The Michigan Wolverines are back at The Big House for the fourth game in a row this Saturday to open up Big Ten play against Iowa. However, they will finally hit the road for the first time in 2026 the following weekend when they travel to Minnesota for the right to retain the Little Brown Jug.
We are getting some more details about that game, as on Monday afternoon, the Big Ten released the start times and TV designations for games being played in Week 5. To the joy of probably 99.9 percent of Michigan
fans, the game will kickoff at noon and be aired on FOX.
Minnesota is 2-1 so far this season, with big wins over Eastern Illinois (59-7) and Akron (41-7), and an equally big loss two weeks ago to Mississippi State (38-13).
Led by longtime head coach P.J. Fleck, the Golden Gophers have a potent rush attack once again. The group is averaging 4.4 yards per carry in 2026, with TJ Thomas being the statistical leader in the backfield with 23 carries for 173 yards and one touchdown. Quarterback Drake Lindsey is also off to a pretty good start to the season, completing 67-of-103 passes for 747 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. He has also only been sacked three times in three games, so the big boys up front have done a good job keeping him upright.
Michigan has a five-game winning streak against Minnesota, with the most recent win coming in 2024 at The Big House by a final score of 27-24. The Wolverines took the Golden Gophers to the woodshed the last time they traveled to Minneapolis, as Michigan won in blowout fashion, 52-10, back in 2023. Will Johnson and Keon Sabb each had a pick-six — with Johnson’s being the first play from scrimmage of the entire game — and J.J. McCarthy accounted for three total touchdowns.
The last time Minnesota beat Michigan was in Ann Arbor all the way back in 2014 by a final score of 30-14.
As for this week’s game, the Wolverines open up Big Ten play against Iowa at Michigan Stadium. That game is set to kickoff at 3:30 p.m. on CBS.
