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Iowa football 2025 early opponent preview: Minnesota
Gophers will be leaning on redshirt freshman QB in 2025
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Editor’s note: Eighth in a 12-part series previewing each of Iowa football’s 2025 regular-season opponents.
IOWA CITY — Floyd of Rosedale football games at Kinnick Stadium have often been close finishes.
The 2023 game at Kinnick was a two-point Minnesota win (in part because of an invalid fair catch call that drew much ire from Iowa fans). The 2021 game was a five-point Iowa win, and the 2019 game was a four-point win.
While some of the rivalry renewals in Minneapolis (including in 2024) have not been quite so close, the last Iowa-Minnesota game in Iowa City that was decided by more than seven points was in 2012.
For as competitive as the Floyd of Rosedale rivalry can be, though, the Hawkeyes’ Week 9 game against the Gophers may seem like somewhat of a reprieve. That’s because Minnesota — with a over/under win total of 6.5 from Las Vegas after an 8-5 season last year — is sandwiched on Iowa’s schedule between two teams that made last year’s College Football Playoff (and have good chances of repeating in 2025).
All signs point toward the Gophers passing the torch at quarterback to Drake Lindsey — a redshirt freshman and former three-star recruit who other official visit was to Colorado State. Lindsey appeared in three games as a true freshman and went 4-of-5 for 50 yards and one touchdown.
Minnesota will have a familiar face at running back as Darius Taylor prepares for his second season as the Gophers’ top option at running back. Taylor ranked fifth in the Big Ten last season with 82.2 rushing yards per game and averaged 4.8 yards per attempt. Iowa held him to a mere 34 rushing yards on 10 carries in last year’s Floyd of Rosedale game, though.
Defensively, Minnesota must replace the production of 2025 draft picks Justin Walley and Cody Lindenberg, among others. The Gophers also have a new defensive coordinator (Danny Collins) after Corey Hetherman bolted for Miami (Fla.) after one season in Minneapolis. Key returning players on defense include defensive lineman Deven Eastern and safeties Koi Perich and Kerry Brown.
Iowa vs. Minnesota: 3 things to watch
- Darius Taylor vs. Iowa’s defensive front. Minnesota went 7-0 last year when Taylor rushed for at least 60 yards. When he fell short of that mark, the Gophers were 1-4. (The Gophers also lost the one game where he didn’t play.) Taylor’s production could be even more important this year with an inexperienced quarterback under center.
- What do Kamari Moulton and Jaziun Patterson accomplish on the ground behind Iowa’s experienced offensive line? Last year’s Floyd of Rosedale win was as drama-free as it was in large part because of the Hawkeyes’ 272 rushing yards.
- How much of an advantage does Iowa have on special teams? Big Ten Punter of the Year Rhys Dakin, Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year Kaden Wetjen and kicker Drew Stevens all are back for Iowa in 2025. Minnesota, meanwhile, lost kicker Dragan Kesich and punter Mark Crawford.
2025 prognosis
As competitive as Iowa-Minnesota games usually are, Iowa appears to have the upper hand against a Minnesota team that will be leaning on a young quarterback and reconfigured offensive line in 2025.
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