Gophers coach tells players to negotiate next season contracts now

Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck told his players to start negotiating contracts for the 2027 season during the team's bye week in mid-October. The decision comes just before the Gophers face a difficult stretch of games against ranked opponents. Fleck acknowledged that focusing on the future while in the middle of the season can be a distraction, but he said the program needs to address player retention now.

The Gophers beat No. 15 Iowa 13-10 last week. They play fourth-ranked Indiana on Saturday and host No. 7 UCLA next weekend. This marks the first time since 2015 that Minnesota has faced three ranked teams in a row. The team is trying to secure its key players before the NCAA transfer portal opens for two weeks on January 2.

Fleck stated that the team wanted to be proactive in keeping starters and promising developmental players. He said, "I think you can either have them in secrecy or you can actually let them know that it's, 'Here we go.'" The goal is for players to re-sign with Minnesota seamlessly so they can focus on playing rather than worrying about their futures.

The transfer market is already active. USA Today reported that one general manager from a College Football Playoff contender described the market as super active right now. Fleck said agents are already reaching out to his players about contracts. He noted, "You've got all types of guys and agents reaching out about contracts, all things like that."

Athletic Director Mark Coyle said the school is following NCAA and College Sports Commission rules regarding contact with players at other programs. Last year, the Gophers had two bye weeks and used the second one in mid-November to work on the roster. This year, there is only one bye week, so the staff is using the mid-October break to make progress on negotiations.

Fleck said the process is harder midseason because players are already in a rhythm. He explained that the team is getting closer to finalizing deals. The negotiation process is led by General Manager Gerrit Chernoff and Director of Player Personnel Marcus Hendrickson. Fleck said this setup ensures that coaches do not handle contract details, allowing them to stay focused on game planning.

The Gophers are estimated to have roughly $20 million in roster spending this season. This places them near the bottom of the Big Ten in financial resources. Coyle said the school must be smart about how it allocates these funds during the second year of revenue sharing. He emphasized making long-term decisions for student-athletes rather than short-term ones that might backfire.

One agent told USA Today that a school could spend up to $5 million on a quarterback next year. Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey does not receive that amount, but the quote illustrates the rising costs in college football. Fleck joked on his radio show that fans might pay $20 to see the team's rivalry trophies, with the admission fee going toward Lindsey's contract.

The new NCAA eligibility rule allows players to stay for five years. The current Gophers roster includes 11 fifth-year seniors who will run out of eligibility at the end of this season. The team can use the money spent on these outgoing players for younger players it wants to retain. There will also be a separate pool of money available for transfers when the portal opens in January.

The players running out of eligibility include edge defender Anthony Smith, linebackers Maverick Baranowski and Joey Gerlach, and safety Aidan Gousby. On offense, the list includes receivers Javon Tracy and Zion Steptoe, running back A.J. Turner, tight end Kaden Helms, and linemen Tony Nelson and Ashton Beers. Placekicker Luke Drzewiecki is the only specialist on the list.