiana (3-0)
7. BYU (4-0)
8. Florida (4-0)
9. Duke (3-0)
10. Texas A&M (3-1)
11. Texas Tech (4-0)
12. Michigan (3-0)
13. Missouri (4-0)
14. USC (4-0)
15. Illinois (3-0)
16. Baylor (3-1)
17. Ole Miss (4-0)
18. Miami (2-2)
19. Washington (3-1)
20. Louisville (2-1)
21. Notre Dame (3-2)
22. Clemson (4-0)
23. Minnesota (2-2)
24. North Carolina (3-0)
25. LSU (2-2)


Steven Koenig is a senior writer for ShireNiner Nation covering College Football. He previously covered a variety of sports and events, including World Cups and Olympics, for MSNBC Sports. He is based in Boston, MA. Follow Steven on Twitter @SteviesFake.

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[ShireNiner]

Gophers and Nittany Lions look to get back on track after week four losses


AJ Turner looks to make it three staight games over 200 yards/ShireNiner PS5 Images

By: Aiden “AJ” Wexler
Week 5, 2026 | Minnesota at Penn State

In today's college football, three losses will end your season. Two losses, you still have a good shot at the college football play-off and your goals are still alive. Week five, Minnesota and Penn State both face the fear of their seasons coming to an end. The 2-2 Gophers travel to Happy Valley to take on the 1-2 Nittany Lions, both coming off losses to Big Ten foes.

"We know what is at stake here." Minnesota coach Mick Smith said. "A loss and play-offs are done, and the Big Ten Championship is gone. Reaching the championship last year gave us the expectation and hope to go one step further. That all starts this Saturday."

Minnesota is coming off a close defeat at Washington, their second defeat of less than five points this season. Penn State is coming home after being blown out at USC 38-13. The styles of play for these two schools could not be any more different. Minnesota leads the nation in rushing yards per game with 298, Penn State is last in the Big Ten averaging 98 yards per game. In the air, Minnesota is only ahead of Iowa with 231.8 yards while Penn State is 5th in the conference hitting 315 yards a game.

With both schools averaging in the low 30's per game, expect this one to be a high scoring shoot-out, a style Minnesota tries to avoid.

"We want to keep the score in the 20's or lower." Smith said. "Our big plays plus giving up big passing plays is killing the style we want to play. I'd like our possession time to be higher and limit the chances we give their offense."

Minnesota has given up touchdowns over 60 yards in every game this season, in total they have allowed 6 touchdowns over 40 yards in the first four weeks.

Penn State has not shown to be an explosive team this season, but Minnesota has not shown they can stop anyone either. With both seasons on the line, someone has to step up this week in Happy Valley.

Matchups to watch
AJ Brand, QB, 54/89, 60%, 654 yds, 6 TDs, 1 INT
Ethan Grunkemeyer, QB, 81/120 67%, 6 TDs, 2 INT

AJ Turner, RB, 106 att, 852 yds, 8.0 avg, 8 TDs
Micah Ford, RB, 37 att, 200 yds, 5.4 avg, 4 TDs

Dearee Rogers, WR, 14 rec, 189 yds, 1 TD
King Mack, SS, 25 Tkles, 2 interceptions, 3 DEFL

Robert Herndon, RT, 333 snaps, 0 sacks allowed
Anthony Smith, LEDG 11 Tkls, 5 TFL, 3.5 sacks



Aiden “AJ” Wexler is a writer for ShireNiner Nation covering Minnesota Gophers Football. He previously covered local high schools in the Minneapolis area. He is based in Minneapolis, MN. Follow AJ on Twitter @AidensFake.

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Comments

[redsox907]

ShireNiner Network

[ShireNiner]

ShireNiner Network

thank you. Wife gets the credit.

[The JZA]

Notre Dame 3-2, can already see they about to opt out

[ShireNiner]

Notre Dame 3-2, can already see they about to opt out

they will forfeit the game against me

[ShireNiner]

ND 27 | ORE 26 | WAS 21 | IND 7 | OU 44 | ARK 30 | TEX 20 | SC 22 | DUK 47 | CLE 35 NEB 30 | OSU 31 | PUR 24 | MU 48 | MS 35 | AL 23 | LSU 41| UK 29 | MIZ 10 | FSU 27

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Minnesota 31, Penn State 24 — Gophers Claim the Governor’s Victory Bell in Statement Road Win


Brand stands in the pocket, taking the hit while throwing th opening touchdown /ShireNiner PS5 Images

By:Aiden “AJ” Wexler
Week 5, 2026 | @ Penn State

Happy Valley— Minnesota walked into Beaver Stadium needing a Big Ten win to steady its season. It walked out with something even bigger: a 31–24 victory over Penn State, the Governor’s Victory Bell packed securely for the return trip to Minneapolis, and a performance that reinforced exactly who the Gophers are in 2025.

From the opening drive, Minnesota set the tone. The Gophers ran 70 plays to Penn State’s 51, dominated time of possession, and unleashed their now-signature ground attack behind Heisman frontrunner AJ Turner, who delivered his third straight 200+ yard game. Turner did not have a huge, breakaway run this game like the previous weeks, but he was steady and consistent, averaging 6.2 ypc on 34 attempts. The senior received help this time from Fame Ijeboi (40 rush yards) and Xavier Ford (34 yards) to help give Turner some much needed rest during the game.

Redshirt freshman quarterback AJ Brand continued his steady, mistake-free growth, finishing 15 of 22 for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns. Minnesota didn’t need Brand to take over the game, but they did need him to convert key throws, especially in the fourth quarter of a one possession game. Minnesota had a 3rd and 8 at the two-minute warning, up by a touchdown after Penn State scored 14 unanswered points. Brand ran a play-action, rolling to his right to find Ijeboi from the back field for a nine-yard completion. The first down allowed the Gophers to take three knees and end the game.

"AJs [Brand] earned that trust. With the game on the line, in one of the hardest environments to play in, he has our trust to win the game." coach Smith said afterwards. "We are a run first team but when the game is on the line, we can switch it up and put the ball in our playmakers hands. Tonight, that was AJ."

On the other side, Penn State was shut down for the first half, scoring only seven points and a total of 132 yards. The Nittany Lions, held to just 70 rushing yards all game, leaned on their passing game to claw back into it. A pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns cut Minnesota’s lead to seven with 4:32 remaining, but Minnesota's continued rushing attack ended up being the difference.

Starting from their own 20, Turner, Ijeboi, and Ford each rushed for a first down in the drive that eventually ate all the clock and won the game.

"Turner is our monster, our leader in the back." Smith said "But we have two other workhorses that would be number ones on any other team. That backfield is stacked and ready to run all game if we need them to."

With the win, Minnesota improves to 3–2 (2–0 in the Big Ten) and keeps its division—and Big Ten—goals firmly alive. They’ll enjoy the Bell tonight, going into the bye week with momentum and a chance to continue moving up the polls.

Soapys Stat Box
AJ Brand - 15/22, 147 yds, 2 TD
Ethan Grunkemeyer - 17/29, 234 yds, 2 TD
AJ Turner - 34 atts, 212 yds, 6.2 avg, 1 TD
Micah Ford - 11 att, 58 yds, 5.3 avg, 1 TD
Kenric Lanier II - 5 rec, 71 yds, 1 TD
Matt Outten - 5 rec, 97 yds, 2 TD
John Nestor - 8 tkls, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 2 DEFL
Emmanuel Karmo - 3 tkls, 2 sacks
Amare Campbell - 15 tkls, 1 TFL
Kamari Wilson - 13 tkls, 2 TFL

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Aiden “AJ” Wexler is a writer for ShireNiner Nation covering Minnesota Gophers Football. He previously covered local high schools in the Minneapolis area. He is based in Minneapolis, MN. Follow AJ on Twitter @AidensFake.

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Comments

[Caesar]

Really starting to get going after some bumps through the early goings of the season. Turner is making the most of all of those carries.

[redsox907]

Soapys stat box

another huge win. Brand hasn't been flashy, but that post touchdown was a laser

[Captain Canada]

Just continue to feed Turner and he'll lead you to the promised land