I fully expected the Gophers to start with a 3-0 record and roll into the Iowa game with a chance to get off to a strong 4-0 start. North Carolina, or perhaps the Gophers, screwed that up but in no way does that diminish my excitement for the Iowa game this early in the season.

It is my favorite rivalry game and especially after last year’s game, the intensity is going to be at another level for Saturday night’s contest.

I often use this weekly (or semi-weekly) piece to try and offer some perspective. Most losses are not the end of the world. Most wins are not indicative of the program ascending to another level. Consistently winning at this level is hard. Concepts like that.

And honestly, this is just one of 12 games this season. A home game against a team that is in your same tier and could go either way. Both teams are sound on defense with offenses that are trying so hard to evolve. It is just a game.

But it isn’t. This game matters more.

Taking stock of where the Gopher program currently lies, a Big Ten title game is not going to happen this season. Landing in the 12-team playoff is also not in the cards for 2024. In fact those two season outcomes are not realistic in the foreseeable future.

So what are realistic expectations? Get to a solid bowl game and beat your rivals.

Not accepting mediocrity, but this is the current reality. This is a mid-tier program and discussing where we are, where we think we can go and what it’s going to take to get there is for another day. The conversation of acceptable expectations has been broached before, but still for another day.

This isn’t about expectations, this is about having some fun.

Sports are fun. At least usua…sometim…once in a while they can be fun, even for Gopher fans. Gopher football is fun, even when it is frustrating. But it is a little bit like a Minnesota winter. We endure the pain of winter because it makes the other three seasons that much more appreciated.

This game matters. Not because it is imperative to earn a trip to Indianapolis in December. But because beating Iowa is a memory, it would be a party at Huntington Bank Stadium.

I cannot wait for Saturday night. There will be angst, there will be joy, there will hopefully be elation and fireworks when the clock hits 00:00.