INDIANAPOLIS — P.J. Fleck arrived at Big Ten Media Days on Thursday with new buzzwords — because of course he did.

The Gophers head football coach was ready to meet the ever-changing college football landscape during his interviews at Lucas Oil Stadium.

“We believe in having the transactional piece as a piece that allows our student-athletes to benefit, but you still get this transformational life program,” Fleck said about Minnesota.

That was in reference to how schools are soon set to include sharing a program’s revenue with its athletes, who have received compensation for name, image and likeness (NIL) deals since 2021.

As part of the House vs. NCAA lawsuit, new revenue sharing models are expected to permit schools to spend approximately $20 million annually starting next year. An agreement — which includes the distribution of $2.7 billion in back pay to former athletes — is expected on Friday.

Fleck and Mark Coyle, who are the longest-tenured pair of head football coach and athletic director in the Big Ten Conference, have had numerous conversations about what revenue sharing might look like at Minnesota.

Fleck said “the expectation” is the Gophers would use their full allotment, which figures to be approximately 22 percent of annual revenue streams to programs (or $21 million).

More scholarships?

The number of scholarships for football programs also is expected to increase from 85 to 105 in 2025, according to Yahoo.

“It’s challenging college football programs right now to look at structurally how you are built,” Fleck said.

Bright lights

New Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer spent five seasons playing for FCS-level New Hampshire, so he isn’t used to how things are bigger, brighter and better in the Big Ten.

During the Gophers’ internal media day on July 11, Brosmer was struck by having his surname on his jersey.  “It’s been pretty cool,” he said. “I’ve never had my last name on my jersey before.”

On Thursday, Brosmer marveled at the size of the Indianapolis Colts’ stadium, which is also site of the Big Ten Championship Game.

“You can’t even see if you look up (to the rafters) because the lights are so bright,” Brosmer said. “There are 50 cameras right over here (for new Michigan coach Sherrone Moore). It’s ridiculous. We didn’t have that at New Hampshire.

“But it all goes back to it’s just football. It’s a higher stage and a higher level, obviously. When you get to the nitty gritty, it’s football. That’s what I bring myself back to.”

Three breakdowns

Fleck evaluates on-field performance in three categories: personnel, scheme and coaching. So, if the Gophers defense was a three-legged stool, that chair fell flat on the floor in 2023.

“I think that was the first time I’ve had all three on defense,” Fleck said. “It was a combination because if you look at the scheme part we had gotten so complex, in a good way, because our guys could do it. We had answers for everything. The minute Cody (Lindenberg) is out, the minute our starters are out, the next thing you know you got young people in there. They were lost and we had to get real simple real quick, but then it’s too late.”

With coordinator Joe Rossi gone to take the same role at Michigan State, Corey Hetherman steps in after being linebackers coach at Rutgers.

“We did not play well enough on defense,” Fleck said. “The No. 1 thing inside our defense is to stop the run. Always has, always will be. We always have stopped the run for the most part. Last year was one of those where we didn’t. When we hired Corey, he comes from that same tree where the No. 1 thing is stop the run.”

Health helps

This Gophers team is the healthiest the program has had going into fall camp under Fleck. The U does not have any injuries within its two-deep roster (nor eligibly issues) as training camp opens Monday. The only long-term injury is to reserve offensive lineman Jerome Williams, Fleck said.

Lindenberg is healthy after playing only four games last season due to multiple injuries. “You work so hard to prepare for those guaranteed 12 games,” he said. “It is very frustrating when that rug is pulled from under your feet.”

Glitzy shoes

Lindenberg and kicker Dragan Kesich had matching fancy footwear Thursday: sequined black loafers.

“It looked magnificent,” Lindenberg said about his suit outfitter also hooking him up with the shiny shoes. “I remembered that (Kesich) had some as well, so I told him to make sure he was wearing his as well. It was semi-planned. He did have them first; I will give him that. I think they look fantastic together.”

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