a true building block for the run game or a flash in the pan? Dylan breaks down final thoughts on the Akron win, recaps P.J. Fleck's Monday press conference (Husky Stadium, Demond Williams Jr., Joey Gerlach's big month), digs into three weeks of advanced PFF metrics on both sides of the ball, and previews Saturday's Big Ten opener at Washington. Plus: Minnesota and Michigan are set for Week 5 on FOX's Big Noon Kickoff.

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Timestamps

0:00 – Intro
0:43 – Gophers Nation subscription deal ($1 first week / $59.99 year)
1:57 – NIL Store promo code (GOPHERSNATION15)
2:36 – Show preview
2:52 – Final thoughts on the Akron win
8:21 – P.J. Fleck Monday press conference recap
15:52 – Advanced stats & metrics (PFF): passing, rushing, receiving, O-line, defense
27:36 – Early thoughts on Washington
32:32 – Minnesota-Michigan Week 5 Big Noon Kickoff news

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Minnesota beat Akron 41-7, but the run game managed just 37 yards on 18 carries through three quarters before a 154-yard fourth. Does that change the outlook for Big Ten play? Not for me.

On this Bleav in Minnesota instant takeaway, Dylan Callaghan-Croley breaks down the win and what it means heading into Washington:

Why the fourth-quarter surge doesn't erase three quarters of struggles
Greg Harbaugh Jr.'s play calling and why "they stacked the box" isn't enough against Akron

The passing game: Drake Lindsey, Javon Tracy, Noah Jennings, and the young tight ends

T.J. Thomas' 71-yard touchdown and why he needs more carries

Danny Collins' defense: the two-deep, Joey Gerlach's forced fumble, and the line's bounce-back

Special teams, penalties, and health coming out of Week 3
What to watch for in the Big Ten opener at Washington (Saturday, 10 p.m. CT)

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Dylan Callaghan-Croley discusses Minnesota's week three matchup against Akron. What he wants to see out of the Gophers and more.

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Minnesota dropped to 1-1 after an ugly Saturday showing against Mississippi State, and on this episode of Bleav in Minnesota, Gophers Nation publisher Dylan Callaghan-Croley digs into why this loss looked less like a bad week and more like the surfacing of two problems that have been building for multiple seasons.

On defense, Dylan goes through the secondary's rough afternoon — including the safety room's struggles and what the PFF coverage numbers actually show — before zooming out to the bigger issue: since the start of last season, Minnesota has allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 67.1% of their passes. Against the three best quarterbacks the Gophers have faced in that span (Julian Sayin, Dante Moore and KaMario Taylor), that number climbs to a staggering 88.6%. Dylan makes the case that this isn't a talent problem — it's a schematic one, and one that has to get solved before Big Ten play arrives.

On the other side of the ball, the run game gets the same treatment. Minnesota is averaging 3.63 yards per carry over its last 40 games, a stretch spanning three seasons and multiple offseasons of promised fixes. Dylan breaks down why that's so hard to square with the talent on the offensive line, what the pass protection numbers say by comparison, and why this has to improve for the Gophers to reach bowl eligibility.

Dylan also digs into P.J. Fleck's Monday press conference, giving credit where it's due for the specificity and accountability in Fleck's answers — while pushing back on the postgame framing that leaned on the team's fight and refusal to quit. There's also injury news on Darius Taylor and Hayden Moore, early thoughts on Akron, and a look ahead at a Week 4 trip to Washington with a 10:00 p.m. CT kickoff.

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Quick keys to the game and score predictions for Minnesota vs. Mississippi State, plus a full rundown of this week's Big Ten spread picks. Kickoff is Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS.

In this episode:

• Three keys to the game for Minnesota
• My score prediction vs. Maguire's
• A look at Colin Damms' (Maroon and White Daily) pick for comparison
• Full Big Ten Against-The-Spread picks for the entire slate

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Full written preview and more Gophers coverage at Gophers Nation (On3/Rivals).

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Minnesota hosts its first SEC opponent in over 50 years this Saturday as Mississippi State comes to the Twin Cities, and it's shaping up to be one of the best matchups of week two in college football. In this episode, we break down Jeff Lebby's Veer and Shoot offense and why quarterback Kamario Taylor has coaches on both sides calling him one of the most talented players they've faced. We dig into Mississippi State's revamped defense under new coordinator Zach Arnett, get an outside perspective from Maroon and White Daily on how Starkville is feeling heading into Minneapolis, and lay out what Minnesota needs to do on both sides of the ball to pull off the win. Plus, our final score predictions for Saturday's 2:30 p.m. kickoff on CBS.

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Cade Tyson is back with the Golden Gophers — but is he eligible? We break down where things stand with his court case and what his return means for Minnesota's 2026-27 hoops outlook.

Then we shift to football recruiting: five 2027 commits who've stood out through the first few weeks of the high school season — including a QB who transferred programs and is finally getting his shot, a Moorhead legend continuing to put up ridiculous numbers, and a converted hockey player turning heads on the D-line.

Plus, who's making the trip to campus this weekend for Minnesota vs. Mississippi State — top targets from Georgia, Arizona, and Southern California all set to visit.

For premium recruiting intel and inside scoops before anyone else, subscribe at GophersNation.com — $1 for 5 days free.

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In our first Monday Briefing of the 2026 season, we close the book on Minnesota’s dominant 59-7 win over Eastern Illinois and break down the unfortunate season-ending leg injury to true freshman running back Ryan Estrada. Plus, we react to P.J. Fleck’s high praise for Mississippi State quarterback KaMario Taylor, assess the challenge of Jeff Lebby’s high-powered veer-and-shoot offense, and deliver our early first impressions ahead of Saturday’s CBS showdown at Huntington Bank Stadium.
Topics covered in this episode:

• Ryan Estrada Injury Update: Sources confirm to Gophers Nation that true freshman RB Ryan Estrada is out for the 2026 season. We break down the play, the impact on the depth chart behind Darius Taylor and T.J. Thomas, and what it means for Estrada's long-term development.

• EIU Final Thoughts: Quick takeaways from a clean, efficient 59-7 win—taking care of business and staying healthy overall.

• P.J. Fleck Presser Soundbite: Hear what Coach Fleck had to say about Mississippi State quarterback KaMario Taylor and why he considers him one of the most dynamic signal-callers the Gophers have prepared for.

• Scouting Mississippi State: First impressions of Jeff Lebby’s lightning-fast veer-and-shoot offense, Taylor’s dual-threat NFL traits, the Bulldogs' speed at receiver (Anthony Evans III, Marquis Johnson, Zion Ragins), and early betting line/ESPN FPI movement.

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