Minnesota Joins Rate Bowl Following Invitation

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Minnesota Joins Rate Bowl Following Invitation

The University of Minnesota football team has confirmed its participation in the Rate Bowl, scheduled for December 26, 2025. This event will take place in Phoenix, Arizona, with the Gophers set to play against New Mexico at 3:30 p.m. CT. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN.

Minnesota Gophers’ Bowl Game History

This contest will mark the inaugural matchup between Minnesota and New Mexico. The Rate Bowl will also be significant as it represents the Gophers’ 26th bowl appearance in program history.

Recent Performance

The Gophers had their last Rate Bowl experience in 2021, where they achieved a victory over West Virginia with a score of 18-6 on December 28. Their current winning streak is impressive, with eight consecutive bowl victories starting from the 2015 Quick Lane Bowl. This streak is noteworthy as it stands as the longest active streak in the nation, and it is the longest in Big Ten history, also ranking among the top four longest in college football history.

Head Coach P.J. Fleck’s Success

Minnesota is 6-0 in bowl games under head coach P.J. Fleck.
Fleck’s victories include wins against:
- Virginia Tech (2025 Duke’s Mayo Bowl)
- Bowling Green (2023 Quick Lane Bowl)
- Syracuse (2022 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl)
- West Virginia (2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl)
- Auburn (2020 Outback Bowl)
- Georgia Tech (2018 Quick Lane Bowl)

These six bowl wins are the most by any coach in Minnesota history, accounting for 46% of the program’s total of 13 bowl victories.

Strong Performance Against Non-Conference Opposition

Since P.J. Fleck took the helm in 2017, the Gophers have posted an impressive 26-4 record against non-conference teams, including bowl games. This translates to an 86.7% winning percentage, ranking sixth in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Only five teams have better records in this timeframe: Georgia, Maryland, Alabama, Penn State, and Kentucky.