Run the North | Golden Gophers football

[The JZA]

Notre Dame's offensive line opted out lol

Good win over them. AJ stilled turned up despite not hitting his threshold

[redsox907]

5 sacks

Notre Dame getting fucked, love to see it

[Count]

Notre Dame is washed.

How is that wear and tear treating Turner? Gonna need more than 91 yards and 2 INT from your QB once Turner starts to slow down

[ShireNiner]

Thank you, that's generous.

Notre Dame's offensive line opted out lol

Good win over them. AJ stilled turned up despite not hitting his threshold

I now know why Notre Dame is up and down. Great skill players, horrible line.

5 sacks

Notre Dame getting fucked, love to see it

My best recruit. My first recruit. I'll never top that.

Notre Dame is washed.

How is that wear and tear treating Turner? Gonna need more than 91 yards and 2 INT from your QB once Turner starts to slow down

Wear and Tear...not great. Already red. I need him for Michigan and then I might try slowing down with him now that Fame is stepping up.

[toysoldier00]

Tbh, every game I just scroll to see what freaky number of yards Turner ran for before even really going back and looking at how the game went.

[ShireNiner]

Tbh, every game I just scroll to see what freaky number of yards Turner ran for before even really going back and looking at how the game went.

I don't blame you. I want to start giving Fame more carries but I also want to win the Heisman so I am tempted to just run Turner until he drops.

[Soapy]

that marcus freeman pack potent

[ShireNiner]

No. 3 Michigan at No. 12 Minnesota: The biggest game of Mick Smith's career and the stakes could not be higher


AJ Turner is going to have to put on the game of his life for Minnesota to pull the upset/ShireNiner PS5 Images

By: Aiden “AJ” Wexler, *
Week 9, 2026 | Michigan at Minnesota

The stakes don’t get much higher than this in the Big Ten. No. 3 Michigan arrives in Minneapolis unbeaten at 7–0, sitting atop the Big Ten standings, while No. 12 Minnesota enters at 5–2 with one conference loss and a clear path still in front of it. A loss will not eliminate anyone, but a win would be monumental in the tight race at the top of the conference. Michigan leads the pack but has bigger goals this season than just a Big Ten championship, a win will almost gurantee them a playoff birth. Minnesota is sitting a game behind, while making the playoffs would be huge for Mick Smith in his second season, getting back to the Big Ten championship is the main goal on their mind right now.

Michigan has looked every bit the part of a national contender. Bryce Underwood has taken a massive step forward in his second season, completing 70 percent of his passes for more than 2,000 yards with 19 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Talk from the Wolverine fans are anger and frustration that their star quarterback is not even mentioned in the Heisman race. Justice Haynes provides steady production on the ground, and Andrew Marsh has emerged as a true game-breaker at receiver, averaging nearly 25 yards per catch with eight touchdowns. Up front, Jake Guarnera anchors an offensive line that hasn’t allowed a sack from the center position all season, giving Underwood time to exploit matchups downfield.

Defensively, Michigan remains what it has always been since Jim Harbaugh built them back; physical, run stopping, and getting after the quarterback. Cameron Brandt and Troy Bowles lead a front seven that consistently wins early downs, while Jyaire Hill and freshman Armon Harris give the Wolverines confidence on the back end.

Minnesota’s path to this moment has been louder, messier, and arguably more impressive. The Gophers have already been tested away from home and under pressure, with wins over Penn State and Notre Dame sandwiching a thrilling shootout victory against UCLA. Even the losses at Miami and against Washington showed a team capable of trading blows with elite competition.

Everything for the Gophers still flows through AJ Turner. The senior running back has been the most consistent offensive force in the conference, piling up 1,421 yards on 202 carries while averaging seven yards per attempt. Michigan hasn’t faced a runner quite like Turner this season, and Minnesota will test the Wolverines’ interior discipline early and often. Quarterback AJ Brand doesn’t need to win the game on his own, but his efficiency matters. Brand has completed 62 percent of his passes for nearly 1,000 yards with 10 touchdowns, and his ability to punish Michigan if it overcommits to the run will define Minnesota’s ceiling on Saturday.

Up front, freshman right tackle Robert Herndon has quietly been one of the Gophers’ most important players, logging more than 500 snaps without allowing a sack. That matchup against Michigan’s edge pressure will be critical in keeping Brand upright. Defensively, Minnesota’s confidence comes from its back seven. John Nestor and Dexter Ricks Jr. give the Gophers proven, physical corner play, with Ricks already producing three interceptions and a defensive touchdown this season. Emmanuel Karmo and freshman Mitch Horan bring edge pressure that can change games quickly — something Minnesota will need against an offense as efficient as Michigan’s.

If there’s one intangible that tilts this matchup to give Minnesota a edge, it’s Huntington Bank Stadium. Under Mick Smith, Minnesota has quietly built a reputation as one of the toughest home outs in the league. Smith is undefeated at home, 9-0 in the past two seasons and 3–0 at home against ranked opponents with wins over BYU, Nebraska, and UCLA.

Michigan brings polish, depth, and national title expectations. Minnesota brings momentum, a punishing run game, and a home crowd that knows what’s at stake. The Big Ten standings will look very different by the end of the night and for the Gophers, this is the kind of game that can redefine a season.


Key Players
AJ Brand (SO), QB, 95/151, 62%, 997 yds, 10 TDs, 4 INT
AJ Turner (SR), RB, 202 att, 1421 yds, 7.0 avg, 12 TDs
Kenric Lanier II (JR), WR, 22 rec, 241 yds, 3 TD
Robert Herndon (FR), RT, 543 snaps, 0 sacks allowed
John Nestor (SR), CB, 49 Tkles, 2 sacks, 4 DEFL
Dexter Ricks Jr (SR), CB, 34 Tkles, 3 interceptions, 2 DEFL, 1 def TD
Emmanuel Karmo (SO), REDG, 20 Tkles, 9 TFL, 7 sacks, 1 DEFL
Mitch Horan (FR), WILL, 37 Tkles, 12 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 2 DEFL

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Bryce Underwood (SO), QB, 153/216, 70%, 2,012 yds, 19 TDs, 2 INT
Justice Haynes (SR), RB, 121 att, 674 yds, 5.5 avg, 4 TDs
Andrew Marsh (SO), WR, 23 rec, 570 yds, 8 TD
Jake Guarnera (SO), C, 511 snaps, 0 sacks allowed
Troy Bowles (SR), WILL, 42 Tkles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 5 DEFL
Cameron Brandt (SR), LEDG, 25 Tkles, 8 TFL, 5 sacks
Jyaire Hill (SR), CB, 27 tkls, 2 INT, 17 catches allowed, 444 snaps
Armon Harris (FR), FS, 36 tkls, 1 INT, 3 DEFL, 21 catches allowed, 510 snaps

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

[Count]

Is this gonna be the game at AJ Turner actually dies on the field?

[ShireNiner]

that marcus freeman pack potent

He can leave now, Coastal is calling.

Is this gonna be the game at AJ Turner actually dies on the field?

If it means a win, then yes. If he dies, he dies.