Offensive struggles underline Drake Lindsey’s third year

Image by Henry Creel Gophers quarterback Drak e Lindsey (5) makes an adjustment against the UCLA Bruins on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Offensive struggles underline Drake Lindsey’s third year University of Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey has led the team’s offense, facing five of the top 22 defenses in college football. Categories: Football Marquee Sports by Logan Reitzner Published November 13, 2026 University of Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey entered the season with first-round potential in the 2027 NFL draft. ESPN ranked Lindsey as college football’s 11th-best quarterback in early October. Lindsey was coming off a win against Michigan at the time of the ranking. Now, CBS projections do not have Lindsey selected within the first three rounds of the draft. With Lindsey’s projections falling, Gophers offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr. said he wants to continue to make the offense simpler. He doesn’t want to overcomplicate things for Lindsey. “Continuing to allow the quarterback to see the picture, continuing to make it clean for him,” Harbaugh Jr. said. Even though Lindsey has had some issues early on this season, Harbaugh Jr. is reminded of his potential and saw it in the game against UCLA. “I really enjoyed the third down of the game. I think we were third and 11, and he had a nice job of moving through his progression,” Harbaugh Jr. said. Lindsey became Minnesota’s starting quarterback in 2025, taking total command of the Minnesota offense and drawing national attention. The Arkansas native was a three-star recruit out of high school. Entering the college recruiting cycle, Lindsey had seven schools show interest, including Colorado State, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Missouri State. Lindsey ultimately decided to join Minnesota as a freshman in 2024, but did not see much playing time, sitting behind former quarterback Max Brosmer. Lindsey only recorded 50 passing yards and one touchdown that season. In his first season as Minnesota’s starter, Lindsey threw for 2,382 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions. He completed 63% of his passes. This season, Lindsey has thrown for 1,797 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 60% of his passes. The Gophers have three games left in their regular season. Lindsey and the Gophers offense have played some of the top defenses in the country this season. They played Iowa, Indiana, Michigan and UCLA, which were all ranked 22nd or higher nationally in total defense when entering their games with the Gophers. Lindsey said playing those defenses teaches him and makes him a better player. He is able to take something new from each game and find ways to improve on things that the defenses expose. “I feel like you get better each week, and you got to find little things to challenge yourself as an individual, as a teammate and as a man,” Lindsey said. Minnesota’s offense ranks third to last in the Big Ten in total yards and yards per game, one spot higher than in 2025. One issue for Minnesota’s offense this season has been the instability of the offensive line. The Gophers lost both of their centers to season-ending injuries, moving offensive lineman Greg Johnson to be Lindsey’s center. Johnson said his relationship with Lindsey has changed throughout the season now that Johnson has moved to center. There is much more communication needed, especially noticeable against UCLA. “Going into the game, we had our tell, and Drake did a great job knowing if [the UCLA defense is] coming, knowing if they’re dropping out,” Johnson said. Minnesota’s schedule does not get any easier, with another top-20 defense waiting for the Gophers on Saturday against Penn State. The team will then close the regular season against Northwestern and Wisconsin. Lindsey has two years of eligibility left after this season, with the NCAA now allowing student-athletes five years. He will have to decide whether to enter the NFL draft or to continue his collegiate career, but for now he’s focused on the current season. “We’re really close the last two weeks winning those games,” Lindsey said. “I think just continuing to focus on now and being the best version of myself for my teammates.” View Story Comments 0 Like This Story Share on Facebook Share on X Email this Story Print this Story Leave a Comment More to Discover More in Football Week 11: Gophers look to get back in the win column against Penn State No. 8 UCLA offense overwhelms the Gophers in 34-20 loss Week 10: Gophers football hopes to upset undefeated No. 8 UCLA Gophers football falls short in overtime loss to No. 4 Indiana Kicking in a new environment Week nine: Gophers go head-to-head with the defending national champions More in Marquee Opinion: Renters deserve more freedom to display political messaging No. 2 Gophers women’s hockey prepares for top-10 series against St. Cloud State 92 years in the making: Minnesota versus St. Thomas men’s basketball Redveil, GR3G and Miloe perform multi-genre sets at Coffman Union Voters memorialize Good and Pretti with ‘I Voted’ stickers Bobby Durkin’s buzzer-beater downs Cincinnati Bearcats 63-61 More in Sports Jaylen Crocker-Johnson earns spot on Karl Malone Award watch list No. 18 Gophers men's hockey ties, then falls to No. 1 Wisconsin No. 18 Gophers men's hockey hosts border rival No. 1 Wisconsin Gophers men's basketball defeats North Dakota in season opener Gophers women’s basketball beats Harvard in season opener No. 2 Gophers sweep Duluth on the road