Michigan lost a college football game to Minnesota in Minnesota on Saturday for the first time since 1977. Kirk Herbstreit was the only analyst on College Gameday to pick the Golden Gophers to win.
His ties to the Wolverines paints a concerning picture.
Herbstreit’s son play college football at Michigan. For him to pick against his own son says a lot about what he might know.
Michigan lost to Minnesota for the first time in a long time.
The Wolverines first played the Golden Gophers in 1892. They have played 107 times in total. Michigan leads the all-time series record 78-26-3. It won all but five matchups since 1968, including 15 of the last 18 games since the turn of the millennium.
Minnesota got one back on Saturday for its first series win since 2014 and first win at home since 1977. The Little Brown Jug will stay in Minneapolis until their next meeting. Fans stormed onto the field to celebrate.
The Little Brown Jug is back in Minnesota ‼️🏆 @GopherFootball beats Michigan in Minneapolis for the first time since 1977 🤩 https://t.co/VIhtZLcjkO
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 3, 2026
Head coach PJ Fleck said it might be the best day of his life that isn’t his wedding or the birth of his children.
“Besides my marriage, my kids being born…THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!” P.J. Fleck adequately sums up what Minnesota winning the Little Brown Jug at home for the FIRST time since 1977 means to him. 😂😂 https://t.co/NF2d0R6dut
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) October 3, 2026
He celebrated accordingly.
WHAT A DAY 〽️ #SkiUMah #Gophers #RTB https://t.co/BJAuZdAbyf
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) October 3, 2026
Don’t look now but the Golden Gophers are 4-1 atop the Big Ten standings. They’re a legitimate College Football Playoff contender through the first five weeks of the season. Who would’ve thunk?!
The same cannot be said for the Wolverines. Michigan dropped to 3-2 overall and 0-2 in the conference and $12 million quarterback Bryce Underwood continues to struggle. Its record should actually be 2-3 after the overturned loss to Western Michigan in Week 1. The only way to make the College Football Playoff is to win out, and even then… I don’t know!
What does Kirk Herbstreit know about the Wolverines?
Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, Pat McAfee and Caitlin Clark all picked Michigan to beat Minnesota on College Gameday. Kirk Herbstreit was the only one who picked the Golden Gophers to beat the Wolverines. He was the only one who got it right.
Feelin good… just had a hunch
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) October 3, 2026
Congrats @GopherFootball second big win in a row! https://t.co/L38qIRMXCH pic.twitter.com/MB89a9X6kT
After the game, Herbstreit quipped that he was “feeling good” because he “just had a hunch” and congratulated Minnesota on its second big win in a row. However, there might be more to his “hunch” than he wants you to realize.
His youngest son, Chase Herbstreit, plays quarterback at Michigan. I would imagine that he talks to his father about the program. Those discussions likely include on- and off-field operations. Kirk has a trustworthy source inside the locker room.
Therefore, for him to pick Minnesota alludes to a bigger issue in Ann Arbor. What did he know about the Wolverines that steered him toward a fairly historic win for the Gophers?