Minnesota Football: Wednesday Nugz

First things first. Minnesota is 6-2 and bowl eligible. Moreover, thanks to a logjam at the top of the Big Ten West standings, the Gophers are still technically in contention for the division and a berth in the conference title game.

In short, let’s do this!

Gophers

• It’s been a long time since Jonah Pirsig saw the field. A sprained left ankle has kept him out of competition, but he was cleared to practice Tuesday, and if he’s ready, he’ll get to play on Saturday (Joe Christensen, Minneapolis Star Tribune).
• Wide receiver Brian Smith has been dismissed from the team. According to Tracy Claeys, Smith had violated team rules, and the dismissal appears to be related to a fight Smith was in recently. Claeys noted that player behavior is ultimately his responsibility and that he takes these issues seriously:

Sometimes there’s a mentality out there that as long as you’re winning, you can do what you want, and people will oversee it and find a way to get around it and whatever. But that’s not the case. I tell them all the time, you can play hard and aggressive on the football field. But when you’re off of it, you can be a good person, you can go to class, you can be involved in the community, and that is your obligation. And whenever you make a bad choice, you’re taking a chance of losing a privilege of being a part of the football team at the University of Minnesota.

• The restraining orders issues against five Minnesota football players remain in place as of this writing. Judge Mel Dickstein denied a motion from the players’ attorney who argued a lack of due process. Hearings are being held today to determine if the orders will remain in place (Brian Stahl, Strib).
• Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press has more detailed information on the restraining orders HERE.
• Coming in low and heavy with the #HOTTAEKS is Patrick Reusse who notes that things are going really well for former area coaches Matt Limegrover (Gophers) and Jeff Davidson (Vikings). I assume this is Reusse’s reaction to the news that Norv Turner’s tenure with the Vikings has come to an end, according to NFL.com.
• CLANGA CLANGA CLANGA! The Gophers have added Mississippi State to the football schedule in 2026 and 2027. The Bulldogs will play at Minnesota on Sept. 12, 2026, and the Gophers will make the return visit to Starkville on Sept. 11, 2027.

The Gophers will take on Purdue at TCF Bank Stadium this Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 PM CDT. The game will air on BTN.

Purdue

How are things going in West Lafayette now that a new era has dawned? Well...

• Purdue is coming to Minneapolis off a loss to Penn State. The game was tied 17-17 at the half and then Purdue football happened. An interception and a muffed punt began a scoring avalanche for Penn State, and the game turned into a 62-24 rout.
• Injury report: there is no depth anywhere, according to our friends at Hammer and Rails.
• Coach Parker is worried about the Minnesota run game, mostly because Purdue is having a terrible time against the run despite a change in scheme designed to address poor play against the run.
• ESPN’s Bruce Feldman reports that Purdue is willing to back up a big truck of money into their next head coach’s driveway. Basically, money is no object (Dave Bangert, Lafayette Journal and Courier).

Finally, this picture is worth way more than 1000 words: