Run the North | Golden Gophers football

[ShireNiner]

Freshman linebacker Mitch Horan headlines All-American awards for Gophers

Gophers' Earn Three All-Americans, 11 Big Ten Honors

By: Aiden “AJ” Wexler | January 5, 2027
@AidensFake


MINNEAPOLIS— Back in October 2025, Mitch Horan committed to the University of Minnesota as a 5-star recruit and the number 2 player in the state of Minnesota. Horan had Miami (FL), Ohio State, and USC calling his name, but he chose to stay home and play for the Golden Gophers instead. A year later, Horan has shown that it was the right decision, earning first-team All-American, Freshman All-American, first-team All-Big Ten, and Freshman All-Big Ten honors.

Horan put his name in the record books earlier this season, setting a Big Ten record with five (5) sacks in a game against Notre Dame. Since that week 8 game, the linebacker has continued to impress, finishing the regular season sixth in tackles (87), second in sacks (9.5), and fourth in tackles for a loss (26) for the team.

Joining Horan in All-American honors are AJ Turner and senior free safety Jourdan Thomas (54 tkls, 3 INTs, 2 sacks).

All-Americans (team)
A.J. Turner (1st) - 316 atts, 2,061 yds, 6.5 avg, 22 TDs, 29 rec, 274 rec yds, 3 rec TDs
Mitch Horan (1st, Freshman) - 87 tkls, 26 TFL, 9.5 sacks, 1 INT
Jourdan Thomas (1st) - 93 tkls, 5 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 INTs

Big Ten All-Conference (team)
A.J. Turner (1st) - 316 atts, 2,061 yds, 6.5 avg, 22 TDs, 29 rec, 274 rec yds, 3 rec TDs
Aidan Gousby (1st) - 106 tkls, 21 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 INTs
Mitch Horan (1st, Freshman) - 87 tkls, 26 TFL, 9.5 sacks, 1 INT
Dexter Ricks JR (1st) 75 tkls, 3 TFL, 4 INTs
Jourdan Thomas (1st) - 93 tkls, 5 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 INTs
Emmanuel Karmo (2nd) - 49 tkls, 23 TFL, 12.5 sacks
John Nestor (2nd) - 99 tkls, 8 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 INT
Kerry Brown (2nd) - 102 tkls, 13 TFL, 1 sack, 3 INTs
Grant Washington (Freshman) - 18 atts, 227 yds, 12.6 avg, 2 TDs, 2 rec, 13 rec yds
Xavier Ford (Freshman) - 58 atts, 359 yds, 6.2 avg, 2 TDs, 15 rec, 72 rec yds

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Aiden “AJ” Wexleris a writer for ShireNiner Nation covering Minnesota Gophers Football. He previously covered local high schools in the Minneapolis area. He is based in Minneapolis, MN. Follow AJ on Twitter @AidensFake.

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[ShireNiner]

BOWL RESULTS: Bahamas Bowl: Bowling Green 40 New Mexico State 10 | Citrus Bowl: Missouri 24 Illinois 20 | Duke's Mayo Bowl: Oregon 28 Syracuse 24 | Gator Bowl: Texas A&M 42 Rice 21 | Reliaquest Bowl: Michigan 38 Ole Miss 24 | Sun Bowl: Air Force 17 Louisiana Tech 14 | Texas Bowl: Tennessee 38 Baylor 24


Semi-Finals are set; Big Ten rematch and the Trojans back in the Rose Bowl

By: Bruce Felderman | January 5, 2027
Senior Writer, CFB

The 2026 college football season has been a whirlwind of upsets and power shifts, but as we enter the Final Four, the bracket feels like a fever dream and a throwback all at once. We have a 1-seed, a 3-seed, a 4-seed, and a 7-seed remaining. It’s a Big Ten takeover with a lone SEC powerhouse trying to play spoiler.

The Rose Bowl: Florida (12-2) vs. USC (13-1)
Thursday night | Pasadena, CA

It’s been nearly two decades since Florida stood in the middle of the Rose Bowl and dismantled Ohio State for the 2006 BCS title. The Gators are 2-0 in this historic venue, having also handled Michigan here in the 2019 CFP Semifinal. But this trip to Pasadena feels different. They aren't just facing an opponent; they’re walking into the backyard of a USC program that has practically trademarked the Granddaddy of Them All.

The Trojans have 24 Rose Bowl wins to their name, and they’re playing with a distinct edge after capturing their first-ever Big Ten championship. Lincoln Riley’s squad is red-hot, but they’ll have to contend with DJ Lagway, the Gators' junior sensation, who has played his best football when the lights are brightest. If Florida wants to head to Vegas for the finale, Lagway will need to be the best player on the field against a Trojan defense that has been on top all season.

The Sugar Bowl: Ohio State (11-2) vs. Minnesota (12-3)
Friday night | New Orleans, LA

In the other corner of the bracket, we have a pure Big Ten grudge match in the Big Easy. Ohio State and Minnesota are intimately familiar with one another. The Buckeyes swept the Gophers last season, but the margin for error was nonexistent. Their clash in the Big Ten Championship was an instant classic, decided on a failed two-point conversion as the clock hit zero.

Mick Smith has his Gophers playing with "house money" right now. As the 7-seed, Minnesota has embraced the underdog role, grinding out wins with a punishing style that has traveled surprisingly well this postseason. Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are the Vegas favorites to reach the title game, but Minnesota has spent the last month beating the odds. To get past the Buckeyes, the Gophers won't just need grit—they’ll need to solve a Buckeye offense that has looked virtually unstoppable since November.

The oddsmakers are eyeing a USC-Ohio State showdown in Las Vegas, a dream scenario for the new-look Big Ten. But college football is rarely that tidy. Florida has the history in Pasadena, and Minnesota has the motivation of a team that was one yard away from a ring a year ago. In a season defined by chaos, don't be surprised if the unpredictable 12-team era has one more massive twist in store.

What did you think of this story?

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Bruce Felderman is a writer for ShireNiner Nation covering NCAA Football. Bruce previously wrote for ESPN, The Telegraph, and The Athletic before we paid way more money and he came to us.

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Comments

[Count]

Horan having that kind of year as a freshman is incredible

[redsox907]

if we going all in, fuck it

spin the block on Ohio State

[Captain Canada]

I learned my lesson, we riding with the Gophers

[djp73]

Fuck the fuckeyes

[Caesar]

Just keep running the ball per usual and it’ll carry the Gophs to the promised land

[ShireNiner]

Horan having that kind of year as a freshman is incredible

Yes he is, he is the LB that blitzes the most for me when I play a zone blitz and he is constatly putting pressure on the QB. He just needs to improve his pass coverage next season.

if we going all in, fuck it

spin the block on Ohio State

It's about time you joined the wagon.

I learned my lesson, we riding with the Gophers

Time to get revenge on Ohio State this year.

Fuck the fuckeyes

My feelings exactly

Just keep running the ball per usual and it’ll carry the Gophs to the promised land

That is the plan. I can't trust Brand to win with throwing this season.

[ShireNiner]

A rematch of last year's Big Ten Championship game headlines the Sugar Bowl (ShireNiner PS5 images.)
CFP Quarterfinal Preview: No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Minnesota (Sugar Bowl)

By: Bruce Felderman
Senior Writer, CFB

When: Friday, January 8, 2027
Time: 7:30 pm EST
Broadcast:
Where: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA

New Orleans = With 36 seconds left in the 2025 Big Ten championship game, Minnesota lined up for a 2-point conversion trailing 41-39 to the Buckeyes. Star running back Darius Taylor just ran in a 4-yard touchdown, setting the stage for Minnesota to complete the fourth-quarter comeback after the defense had a safety the drive before.

"I think about that play call often." Mick Smith said in this week's press conference. "A play-action with our tight-end running a slant behind the blitzing linebackers was my thought." Instead, Ohio State sacked Dylan Wittke before he could even pull the ball away from Taylor.

"They blitzed all out, we should have called a time-out or changed the ball, but instead we let the ball roll, and it cost us. I know there are some guys in the locker room excited for a chance to play them again."

Last year, Ohio State won both meetings against Minnesota. This season, a Big Ten rematch looked possible until USC knocked off Ohio State 19-17 in the regular season. Now the rematch is back on, but the stakes are much higher.

"We have to be perfect, and we have to force a turnover or two," Smith said. The two losses for the Buckeyes this season have come in the only two games they lost the turnover margin.

But it will be easier said than done for the Gophers, as Ohio State has only turned the ball over three times this season and has 26 takeaways of its own. "Their quarterback is as elite as there is in the country. Playing tight man coverage and getting pressure on him will be key for us."

On offense, Minnesota's game plan is simple. Keep running the rock and controlling the game. The formula that has worked ever since Smith took over last season is the only way Minnesota can win. Turning this into a shoot-out is a recipe for disaster for the Gophers.

"Everyone knows what we want to do. We want to be physical, run the ball, and keep the ball. Just like everyone knows what they want to do, they spread you out, use their weapons in space, and play fast. Whoever can control the tempo their way has the better chance."

On Friday night, it is not just another Big Ten rematch or a Big Ten championship game; it is for a trip to Sin City for the National Championship and the biggest stage in college football.


Team Leaders
Passing
AJ Brand, FR, QB - 257/411, 62%, 2,551 yds, 18 TDs, 10 INTs
Julian Sayin, JR, QB - 300/442, 67%, 3,879 yds, 39 TDs, 2 INTs

Rushing
Fame Ijeboi, SO, RB - 196 atts, 1,048 yds, 5.3 avg, 7 TDs, 32 rec, 275 yds, 3 rec TDs
AJ Turner, SR, RB - 316 atts, 2,061 yds, 6.5 avg, 22 TDs, 29 rec, 274 rec yds, 3 rec TDs
James Peoples, JR, RB - 226 atts, 1,255 yds, 5.6 avg, 17 TDs, 18 rec, 193 rec yds, 2 rec TDs
Bo Jackson, SO, RB - 91 atts, 473 yds, 5.2 avg, 9 TDs, 9 rec, 106 rec yds, 1 rec TD

Receiving
Kenric Lanier II, JR, WR - 50 rec, 556 yds, 6 TDs
Jalen Smith, FR, WR - 34 rec, 553 yds, 3 TDs
Jeremiah Smith, JR, WR - 86 rec, 1,161 yds, 5 TDs
Mylan Graham, JR, WR - 67 rec, 1,045 yds, 19 TDs

Defense
Aidan Gousby, SR, MIKE - 106 tkls, 21 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 INTs
Kerry Brown, JR, SS - 102 tkls, 13 TFL, 1 sack, 3 INTs
Emmanual Karmo, SO, LEDG - 49 tkls, 23 TFL, 12.5 sacks
Mitch Horan, FR, WILL - 87 tkls, 26 TFL, 9.5 sacks, 1 INT

Jermaine Mathews JR, SR, CB - 58 tkls, 4 INTs
Beau Atkinson, SR, REDG - 36 tkls, 11 TFL, 7.5 sacks
Eddrick Houston, JR, DT - 51 tkls, 20 TFL, 7.5 sacks
Devin Sanchez, SR, CB - 83 tkls, 2 INTs

What did you think of this story?

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Bruce Felderman is a writer for ShireNiner Nation covering NCAA Football. Bruce previously wrote for ESPN, The Telegraph and The Athletic before we paid way more money and he came to us.

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Comments

[The JZA]

No mercy. No peace. Bury their asses.