When it comes to Gophers football in 2017, USA Today isn't buying in.
The national newspaper on Tuesday released its projected records for all 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams, and it has Minnesota going 4-8 overall and 2-7 in the Big Ten in coach P.J. Fleck's first season in Minneapolis.
That's on the low end of projections offered in a variety of preseason publications.
That 4-8 record would be the Gophers' worst since Jerry Kill's inaugural season in 2011, when Minnesota went 3-9 overall and finished last in the Big Ten Legends Division with a 2-6 mark.
USA Today projects Ohio State to go 12-0 and 9-0 to win the Big Ten East and then defeat Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Badgers are projected to go 11-1 and win the Big Ten West at 8-1.
The Big Ten West is projected: 1. Wisconsin (11-1, 8-1), 2. Nebraska (8-4, 6-3), 3. Northwestern (8-4, 5-4), 4. Iowa (7-5, 5-4), 5. Gophers (4-8, 2-7), 6. Purdue (3-9, 2-7) and 7. Illinois (3-9, 2-7).
The Big Ten East is projected: 1. Ohio State (12-0, 9-0), 2. Penn State (10-2, 7-2), 3. Michigan (10-2, 7-2), 4. Michigan State (6-6, 4-5), 5. Maryland (6-6, 4-5), 6. Indiana (5-7, 2-7) and 7. Rutgers (2-10, 0-9).
As for the Gophers' nonconference opponents, USA projects Buffalo and Oregon State to finish 5-7 and Middle Tennessee to finish 8-4.
USA Today's complete list of all 130 FBS teams can be found here.
