1940 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1940 Minnesota Golden Gophers football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 1 8–0 6–0 Bernie Bierman 9th Single-wing Bob Paffrath Bob Bjorklund Bill Johnson Memorial Stadium AP Poll national championBig Ten champion The 1940 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1940 Big Ten Conference football season. In their ninth year under head coach Bernie Bierman, the Golden Gophers compiled an undefeated 8–0 record and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 154 to 71.1940 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football November 1, 2017 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/minnesota/1940-schedule.html The team was selected national champion in the Associated Press Poll and by nine other NCAA-designated major selectors, then and in the decades since: Berryman, Boand, DeVold, Dickinson, Football Research, Houlgate, Litkenhous, National Championship Foundation, Sagarin, Sagarin (ELO-Chess)http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2018/FBS.pdf 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records National Collegiate Athletic Association August 2018 December 11, 2018 122 The team did not play in a bowl game. Tackle Urban Odson was named an All-American by Liberty. Halfback George Franck was named an All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Associated Press, United Press International, Look Magazine and Collier's. Keiser Jeff 2007 Media Guide 179 2007 http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 March 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes Franck placed third in voting for the Heisman Trophy. Keiser Jeff 2007 Media Guide 182 2007 http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 March 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes Franck and Odson were also named All-Big Ten first team. Keiser Jeff 2007 Media Guide 180 2007 http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 March 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes Quarterback Bob Paffrath received the Team MVP Award. Keiser Jeff 2007 Media Guide 181 2007 http://www.gophersports.com//pdf6/80499.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 March 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes Total attendance for the season was 234,990, which averaged to 46,998. The season high for attendance was against Michigan. Keiser Jeff 2007 Media Guide 160 2007 http://www.gophersports.com//pdf3/80498.pdf?SPSID=39281&SPID=3280&DB_OEM_ID=8400 July 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes Schedule 1940 AP September 28 w y Washington Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 19–14 46,000 Those Were Gopher Hearts, and Not the Grid Clock, Ticking The Minneapolis Sunday Tribune Milt Davis September 29, 1940 1, 2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120428022/those-were-gopher-hearts-and-not-the/ Newspapers.com October 5 w y Nebraska Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN rivalry 13–7 41,000 Gophers Win, 13 to 7 The Minneapolis Sunday Tribune October 6, 1940 Dick Cullum Sports 1, 2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120428439/gophers-win-13-to-7/ Newspapers.com October 19 w y 7 Ohio State 15 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 13–7 63,199 Howell Fritz Gophers Ruin Buck Title Hopes, 13-7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111700286/the-star-press/ October 20, 2022 The Muncie Star Associated Press October 20, 1940 12 Newspapers.com October 26 w y 6 Iowa Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN rivalry 34–6 62,992 Gophers Rip Iowa, 34-6 Minneapolis Star Journal Charles Johnson October 27, 1940 Peach 1, 2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120428971/gophers-rip-iowa-34-6/ Newspapers.com November 2 w y 4 Northwestern 8 Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 13–12 48,000 Northwestern Loses To Minnesota, 13 to 12 Chicago Tribune Wilfrid Smith November 3, 1940 II-1, II-2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120429891/northwestern-loses-to-minnesota-13-to/ Newspapers.com November 9 w 2 Michigan 3 Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN Little Brown Jug 7–6 60,481 November 16 w 1 Purdue Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 33–6 30,163 Weatherman Aids Gopher Team on Dad's Big Day Minneapolis Star Journal Bill Kimball November 17, 1940 Peach 1, 2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120429272/weatherman-aids-gopher-team-on-dads/ Newspapers.com November 23 w y 1 Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI rivalry 22–13 38,000 Gophers Shiver Before Chilling Badgers 22-13 The Capital Times Hank Casserly November 24, 1940 Sports 1, 2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120429621/gophers-shiver-before-chilling-badgers/ Newspapers.com Rankings 1940 college football rankings AP 1 8 7 (2) 6 (8) 4 (13) 2 (18) 1 (55.33) 1 (68) 1 (88) 1 (65) Game summaries Michigan Week 6: Michigan at Minnesota Michigan Minnesota 0 6 0 0 0 7 0 0 November 9, 1940 Memorial Stadium Minneapolis 63,894 Frank Birch (Earlham) On November 9, 1940, Minnesota played its annual rivalry game with Michigan. The game was the 31st between the programs, with Minnesota having won the previous six games under head coach Bernie Bierman.Michigan vs. Minnesota David DeLassus College Football Data Warehouse May 16, 2015 http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/m/michigan/opponents_records.php?teamid=2030 May 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150524095939/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/m/michigan/opponents_records.php?teamid=2030 dead The 1940 game was played "in the mud and rain" at Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis. Both teams came into the game undefeated with Minnesota ranked #2 and Michigan ranked #3 in the AP Poll. The game was played before a crowd of 63,894 spectators, the largest crowd at a Minnesota home game to that point. In the first quarter, Michigan drove to the Minnesota one-yard line, but Tom Harmon slipped on fourth down, and the ball went to Minnesota on downs. In the second quarter, Michigan took a 6-0 lead on a touchdown pass from Harmon to Forest Evashevski. Harmon missed "by inches" the kick for extra point. Later in the second quarter, Michigan's Ed Frutig blocked a Minnesota punt that was recovered by Michigan's Reuben Kelto at the Minnesota three-yard line. However, Harmon's pass into the end zone was intercepted, and Minnesota took over at the 20-yard line. On the next play from scrimmage, Minnesota scored on an 80-yard run by Bruce Smith. Joe Mernik kicked the extra point which was the difference in the game, Minnesota winning by a 7-6 score.63,894 See Minnesota Beat Michigan After 80-Yard Run; Smith's Dash Ties Score, Then Mernik Adds Point--Evashevski Counts on Harmon's Pass--First Loss for Wolverines November 10, 1940 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1940/11/10/archives/63894-see-minnesota-beat-michigan-after-80yard-run-smiths-dash-ties.htmlMinnesota Stops Michigan, 7-6: Smith's 80-Yard Dash, Mernik's Kick Give Gophers Big Nine Lead Chicago Tribune November 10, 1940 2-1 Arch Ward http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1940/11/10/page/39/article/n-u-wins-minnesota-stops-michigan-7-6 Michigan outgained Minnesota with 210 yards from scrimmage to 199 for Minnesota and also led with 15 first downs to five for the Gophers. The 1941 Michiganensian opined: "The Wolverines completely outplayed the Bierman charges with fifteen first downs to five . . . but it was to no avail, as Harmon, trying to dive forward with his famous cutback, was continually pulled down by old man mud. . . . Minnesota went on to win the National Championship, while Michigan finished third, but here in Ann Arbor, we'll always believe it was rain and not the Gophers which pushed Michigan out of what would have been its first national championship since 1932."1941 Michiganensian, page 199. References Minnesota Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers football seasons Category:College football national champions Category:Big Ten Conference football champion seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Minnesota Golden Gophers football