4 reasons Michigan football could lose to Minnesota, and why Iโm picking Michigan anyway
Michigan and Minnesota havenโt met since 2017, when the Wolverines walloped the Golden Gophers in a weather-delayed, soaking wet night game. Well, Iโm about to break down four well-thought-out reasons why Michigan will lose to Minnesota, then Iโm going to pick Michigan to win anyway. Itโs like Minnesota picked up a โMichigan letdown gameโ appetizer menu and ordered an entire sampler platter. Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis. At times last season, Michigan struggled to get pressure on the quarterback.
Bateman back for Minnesota, but no Parsons for Penn State
Minnesota is getting its star wide receiver back for an abbreviated Big Ten season. Minnesota announced Wednesday that Rashod Bateman was cleared to play this season by the NCAA and Big Ten after opting out in August. At Penn State, coach James Franklin closed the door on All-America linebacker Micah Parsons returning to the Nittany Lions. Both Bateman and Parsons opted out of the 2020 season before the Big Ten postponed amid concerns about the pandemic. Purdue All-America receiver Rondale Moore, who opted out early like Parsons and Bateman, was cleared to play for the Boilermakers last week.
Fleck, Gophers dismiss momentum loss: 'Kind of make-believe'
Viewing the loss of the 2020 schedule in a vacuum, however, is never the perspective that Fleck and his staff and players would take. The more time we have to build this football team, the better were going to be, Fleck said. The pandemic already cost the Gophers one star player, with NFL-bound wide receiver Rashod Bateman opting out for health reasons. The original 2020 slate had plenty of advantages for the Gophers, with no Ohio State or Penn State on the schedule and no road games until October. Now were going to do it our way, Fleck said, adding: There will be another season.