Ohio State vs. Minnesota: Scheme preview

• Head coach: P.J. Fleck — his legacy is a run-heavy, physical, “blue-collar” identity offense.
• New defensive coordinator (2025): Danny Collins takes over after Corey Hetherman.
• Under Hetherman, Minnesota showed signs of leaning more aggressive on defense.

Minnesota is in a bit of a transition on both sides, trying to maintain their run identity on offense while expanding the passing game. On defense, the Gophers are trying to maintain strength despite turnover of key pieces.

Minnesota on offense

Scheme identity & base concepts

• Run-first foundation: Minnesota’s offense is built off a strong commitment to the run. Over Fleck’s tenure, many seasons they’ve ranked among the Big Ten’s better rushing teams.
  
• Inside-zone base run: The inside-zone concept is a staple. The offensive line works to control gaps and allow cutback lanes or flow with defenders.
  
• Play-action / quick passing off the run fakes: Because the run is a focal point, the Gophers often try to use play-action to manipulate perimeter defenders and open up intermediate passing windows.
  
• Simpler, high-efficiency passing: Rather than going “air raid,” they tend to emphasize concept routes, timing, short-to-intermediate connections, and let the run help create favorable matchups.

In short, the offense is not trying to be explosively vertical all the time. It wants to grind, control tempo, win in the trenches, then open up passes.

Statistical profile & performance indicators

• They rank relatively low in total offense: 330.8 yards/game (108th) among FBS.
  
• However, their efficiency in short conversion/4th down is interesting. For example, their 4th down conversion percentage is ranked No. 1 in the data set (i.e. they’re aggressive/efficient in that area)
  
• Their rushing numbers are modest: 115.6 rush yards/game (rank No. 108) and 3.8 yards/rush.
  
• Passing is middling: 6.8 yards per pass attempt, completion % in the 60s (they fare better in that metric).
  
• Red-zone scoring is decent but not elite (88.4 %)
  
• They try to keep penalties in check; but occasionally kill momentum on procedural or blocking errors.

So, you see an offense that is somewhat limited in big-play explosiveness, but tries to maintain steady drives, rely on physicality, and make defenses defend all levels.

Strengths/advantages

• Line & backs synergy: When the offensive line can hold its blocks, the run game can open lanes, which then forces defenses to respect it.
  
• Ball control & tempo: They can control clock and force opponents to play at their pace.
  
• Play-action leverage: Because defenses often cheat to stop the run, play-action passes (especially bootlegs, edge routes, crossing patterns) can free up receivers.
  
• Strategic aggressiveness on 4th down: Their willingness to go for it on 4th down signals confidence in their ability to pick up short yards and maintain drives.

Weaknesses/attackable spots

• Lack of consistent explosiveness: Their ability to hit chunk plays through the air or the ground is limited. If defenses can contain the run, they’ll force Minnesota into longer developing passing plays.
  
• Pass protection stress: If the line or backs struggle, offenses that bring pressure or use stunts/blitzes can force errors or disrupt rhythm.
  
• Reliance on run to open pass: If defenses sell out to stop the pass, Minnesota may struggle because their receiving corps isn’t historically elite.
  
• Third-down consistency: Though they convert some, they’re middle of pack in many third-down efficiency metrics, so sustained drives can be challenged.
  
• Turnovers & precision: In tight windows, mistakes can hurt — e.g. accuracy drops, misreads, or ball security issues in traffic.

Game-planning notes (How opponents attack)

• Force early down throws: Dare them to beat you through the air without the run helping. Blitz or show pressure to force quick decisions.
  
• Contain backside / cutback lanes: Overload or shade away from the run strength to prevent cutback exploitation.
  
• Disguise coverages until post-snap: Let them run play-action, then shift coverage to disrupt reads.
  
• Keep front honest with misdirection: Use counters, misleads, traps, or outside runs to stress gap-control discipline.
  
• Win on third-and-long: Force Minnesota into passing downs where their offense is less comfortable.
  

Minnesota on defense

Scheme & structural identity

• Under Hetherman, they used a kind of hybrid odd structure/odd-front philosophy — three down linemen plus a stand-up EDGE (i.e. more of a “4-2-5/nickel odd base”) approach.
  
• The “odd front/Tite/hybrid” concept gives flexibility. Gophers can bring 4, 5, or 6 into the box, shift, overload, and disguise.
  
• They often play nickel/4-2-5 or 3-3-5-ish coverages as base downs to handle modern spread passing attacks.
  
• The defensive line is not heavy in size across the board. There are “undersized” parts, meaning they rely partially on technique, leverage, and stunts. For example, in 2024 their defensive tackles (Eastern, Logan-Redding) sometimes got pushed in power matchups
  
• Edge work: They keep a mix of stand-up rushers and down-state ends, creating mismatches and flexible fronts.

Thus, the defense is built to be multiple, reactive, with disguise, but still anchored in gap control and run support.

Statistical profile & metrics

• The Gophers are strong in defensive metrics: Minnesota ranks among the better defenses in yards allowed (298.3 yards/game, 6th best)
  
• Points against is also strong: 18.3 PPG allowed (ranking 10th)
  
• Minnesota passing defense is solid: opposition yards/pass 6.3 (19th)
  
• Against the run, they allow 3.6 yards per rush (top-20)
  
• Their third-down defense is middling to good (opponents convert 39.5%, rank No. 68)

So their defense is legitimately a strength of the program. Minnesota can slow both run and pass to an extent, and force offenses to stay honest.

Strengths/defensive Advantages

• Multiplicity & disguise: Using hybrid fronts, they can show one look pre-snap and rotate after the snap, thus confusing blocking assignments and QB read keys.
  
• Pressure potential: Because of flexible edges and stand-up rushers, they can bring varied blitz packages and overload one side.
  
• Gap control discipline: Gophers try to stay sound against the run, making offenses earn yards rather than giving free lanes.
  
• Turnover opportunism: By masking intentions and using pattern-matching coverages, they can bait passes into tackleable defenders or force errant throws.
  
• Depth in secondary & safety help: They lean on safety play to support both run and pass; their safeties are often playmakers.

Weaknesses

• Front vulnerability vs power runs: When matched with physically dominant offensive lines and downhill run schemes, especially in short-yardage, Minnestoa’s interior line (especially tackles) can be pushed. For example, Eastern has been called out in analysis as a weak point.
  
• Edge pass rush inconsistency: Some of their edges (e.g. Joyner) have had quiet games. If the pass rush isn’t generating pressure, offenses can sit in behind the front.
  
• Explosive play risk: If offenses beat their pattern-matching or disguise schemes, split safeties can be challenged on deep throws.
  
• Personnel turnover: With key departures (cornerbacks, ends, linebackers), scheme execution depends on less proven guys stepping up
  
• Handling screens / misdirection: Because they sometimes bring pressure or overloads, if the offense uses well-timed screens or misdirection, they might get beat behind.
  

Game-planning notes (How opponents attack)

1. Run-power attacks inside: Use heavy run schemes, combos, pulling guards to test their interior strength.
   
2. Quick passing & slants / bubble screens: Force their rushers to hesitate or respect the screen, and get the ball to playmakers quickly.
   
3. Isolate less experienced corners / DBs in man: If corners get exposed, win on mismatch.
   
4. Draws and delays: If they are aggressive, delay plays, draw plays, or delayed runs behind the rush can exploit overcommitment.
   
5. Max-protect + deep shots: Force them to back off pressure; when they drop eight, look deep or attack edges.

Summary & outlook

• Offensive identity: Minnesota is still run-first, but the 2025 season likely sees attempts to be more balanced (i.e. more passing aggression).
  
• Defensive strength: The defense remains a real anchor. Even with personnel turnover, the scheme flexibility, disguise, and gap discipline give the Gophers a chance to be among the better units in the Big Ten.
  
• The offense will likely have to carry more, but if defenses can bottle up the run, the game may hinge on whether Minnesota can connect through the air and sustain drives under pressure.