Six Reasons Minnesota Football Team Will Have a Winning Season in 2023

1. Continuity and Familiarity

Head Coach P.J. Fleck enters his eighth season at the helm in Minneapolis, tying him for the third-longest tenured coach in the Big Ten. Six of his 10 assistant coaches have been with the program for at least five seasons, providing stability and continuity for the team.

2. Talented and Experienced Quarterback

Tanner Morgan, a redshirt senior, is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the country. He has started 42 games for the Gophers and has thrown for over 8,000 yards and 65 touchdowns in his career. Morgan is a leader on and off the field and is poised to have a big season in 2023.

3. Top-15 Recruiting Class

The Gophers signed a top-15 recruiting class in 2023, according to 247Sports. The class includes several highly touted prospects, including wide receiver Dasan McCullough, running back Mar'Keise Irving, and defensive end Jalen Logan-Redding. These players are expected to make an immediate impact on the team.

4. Favorable Schedule

The Gophers have a relatively favorable schedule in 2023. They play only three teams that finished in the top 25 of the AP Poll last season: Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State. They also have five home games against teams that finished with a losing record in 2022.

5. Experienced Defense

The Gophers defense returns eight starters from last season, including All-Big Ten performers Thomas Rush and Justin Walley. The defense is expected to be one of the strengths of the team in 2023.

6. Motivation to Prove Doubters Wrong

The Gophers were picked to finish seventh in the Big Ten West Division by the media in July. This has given the team extra motivation to prove the doubters wrong. The Gophers are hungry to show that they are a team to be reckoned with in 2023.