Gophers’ Fleck on Thursday opener: ‘It’s what Minnesota is all about’
P.J. Fleck on Gophers Thursday opener: 'It's what Minnesota is all about'
P.J. Fleck spoke with reporters on Monday at Athletes Village, with the Gophers' 2026 opener less than two weeks away against Eastern Illinois at Huntington Bank Stadium. As has been tradition during Fleck's tenure, Minnesota is playing on a Thursday night during the State Fair.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The University of Minnesota football season is less than two weeks away, and the Gophers are wrapping up fall camp as they get ready to host Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Sept. 3.
‘One of the best events of the year’
What we know:
Thursday night season-openers have been a bit of a tradition for the Gophers, especially under P.J. Fleck. The Gophers finish up their fall camp with a trip as a team to the Minnesota State Fair on the opening Thursday, which is exactly one week away from kickoff.
The team then shifts into game-planning mode, and the atmosphere grows as students get to campus ahead of classes starting.
Fleck says he loves Thursday night openers. He’s 6-3 on opening night at Minnesota. The three losses are North Carolina, Ohio State and Michigan.
"I think it’s what Minnesota is all about. You’re tying the Thursday night game into the State Fair, just the pride people have of living in Minnesota," Fleck said Monday. "Our students haven’t started school yet, so all the freshmen are there. It’s one of the best events of the year, it brings our entire community together."
Big expectations for Drake Lindsey
Why you should care:
The Gophers enter another season being largely overlooked on the national stage. Their over/under win total is 6.5. They have plenty of defensive talent back, but will go as far as quarterback Drake Lindsey takes them. Lindsey is entering his second season as the full-time starter, after going 8-5 last year as a redshirt freshman.
Lindsey threw for 2,382 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions. This summer featured some adversity, with the death of his grandfather and a May arrest for underage drinking and having a fake ID at an Arkansas bar. NFL Draft experts say Lindsey has the potential to be a first round selection in 2027 if he puts up big numbers, and wins.
"Drake has grown maybe the most of anybody on this football team. He has huge expectations for himself, but he understands the transparency of what he has to do to grow and get better," Fleck said.
Fleck enters Year 10
By the numbers:
Fleck comes into his 10th season at Minnesota, now the second longest-tenured head coach in the Big Ten. He’s 66-44 with the Gophers, including 39-40 in Big Ten play and 7-0 in bowl games.
Fleck, now 45, was asked Monday what he would tell his 35-year-old self now about coaching. He talked about three of his coaching pillars:
- Control is for amateurs (Hire good people around you)
- This too shall pass (There are ups and downs, and you move on)
- Our job is constant crisis interrupted by brief success (There’s always a way to get better)
"I don’t think the 32-year-old would listen to the 45-year-old," Fleck joked. "It’d be interesting if those two met, what kind of conversation they’d have."
What's next:
The Gophers open the 2026 season on Thursday, Sept. 3, against Eastern Illinois at Huntington Bank Stadium. It’s the first of three straight non-conference home games.