Let $n>1$ be a natural number, let $p$ be an odd prime number with $p-1 \mid n-1$ such that $p^k - 1 \mid n-1$ does not hold for any $k>1$. In the following, we work in the ring $\mathbb{F}_p[T]$. Notice that, since $p-1 \mid n-1$, we have $T^p - T \mid T^n-T$ and hence also $T^p - T = (T+u)^p - (T+u) \mid (T+u)^n - (T+u)$ for all $u \in \mathbb{F}_p$.

**Conjecture.** $T^p - T$ is actually the gcd of $\{(T+u)^n - (T+u) : u \in \mathbb{F}_p\}$.

I have verified this with computer algebra software for $n \leq 7000$. For many $n$ actually $u=0,1$ are sufficient. I tried to find a proof, but did not succeed so far. The only thing I know so far  is that the gcd is invariant under $T \mapsto T+1$ and therefore contained in $\mathbb{F}_p[T^p-T]$. I expect that there are two proofs (if the statement is true at all), namely one using finite fields $\mathbb{F}_{p^m}$, and one using a direct calculation with polynomials. I am more interested in a direct calculation here. The background is a new proof of [Jacobson's theorem][1] I am working on. Notice that the statement is false for $p=2$ (but still true for many $n$ in this case) and that it is absolutely false without the $p^k-1$-requirement. 


  [1]: https://ysharifi.wordpress.com/tag/jacobson-theorem/