University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, August 28
Huntington Bank Stadium
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Buffalo
Players Mentioned
Photo by: Bjorn Franke
Game 1: Minnesota vs. Buffalo
8/25/2025 10:26:00 AM | Football
THE ESSENTIALS
Date/Time: Aug. 28, 2025 / 7 p.m. CT
Site: Minneapolis
Stadium: Huntington Bank Stadium
Surface: FieldTurf
Capacity: 50,805
Series Overall: Minnesota leads 2-0
Streak Overall: Minnesota won 2
Series in Minnesota: Minnesota leads 2-0
Streak in Minnesota: Minnesota won 2
First Meeting: Minnesota won 41-17 in Minneapolis (9/21/2002)
Last Meeting: Minnesota won 17-7 in Minneapolis (8/31/2017)
Television: FS1 // Tim Brando (PXP), Devin Gardner (Analyst), Josh Sims (Reporter)
Gopher Radio: KFAN FM 100.3 | SiriusXM: 84; SXM App // Mike Grimm (PXP), Darrell Thompson (Analyst), Justin Gaard (Reporter), Tanner Hoops (Host), Dan Rowbotham (Engineer)
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. University of Minnesota football begins its 142nd season, and the ninth under head coach P.J. Fleck, Thursday, Aug. 28, as it hosts Buffalo at Huntington Bank Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on FS1 and the Gopher Radio Network.
2. Minnesota is 98-37-6 all-time in season openers, including wins in two of its last three openers (5-3 under Fleck). The Golden Gophers are 102-32-7 all-time in home openers with an identical stretch of two wins in their past three home openers (also 5-3 under Fleck). Minnesota, which is opening a season at home for the 13th straight year, is 10-6 in home openers since Huntington Bank Stadium opened in 2009. The kickoff date of Aug. 28 is tied for the earliest in program history, matching the 2014 opener against Eastern Illinois for earliest start date to a season.
3. Heralded recruit Koi Perich more than lived up to the hype in his true freshman season last year and now the accolades are rolling in for the sophomore safety and return specialist. The Esko, Minn., native has been named to numerous watch lists, including the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy, Thorpe Award and Hornung Award, and has been named a preseason All-American by multiple outlets including Walter Camp, ESPN, The Athletic, PFF and Phil Steele. In 2024, Perich was named a Sporting News Second Team All-American to become the first Minnesota freshman to be named an All-American since 1972 when the NCAA allowed freshmen to play to college football. Perich was also placed on the 2024 Freshman All-America Team by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), earned a spot on the All-Big Ten First Team on defense and was All-Big Ten Second Team as a return specialist. He was also one of five national finalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. Perich played in all 13 games for Minnesota last season and excelled on defense and special teams and even played a few snaps on offense. He finished fifth on the team with 46 tackles and had 2.5 tackles for loss. Perich led the Big Ten with five interceptions, setting a Minnesota freshman record in the process, and broke up three passes with one forced fumble. On special teams, he returned 16 kickoffs for 314 yards and 20 punts for 188 yards to become the only freshman in all of FBS since 1976 to have recorded more than 100 punt return yards, 100 kick return yards and five interceptions in a season. More on Perich can be found on Page 7 of the notes.
4. After a terrific season in 2024 for sixth-year senior transfer Max Brosmer, Minnesota is handing the keys to the offense to redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Lindsey. A native of Fayetteville, Ark., Lindsey played in three games last year as a true freshman, completing 4-of-5 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. His most extensive action came in a win over Rhode Island where he was 3-of-4 for 35 yards and an 8-yard TD strike, while in the 2025 Duke's Mayo Bowl he completed a 15-yard pass. A three-star prospect coming out of Fayetteville High School, Lindsey was named the state's Gatorade Player of the Year and the 7A Offensive Player of the Year. Lindsey helped lead his team to a 13-0 record and a state championship in which he was named MVP. On the year, Lindsey threw for 3,941 yards while completing 69 percent of his passes (264-for-383) as he tossed 54 touchdowns against just three interceptions for a TD:INT ratio of 18-to-1.
5. The 2025 campaign is the ninth for P.J. Fleck at Minnesota, making him the fifth-longest tenured coach in program history. His record stands at 58-39, putting him fifth in program history in overall wins and games coached (97), in addition to ranking fourth in Big Ten wins (34). Fleck's .598 win percentage is third best among Minnesota coaches with at least 45 games under their helm behind only Henry L. Williams (.786, 1900-21) and Bernie Bierman (.716, 1932-41, '45-50). In his 13th season overall as a college head coach, Fleck is 88-61 (.591).
You can read Minnesota's complete game notes here.
Date/Time: Aug. 28, 2025 / 7 p.m. CT
Site: Minneapolis
Stadium: Huntington Bank Stadium
Surface: FieldTurf
Capacity: 50,805
Series Overall: Minnesota leads 2-0
Streak Overall: Minnesota won 2
Series in Minnesota: Minnesota leads 2-0
Streak in Minnesota: Minnesota won 2
First Meeting: Minnesota won 41-17 in Minneapolis (9/21/2002)
Last Meeting: Minnesota won 17-7 in Minneapolis (8/31/2017)
Television: FS1 // Tim Brando (PXP), Devin Gardner (Analyst), Josh Sims (Reporter)
Gopher Radio: KFAN FM 100.3 | SiriusXM: 84; SXM App // Mike Grimm (PXP), Darrell Thompson (Analyst), Justin Gaard (Reporter), Tanner Hoops (Host), Dan Rowbotham (Engineer)
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. University of Minnesota football begins its 142nd season, and the ninth under head coach P.J. Fleck, Thursday, Aug. 28, as it hosts Buffalo at Huntington Bank Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on FS1 and the Gopher Radio Network.
2. Minnesota is 98-37-6 all-time in season openers, including wins in two of its last three openers (5-3 under Fleck). The Golden Gophers are 102-32-7 all-time in home openers with an identical stretch of two wins in their past three home openers (also 5-3 under Fleck). Minnesota, which is opening a season at home for the 13th straight year, is 10-6 in home openers since Huntington Bank Stadium opened in 2009. The kickoff date of Aug. 28 is tied for the earliest in program history, matching the 2014 opener against Eastern Illinois for earliest start date to a season.
3. Heralded recruit Koi Perich more than lived up to the hype in his true freshman season last year and now the accolades are rolling in for the sophomore safety and return specialist. The Esko, Minn., native has been named to numerous watch lists, including the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy, Thorpe Award and Hornung Award, and has been named a preseason All-American by multiple outlets including Walter Camp, ESPN, The Athletic, PFF and Phil Steele. In 2024, Perich was named a Sporting News Second Team All-American to become the first Minnesota freshman to be named an All-American since 1972 when the NCAA allowed freshmen to play to college football. Perich was also placed on the 2024 Freshman All-America Team by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), earned a spot on the All-Big Ten First Team on defense and was All-Big Ten Second Team as a return specialist. He was also one of five national finalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. Perich played in all 13 games for Minnesota last season and excelled on defense and special teams and even played a few snaps on offense. He finished fifth on the team with 46 tackles and had 2.5 tackles for loss. Perich led the Big Ten with five interceptions, setting a Minnesota freshman record in the process, and broke up three passes with one forced fumble. On special teams, he returned 16 kickoffs for 314 yards and 20 punts for 188 yards to become the only freshman in all of FBS since 1976 to have recorded more than 100 punt return yards, 100 kick return yards and five interceptions in a season. More on Perich can be found on Page 7 of the notes.
4. After a terrific season in 2024 for sixth-year senior transfer Max Brosmer, Minnesota is handing the keys to the offense to redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Lindsey. A native of Fayetteville, Ark., Lindsey played in three games last year as a true freshman, completing 4-of-5 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. His most extensive action came in a win over Rhode Island where he was 3-of-4 for 35 yards and an 8-yard TD strike, while in the 2025 Duke's Mayo Bowl he completed a 15-yard pass. A three-star prospect coming out of Fayetteville High School, Lindsey was named the state's Gatorade Player of the Year and the 7A Offensive Player of the Year. Lindsey helped lead his team to a 13-0 record and a state championship in which he was named MVP. On the year, Lindsey threw for 3,941 yards while completing 69 percent of his passes (264-for-383) as he tossed 54 touchdowns against just three interceptions for a TD:INT ratio of 18-to-1.
5. The 2025 campaign is the ninth for P.J. Fleck at Minnesota, making him the fifth-longest tenured coach in program history. His record stands at 58-39, putting him fifth in program history in overall wins and games coached (97), in addition to ranking fourth in Big Ten wins (34). Fleck's .598 win percentage is third best among Minnesota coaches with at least 45 games under their helm behind only Henry L. Williams (.786, 1900-21) and Bernie Bierman (.716, 1932-41, '45-50). In his 13th season overall as a college head coach, Fleck is 88-61 (.591).
You can read Minnesota's complete game notes here.
Highlights: Gophers 66, Northwestern State 0
Saturday, September 06
Sights & Sounds: Gophers-Demons
Saturday, September 06
Game Trailer: Gophers-Demons
Friday, September 05
Coach Fleck Previews Northwestern State
Monday, September 01