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Gophers AD Mark Coyle: Fans can look forward to more marquee nonconference games

andy greder, pioneer press
·2 min read

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Gophers fans can look forward to more football games against teams from power conferences.

Athletics Director Mark Coyle said Saturday on KFAN that even in an expanded 18-team Big Ten Conference, the U can expect to play nonconferenece games against teams from the ACC, SEC and Big XII.

“In my mind, and P.J’s mind, the answer is absolutely yes,” Coyle said. “… (Fleck) thinks it’s important for our program to see where we are at, and it prepares you for a gauntlet that is the Big Ten schedule. I very much see these games in our future.”

The U already has a few bigger nonconference games on future schedules: vs. North Carolina in the 2024 season opener; at California (2025); vs. Mississippi State (2026); at Mississippi State (2027); vs. Cal (2028); vs. Alabama (2032); and at Alabama (2033).

This leaves the U with openings for these types of bigger nonconference opponents in 2029-31.

Coyle anticipated the Big Ten football schedule for 2024 — with the additions of USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon — will be coming soon.

“We will know who we are playing in the next several weeks,” Coyle said on the radio. “Then we will get dates here soon.”

Coyle said he believes the Big Ten will stay at nine conference games because teams like to have seven home games.

“If you go to 10 conference games, that is five at home, five on the road,” Coyle said. “That’s where it limits or makes it hard to do a Power Five home and home (series, such as) Minnesota-North Carolina.”

But Coyle didn’t rule out one more Big Ten game each season at some point down the road. “I could see us going to 10 in the future,” he said.

Like so much of college football, these things are to be determined.

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