University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, November 14
University Park, PA
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Penn State
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
11/11/2026 10:24:00 AM | Football
THE ESSENTIALS
Date/Time: Nov. 14, 2026 / 6 p.m.
Site: State College, Pa.
Stadium: Beaver Stadium
Surface: Natural Grass
Capacity: 106,572
Series Overall: Minnesota trails 6-11
Series Streak: Minnesota lost 2
Series at Penn State: Minnesota trails 2-6
Streak at Penn State: Minnesota lost 4
First Meeting: Minnesota lost, 38-20, in State College (9/4/1993)
Last Meeting: Minnesota lost, 26-25, in Minneapolis (11/23/2024)
Television: FS1 // Dan Hellie (PXP), Robert Smith (Analyst)
Gopher Radio: KFAN FM 100.3 | SiriusXM: 266 or 976; SXM App // Mike Grimm (PXP), Darrell Thompson (Analyst), Justin Gaard (Reporter), Tanner Hoops (Host), Dan Rowbotham (Engineer)
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. Meeting for the first time in State College since 2022, NR/RV Minnesota (5-4, 3-3 B1G) visits Penn State (5-4, 2-4) Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on FS1 and the Gopher Radio Network.
2. Saturday marks the 18th battle for the Governor's Victory Bell, a full history of which can be found on Page 69 of the Notes. First played for in 1993 in recognition of Penn State's first Big Ten game, the all-time series record for the Bell is tilted in the Nittany Lions' favor at 11-6. The Bell is currently in Penn State's possession following a 26-25 victory in 2024. The Gophers are looking to avoid three straight losses in the series for the first time since dropping four straight from 2005-10.
3. A win Saturday would mean that Minnesota holds possession of all four of its rivalry trophies for the first time in program history. The Gophers have Paul Bunyan's Axe after last season's 17-7 win over Wisconsin. They then recorded a 20-14 win on Oct. 3 over then-RV/24 Michigan to take control of the Little Brown Jug for the first time since 2014. It also ended an 18-game home losing streak in the series. On Oct. 24, the Gophers defeated then-No. 15/14 Iowa, 13-10, to claim Floyd of Rosedale for the first time since 2023 and first time at home since 2014. The win also snapped a five-game home losing streak to the Hawkeyes in the process. It's already the first time since Oct. of 1978 that the Gophers have ownership of Floyd of Rosedale, the Little Brown Jug and Paul Bunyan's Axe at the same time.
4. Minnesota has gone up against a defensive gauntlet since the beginning of October, including facing Michigan, Iowa, Indiana and UCLA, though the Gophers did go 2-2 against those teams. All four of those defenses entered their respective contests ranked 22nd or better in total defense in the FBS, including three ranked eighth or better. All four ranked 23rd or better in scoring defense, including three in the top-8 with Indiana at No. 2 and UCLA at No. 5 at the time of the game. All four were top-15 in yards per play allowed, including Indiana at No. 2 and UCLA at No. 3. All four were top-18 in rush defense and top-14 in rush yards allowed per attempt, including Indiana at No. 1. The test doesn't get any easier Saturday as Penn State enters ranked 19th in total defense, third in passing yards allowed per game and No. 1 in pass yards allowed per attempt.
5. The 2026 campaign is the 10th for P.J. Fleck at Minnesota. He is tied for the fourth-longest tenured coach in program history, the second-longest active tenured coach in the Big Ten and the 10th-longest tenured head coach overall in the FBS. Fleck's Minnesota record stands at 71-48, putting him fourth in program history in overall wins. He's also fourth in Big Ten wins (42) and fifth in games coached (119). Fleck's overall win percentage of .597 is third best among Minnesota coaches with more than 40 games under their helm behind only Henry L. Williams (.786, 1900-21) and Bernie Bierman (.716, 1932-41, '45-50). In his 14th season overall as a college head coach, Fleck is 101-70 (.594), making him one of 21 active head coaches to reach 100 wins at the FBS level.
You can read Minnesota's complete game notes here.
Date/Time: Nov. 14, 2026 / 6 p.m.
Site: State College, Pa.
Stadium: Beaver Stadium
Surface: Natural Grass
Capacity: 106,572
Series Overall: Minnesota trails 6-11
Series Streak: Minnesota lost 2
Series at Penn State: Minnesota trails 2-6
Streak at Penn State: Minnesota lost 4
First Meeting: Minnesota lost, 38-20, in State College (9/4/1993)
Last Meeting: Minnesota lost, 26-25, in Minneapolis (11/23/2024)
Television: FS1 // Dan Hellie (PXP), Robert Smith (Analyst)
Gopher Radio: KFAN FM 100.3 | SiriusXM: 266 or 976; SXM App // Mike Grimm (PXP), Darrell Thompson (Analyst), Justin Gaard (Reporter), Tanner Hoops (Host), Dan Rowbotham (Engineer)
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. Meeting for the first time in State College since 2022, NR/RV Minnesota (5-4, 3-3 B1G) visits Penn State (5-4, 2-4) Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on FS1 and the Gopher Radio Network.
2. Saturday marks the 18th battle for the Governor's Victory Bell, a full history of which can be found on Page 69 of the Notes. First played for in 1993 in recognition of Penn State's first Big Ten game, the all-time series record for the Bell is tilted in the Nittany Lions' favor at 11-6. The Bell is currently in Penn State's possession following a 26-25 victory in 2024. The Gophers are looking to avoid three straight losses in the series for the first time since dropping four straight from 2005-10.
3. A win Saturday would mean that Minnesota holds possession of all four of its rivalry trophies for the first time in program history. The Gophers have Paul Bunyan's Axe after last season's 17-7 win over Wisconsin. They then recorded a 20-14 win on Oct. 3 over then-RV/24 Michigan to take control of the Little Brown Jug for the first time since 2014. It also ended an 18-game home losing streak in the series. On Oct. 24, the Gophers defeated then-No. 15/14 Iowa, 13-10, to claim Floyd of Rosedale for the first time since 2023 and first time at home since 2014. The win also snapped a five-game home losing streak to the Hawkeyes in the process. It's already the first time since Oct. of 1978 that the Gophers have ownership of Floyd of Rosedale, the Little Brown Jug and Paul Bunyan's Axe at the same time.
4. Minnesota has gone up against a defensive gauntlet since the beginning of October, including facing Michigan, Iowa, Indiana and UCLA, though the Gophers did go 2-2 against those teams. All four of those defenses entered their respective contests ranked 22nd or better in total defense in the FBS, including three ranked eighth or better. All four ranked 23rd or better in scoring defense, including three in the top-8 with Indiana at No. 2 and UCLA at No. 5 at the time of the game. All four were top-15 in yards per play allowed, including Indiana at No. 2 and UCLA at No. 3. All four were top-18 in rush defense and top-14 in rush yards allowed per attempt, including Indiana at No. 1. The test doesn't get any easier Saturday as Penn State enters ranked 19th in total defense, third in passing yards allowed per game and No. 1 in pass yards allowed per attempt.
5. The 2026 campaign is the 10th for P.J. Fleck at Minnesota. He is tied for the fourth-longest tenured coach in program history, the second-longest active tenured coach in the Big Ten and the 10th-longest tenured head coach overall in the FBS. Fleck's Minnesota record stands at 71-48, putting him fourth in program history in overall wins. He's also fourth in Big Ten wins (42) and fifth in games coached (119). Fleck's overall win percentage of .597 is third best among Minnesota coaches with more than 40 games under their helm behind only Henry L. Williams (.786, 1900-21) and Bernie Bierman (.716, 1932-41, '45-50). In his 14th season overall as a college head coach, Fleck is 101-70 (.594), making him one of 21 active head coaches to reach 100 wins at the FBS level.
You can read Minnesota's complete game notes here.
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