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Ohio State vs Minnesota Prediction: Can the Buckeyes Stay Dominant?

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Oct 1, 2025 3:08 AM ET

There isn't a ton of flash to these Ohio State Buckeyes, at least not yet.

There's talent, but there isn't the team-on-a-mission desperation thing happening like last year.

Oregon might have the Penn State win to be in the mix for No. 1, and Miami might not be too far off, but Ohio State is going along like it's supposed to be doing this. It's making being methodically dominant look easy.

But even a team this good goes through rough stretches, and it has one coming up. It's not that it can't win all three of the four road games in the next four dates, but the body blows might add up.

Realistically, the only thing Ohio State has to worry about is Michigan, Penn State, next week's date at Illinois, and this.

Ohio State Buckeyes vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Preview

It's been a while. Minnesota hasn't beaten Ohio State since 2000, and is 1-29 since a 35-31 loss in 1981. (Fun fact, I was at that game, but don't remember any of it.)

This year's team got over the clunker against Cal to take down a decent Rutgers team. With three of the next four games at home before going to Oregon, all of a sudden, PJ Fleck's squad can be a true Big Ten player with one right-day performance.

How To Watch Ohio State vs Minnesota

Saturday, October 4, 2025
Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
TV: NBC
Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH

Predicting Every Remaining Game
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Group of Five Teams, Pac-12, ND
@PeteFiutak

Why Minnesota Will Win

To have any shot at beating Ohio State, you must have a ton of NFL talent - that's not Minnesota - and/or you have to do absolutely everything right.

The Gophers have to be perfect in most games to win. When they're not - like with two turnovers and eight penalties against Cal - there's a problem.

But they don't get flagged enough to matter, and they're 10-1 in their last 11 games - 3-0 this year - when they don't turn the ball over multiple times.

Great in the time of possession battle and tough defensively, they have enough to keep the scoring range throughout. But ...

Why Ohio State Will Win

There can't be even one missed scoring opportunity.

Minnesota got away with it, but it came away empty on four trips to the red zone in the first two games. That was cleaned up over the last two, but the offense is 94th in the nation in touchdown scoring percentage inside the red zone.

Take a wild stab at who's No. 1 in the nation in red zone defense, and it's by an insanely wide margin.

Maryland has allowed teams to score 50% of the time in the red zone. USC is the only other defense to be under 60%. Ohio State's defense has allowed just two scores in seven tries - 28.6% - with zero touchdowns.

Can Minnesota Get Into the End Zone?

The last time Ohio State went five straight games without allowing double-digit points was ...

In the 2007 season, it went four straight games in the midseason allowing seven points or fewer. It did the same in 2006.

The 1979 Buckeyes went six straight games without giving up double-digit points - they went on to lose a historic Rose Bowl, and the national title, to USC.

Minnesota will get to double-digit points. But barely.

Ohio State vs Minnesota Prediction, Betting Lines

Ohio State 34, Minnesota 10
Line: Ohio State -23.5, o/u: 44.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Must See Rating: 3.5

Consensus Line from BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

- CFN 1-136 Rankings

This article first appeared on College Football News and was syndicated with permission.

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