What to know about Washington Huskies’ next opponent: Minnesota

Washington (3-0) vs. Minnesota (2-1) 

Kickoff: 8 p.m. Saturday 

Where: Husky Stadium

What to know: Washington handled FCS Eastern Washington fairly easily during the past weekend, emerging unscathed from nonconference play for a second consecutive season under coach Jedd Fisch. 

Now the real tests start for the Huskies (3-0) as Big Ten play opens for Washington on Saturday. It starts with a visit from Minnesota, a team UW has not played since joining the conference in 2024. 

It’s hard to believe at times, but P.J. Fleck, hired before the 2017 season, is the second-longest tenured coach in the Big Ten behind only Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz. Entering his 10th season at the helm for Minnesota, Fleck has accumulated five seasons with at least eight wins and is a perfect 7-0 in bowl games. Minnesota finished the 2024 and 2025 seasons with identical 8-5 records while going 5-4 in Big Ten play. 

Minnesota entered the 2026 season with some significant promise after retaining a majority of its roster. Edge rusher Anthony Smith, a 2025 first-team All-Big Ten selection by the conference’s coaches and a second-team All-conference honoree according to the media, chose to stay for his fifth season after accumulating 17.5 tackles for a loss and 12.5 sacks a year ago. Smith was a second-team preseason AP All-American selection.

Minnesota also returned linebacker Maverick Baranowski, its 2025 leading tackler; safety Kerry Brown, a 2025 All-Big Ten honorable mention; and defensive back John Nestor, whose six interceptions was tied for first in the conference a year ago. 

On offense, quarterback Drake Lindsey came back after passing for 2,382 yards and 18 touchdowns during his first full season as a starter in 2025. Minnesota also returned running back Darius Taylor, who accumulated 2,455 yards rushing and 24 total touchdowns during three seasons at Minnesota, and left guard Greg Johnson, who joined Smith as a second-team preseason AP All-American. 

But despite all the returning talent, Fleck lost one of the pillars of his program before the 2026 season. Safety Koi Perich, an Esko, Minn., native who earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as a freshman in 2024 and was a 2026 first-team preseason AP All-American, transferred to Oregon during the offseason. 

Minnesota’s season got off to a rocky start. Fleck’s team handled FCS Eastern Illinois 59-7, but suffered a 38-13 defeat at home against No. 24 Mississippi State on Sept. 12. 

The Golden Gophers (2-1) were outgained 479-292, and gained just 13 yards rushing. Taylor left the game with six carries for 15 yards after sustaining a lower-body injury, and Minnesota committed 12 penalties for 115 yards. Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor gained 313 total yards and threw three touchdowns, while the Minnesota offense failed to score a single touchdown. Four Mississippi State players tallied at least 13 yards rushing, tying Minnesota’s team total. 

Minnesota rebounded with a 41-7 win against Akron, but Darius Taylor, who missed three games in 2025 with a hamstring injury, did not play and his status is uncertain against Washington.