The 2016 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season . They were led by first-year head coach Tracy Claeys and played their home games at TCF Bank Stadium . They were a member of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference . They finished the season 9–4, 5–4 in conference play to finish in fourth place in the West Division. They were invited to the Holiday Bowl where they defeated Washington State.
Schedule Minnesota faced all six West Division opponents: Illinois , Iowa , Nebraska , Northwestern , Purdue , and Wisconsin . The Gophers also faced East Division opponents Maryland , Penn State , and Rutgers .[ 1] Oregon State of the Pac-12 Conference , Indiana State of the Missouri Valley Football Conference , and Colorado State of the Mountain West Conference . Minnesota had one bye week during the season between their games against Indiana State and Colorado State.
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 1 8:00 pm Oregon State * BTN W 30–2344,582 September 10 11:00 am Indiana State * TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN ESPNews W 58–2841,026 September 24 11:00 am Colorado State * TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN ESPNU W 31–2444,854 October 1 2:30 pm at Penn State BTN L 26–29 OT 95,332 October 8 11:00 am Iowa TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN (rivalry ) ESPN2 L 7–1449,145 October 15 11:00 am at Maryland ESPNU W 31–1041,465 October 22 11:00 am Rutgers TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN ESPNU W 34–3246,096 October 29 11:00 am at Illinois BTN W 40–1740,090 November 5 2:30 pm Purdue TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN BTN W 44–3142,832 November 12 6:30 pm at No. 21 Nebraska BTN L 17–2490,456 November 19 2:30 pm Northwestern TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN BTN W 29–1238,162 November 26 2:30 pm at No. 5 Wisconsin BTN L 17–3177,216 December 27 6:00 pm vs. Washington State * ESPN W 17–1248,704 *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time
Game summaries
Oregon State Total Beavers 7 7 9 0 23 Golden Gophers 0 17 0 13 30
Indiana State Total Sycamores 7 0 14 7 28 Golden Gophers 14 24 10 10 58
Colorado State Total Rams 7 0 10 7 24 Golden Gophers 7 10 7 7 31
At Penn State Total Golden Gophers 3 10 0 10 3 26 Nittany Lions 0 3 17 3 6 29
Iowa Total Hawkeyes 0 3 3 8 14 Golden Gophers 0 0 7 0 7
At Maryland Total Golden Gophers 0 14 3 14 31 Terrapins 0 0 0 10 10
Rutgers Total Scarlet Knights 3 7 13 9 32 Golden Gophers 21 0 10 3 34
At Illinois Total Golden Gophers 14 0 7 19 40 Fighting Illini 7 0 7 3 17
Purdue Total Boilermakers 14 14 0 3 31 Golden Gophers 10 13 7 14 44
Purdue at Minnesota
Total Golden Gophers 7 10 0 0 17 #21 Cornhuskers 3 7 7 7 24
Northwestern Total Wildcats 0 0 6 6 12 Golden Gophers 6 6 3 14 29
Total Golden Gophers 3 14 0 0 17 #6 Badgers 0 7 3 21 31
Total Golden Gophers 0 3 7 7 17 Cougars 3 3 0 6 12
Personnel
Coaching Staff Name Position Alma mater Joined Staff Tracy Claeys Head coach Kansas State (1994)2010 Brian Anderson Wide receivers coach Illinois (1994)2010 Jay Johnson Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach Northern Iowa (1993)2015 Bart Miller Offensive line coach New Mexico (2007)2015 Jeff Phelps Defensive line coach Ball State (1997)2010 Pat Poore Running backs coach / co-special team coordinator Fort Hays State (1984)2010 Rob Reeves H-backs coach / tight ends coach Saginaw Valley State (1996)2010 Jay Sawvel Defensive coordinator Mount Union (1993)2010 Mike Sherels Linebackers coach Minnesota (2007)2013 Dan O'Brien Assistant Defensive Backs / co-special team coordinator / assistant head coach St. Thomas (1987)2010 Eric Klein Strength and conditioning Carleton College (1993)2010
Roster
Awards and honors Weekly Awards Player Award Date Awarded Ref. Emmit Carpenter Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week October 3, 2016 [ 2] Rodney Smith Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week October 24, 2016 [ 3] Emmit Carpenter Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week November 7, 2016 [ 4] Blake Cashman Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week November 21, 2016 [ 5]
Players drafted into the NFL
References ^ "Future Schedules" . Archived from the original on December 26, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2015 .^ "Big Ten Football Players of the Week" . Big Ten Conference the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016 .^ "Big Ten Football Players of the Week" . Big Ten Conference the original on October 25, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016 .^ "Big Ten Football Players of the Week" . Big Ten Conference the original on November 13, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016 .^ "Big Ten Football Players of the Week" . Big Ten Conference the original on November 21, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2016 .
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
