Looks like college football coaches are a little bit higher on the Gophers than media members.
No votes for Gophers football team in AP preseason Top 25
Alabama and Ohio State go 1-2 in the poll of media members. Manageable early schedule, on paper, could move Gophers into Top 25.
The Associated Press released its college football preseason Top 25 on Monday, and Minnesota did not receive a vote. In the USA Today preseason poll released Aug. 3, the Gophers received six votes, good for a tie for 50th with Troy.
Both the AP and coaches polls had the same top six: 1. Alabama, 2. Ohio State, 3. Florida State, 4. USC, 5. Clemson and 6. Penn State. Among other Big Ten teams in the AP poll, Wisconsin is No. 9 and Michigan is No. 11.
While the Gophers aren't in the Top 25, there is a reasonable path for them to get there: Win early before the schedule toughens later.
First, their nonconference schedule -- vs. Buffalo, at Oregon State, vs. Middle Tennessee -- is conducive for a 3-0 start. There's no powerhouse like TCU or USC on the nonconference schedule, as in recent years.
Then, they open the Big Ten schedule with home games in three of the first four weeks -- vs. Maryland, at Purdue, vs. Michigan State and vs. Illinois. Those teams were a combined 7-29 in Big Ten play last year. Should the Gophers get to 5-0, there would be a case for them to be in the Top 25. If they get to 7-0, that should cement a ranking. Of course, those are big "ifs" for a team under a new coach with a platoon system at quarterback.
After those first four Big Ten games, the schedule stiffens considerably. Back-to-back trips to Iowa and Michigan precede a home game against Nebraska, a visit to Northwestern and the season finale at home against Wisconsin.
Minnesota led in the second half before the Boilermakers pulled away on strong three-point shooting.