Moving forward.

That can be a tall task after opening the season with back-to-back losses, but Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck’s task at hand is keeping his team focused on getting better.

“The simple thing is, that we just have to keep getting better,” Fleck said, “that’s the number one message we continue to tell our football team.”

The Gophers entered this season coming off their first 11-win season since 1904, and were hoping to build on that success for a similar result in 2020.

But Minnesota is off to an 0-2 start, having allowed an average of 47 points per game, 268.5 rushing yards per game, and 309.5 passing yards per game. Fleck is focused on learning, development and getting better as a program, despite the challenges.

“This is a developmental program,” said Fleck. “Last season, that season is over and done with. This is a completely different team, completely different circumstances, in a completely different time in our world and everyone is affected by it in some way.

“The amount of young kids that were playing, and inexperienced kids that we’re playing, that’s beneficial. It’s Beneficial this year because they’re going to get better and the only way they’re going to get better is to go out and play, we’re not going to protect them. Those guys have to grow up, and grow up fast, by playing and that’s exactly what going to continue to do.”