MINNEAPOLIMEDIA SPORTS | Gophers Open 2026 Football Season Tonight Against Eastern Illinois

Minnesota begins its 143rd football season under the lights at Huntington Bank Stadium as P.J. Fleck enters his 10th year leading the program.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (September 3, 2026) College football returns to Minneapolis Thursday night as the Minnesota Golden Gophers open their 2026 season against Eastern Illinois at Huntington Bank Stadium.

Kickoff is scheduled for approximately 7:02 p.m.

The game begins Minnesota's 143rd season of football and the 10th under head coach P.J. Fleck.

Minnesota is opening its season at home for the 14th consecutive year.

The Gophers enter the season after finishing 8-5 in 2025 and extending a run of five consecutive bowl appearances.

Thursday provides the first opportunity to see how the latest Minnesota roster translates an offseason of preparation into competition.

Eastern Illinois arrives with one game already behind it.

The Panthers opened their season with a 28-14 victory over Murray State.

Running back Charles Kellom was the standout, rushing for a career-high 171 yards and three touchdowns.

His performance earned Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week recognition.

The Gophers will therefore face an opponent with both game experience and a demonstrated rushing threat.

Minnesota's broader schedule becomes substantially more demanding almost immediately.

Mississippi State visits Huntington Bank Stadium September 12 for the first meeting between the programs.

Michigan and Iowa are also among Minnesota's seven home opponents this season.

The Gophers later travel to Washington, Purdue, Indiana, Penn State and Wisconsin.

Thursday night's opener will be streamed on Peacock and carried on the Gopher Radio Network.

The university is also introducing Open Gate screening technology at the stadium this season, designed to allow spectators to pass through security without routinely removing ordinary items such as phones and keys.

Tailgate lots open at 2 p.m., general stadium gates open at 5:30 p.m. and kickoff is scheduled shortly after 7 p.m.

For Minnesota, however, the most important question arrives once the ball is kicked.

After months of roster construction, practices and projections, the 2026 Gophers finally get to show what kind of football team they are.

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