Did the Gophers finally fix their rushing attack? Washington will provide the answer

Minnesota’s rushing attack suffered a significant decline in recent seasons, trailing 108th among FBS teams after only 3.9 yards per carry against Akron in Week 3. The Gophers had previously posted impressive rushing numbers between 2017 and 2022, averaging over 180 yards per game. In 2023, under new offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr., the rushing attack plummeted to 157.5 yards per game, ranking 65th nationally.

The struggles continued into 2024, with just 90.6 yards per game through three contests. The team’s offensive identity once relied on extensive rushing plays, but under Harbaugh Jr., they shifted focus away from the ground game. Minnesota hoped to revitalize their rushing attack by adding transfers, freshmen, and Mohamed Ibrahim as their new running backs coach.

Despite early-season promise, freshman Ryan Estrada suffered a season-ending injury, and Darius Taylor battled injuries throughout the season. Against Akron, the Gophers ran just 18 times for 37 yards, relying on a single 71-yard touchdown run by transfer TJ Thomas to keep the score at 27-0. Thomas has since outperformed his predecessor A.J.

Turner, with 34 offensive snaps and 16 touches compared to Turner’s 22 snaps and eight touches. However, Minnesota will face an even stiffer challenge against Washington, who allows 87.5 rushing yards per game, a mark achieved on a relatively easy nonconference schedule. Minnesota will need a complete performance on both sides of the ball to have any chance of pulling off an upset in the Gophers' Big Ten opener.