This year’s Rate Bowl delivered. From an elite uniform matchup to a chaotic fourth quarter, it was everything you love and more out of these “meaningless” bowl games. Minnesota came into this game riding the nation’s longest bowl win streak, while New Mexico came in looking for its second 10-win season in program history.
When it came down to it, 60 minutes was not nearly enough to decide it. P.J. Fleck’s squad was able to come back and extend the program’s impressive bowl game win streak to nine. When it was all said and done, Minnesota secured a 20-17 win in overtime.
Minnesota Defense Rows the Bowl in Rate Bowl Win
Another Fantastic Performance
In the lead-up to this year’s Rate Bowl, we highlighted the fact that Darius Taylor has been unstoppable in the postseason. In his two previous bowl games, Taylor went for 208 yards and a score in 2023 and 113 yards and a touchdown last year. It was no different here on Boxing Day.
In total, Minnesota managed 252 yards on offense. Taylor was responsible for 139.
On the day, on the ground, Taylor ran the ball 24 times for 116 yards and a touchdown. It was his 13th 100-yard performance in just his 28th career game.
No Lead Is Safe
New Mexico was able to break through first. After a game-opening three-and-out, the Lobos matriculated down the field on a 15-play, 66-yard drive to crack the scoreboard with a 31-yard field goal. Then, after throwing an interception, the Lobos responded by forcing a turnover on downs, then driving 34 yards down the field to hit a 29-yard field goal. New Mexico led 6-0 for less than five minutes.
Minnesota knew it had to score going into the half. As a result, the Golden Gophers went on a nine-play, 75-yard drive, capped off with a beautiful pass from Drake Lindsey to fellow redshirt freshman Jalen Smith. As a result, Minnesota led, 7-6, as all of the kids in the stadium went nuts for some reason…
The third quarter went by without a single point scored, leaning into our “points will be at a premium” prediction. Then, Minnesota found its footing. Thanks to a well-blocked zone concept, Taylor found the endzone to cap off another methodical drive. At that point (13:30 left in the game), the Golden Gophers were feeling good. At that point, the two previous Lobo drives spanned 16 plays and 43 yards, but no points.
Then, all Hell broke loose. On the ensuing kickoff, Damon Bankston fielded it and ran, untouched, 100 yards to put the Lobos within two. On the two-point conversion, New Mexico successfully tricked Minnesota’s defense and knotted it up.
Gophers Defense Stepping Up
There were a few names to keep an eye on heading into this game. We highlighted a few, like Anthony Smith and Koi Perich. Smith was everywhere for the Golden Gophers. He snuffed out a fake punt in the fourth quarter that almost surely would have resulted in a first down at the very least. He finished the game with six tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, and broke up two passes. Perich was playing double duty. Defensively, the star safety managed five tackles. On offense, Perich hauled in four passes for 34 yards.
Most impressively, Maverick Baronowski was everywhere. He led all defenders with 17 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one sack.
This year, Minnesota’s defense was solid. It allowed 324.3 yards per game. New Mexico only managed 204. It was an impressive all-around effort.
Press The Overtime Button
Minnesota won the toss and elected to play defense first. New Mexico tested the Gopher defense on the ground with a check-down followed by two designed runs. There was no green grass to be had, so the Lobos had to kick a field goal to reclaim the lead, 17-14.
Minnesota opened its own possession with a pair of Taylor touches, the first with a screen and the second a dive. The second was wiped out due to an offside that resulted in a first down. After a few failed plays, Lindsey found Smith again in the back of the endzone on a diving catch to win the game. Smith tore between two Lobo defenders, and Lindsey put it precisely where his man could go and get it. After a brief pause for replay, it was upheld, and the Golden Gophers extended their bowl game win streak to an incredible nine straight games. Now, Minnesota is tied with USC (1922-1944) and Utah (2009-2019) with the second-longest streak in history. Florida State won 11 in a row from 1985 to 1995.
Now What?
Minnesota is a program with a little stability, unlike so many out there. Fleck is under contract through 2030, and its biggest playmakers have at least one more year of eligibility. The question will be whether anyone is lured away. Regardless, the Golden Gophers have a good opportunity to return to a bowl game next year and potentially wholly own the second-longest bowl win streak. Minnesota plays Eastern Illinois, Mississippi State, and Akron as out-of-conference opponents. In the Big Ten, the Gophers face Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Northwestern, UCLA, Penn State, Purdue, Washington, and Wisconsin.
As for New Mexico, the Lobos look like a program on the rise. This year’s nine-win season was the first since 2016 and second since 2007. Jason Eck clearly has something brewing, so they’ll be something to watch moving forward. The Mountain West is going to look a little different next year, so the Lobos could challenge for it. Out of conference, New Mexico gets to play Oklahoma, Central Michigan, Mercyhurst (in its third season at the FCS level after moving up from Division II), and New Mexico State. In the MWC, the teams include Air Force, Northern Illinois, UNLV, UTEP, San Jose State, and Wyoming, with a rare six-game conference slate.
Main Image: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
