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Gophers snap counts and notable PFF grades from upset win over Iowa
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- Gophers snap counts and notable PFF grades from upset win over Iowa
The pressure was on P.J. Fleck and the Gophers to change the narrative against Iowa , and they delivered with a 13-10 win. The offense was clunky all night, but the defense put together an all-time great performance.
Gophers' offensive snap counts vs. Iowa (out of 65)
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QB Drake Lindsey: 65
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LT Nathan Roy: 65
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C Greg Johnson: 65
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RG Tony Nelson: 65
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OL Bennett Warren: 65
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WR Noah Jennings: 58
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WR Javon Tracy: 55
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OL Daniel Shipp: 54
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WR Jalen Smith: 50
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RB Darius Taylor: 35
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TE Kaden Helms: 26
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TE Julian Johnson: 24
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RB Xavier Ford: 23
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TE Roman Voss: 15
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RB TJ Thomas: 14
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LG Jerome Williams: 11
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TE Jacob Simpson: 7
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WR Zion Steptoe: 7
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TE George Rohl: 6
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WR Quayd Hendryx: 5
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The Gophers' offensive line was thrown another challenge when Shipp left the game with an injury, which prompted Williams to get the first significant snaps of his career at left guard. Ford played a career-high 23 snaps, which resulted in eight carries for 33 yards.
With Pierce Walsh out, there was opportunity in the tight end room, and Helms led the way, followed by Johnson and then Voss, who finished with three receptions for 34 yards.
Top 5 PFF grades on offense (min. 10 snaps)
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1. Shipp — 73.3
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2. Voss — 71.4
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3. Taylor — 71.2
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4. Ford — 70.8
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5. Tracy — 67.9
Despite battling through an injury, Shipp was Minnesota's highest-graded offensive player. Voss' three catches were a career high as his role continues to grow, and Ford was the most efficient running back on the Gophers' roster.
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Gophers' defensive snap counts vs. Iowa (out of 68)
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CB Aydan West: 68
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CB John Nestor: 68
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S Kerry Brown: 68
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LB Joey Gerlach: 64
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LB Maverick Baranowski: 64
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DL Anthony Smith: 63
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S Zack Harden: 62
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DT Theorin Randle: 53
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OLB TJ Bush Jr.: 50
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DT Naquan Crowder: 49
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LB Matt Kingsbury: 44
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DE Karter Menz: 25
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S Aidan Gousby: 23
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DT Xion Chapman: 18
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DE Jaxon Howard: 10
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CB Naiim Parrish: 7
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S Mekhai Smith: 4
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DB Garrison Monroe: 4
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DE Adam Kissayi: 2
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DT Jaylin Hicks: 2
With no Riley Sunram, Randle, Crowder and Chapman saw expanded roles along the interior of Minnesota's defensive line. Gerlach continues to be a key part of their defensive plan with a career-high 64 defensive snaps.
Top 5 PFF grades on defense (min. 10 snaps)
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1. Gousby — 84.0
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2. Baranowski — 82.5
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3. Gerlach — 80.8
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4. Chapman — 78.9
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5. Nestor — 76.8
Gerlach had nine total tackles, and Baranowski had seven, making them two of the highest-graded players on Minnesota's defense. Nestor had one of the worst games of his career last season against Iowa, but he responded with an elite performance this year against his favorite team.
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This story was originally published by Bring Me The Sports on Oct 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Gophers section. Add Bring Me The Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
