The Minnesota Golden Gophers football team is putting the finishing touches on their preparation for Friday's Duke's Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina against Virginia Tech. It's the first time these two schools will face each other.
The Gophers have won all five bowl games under Head Coach P.J. Fleck who says his squad is having fun but taking the process seriously. Fleck gives credit to the players for showing out in bowl games.
"I think that just love playing football and love getting better and when you have a team like that that makes it the preparation a lot," Fleck explains. "I can't say easier. It just makes it a lot more enjoyable to be around each other, where they take it very seriously. It's a chance for us to to be a champion and be 1-0 and send the seniors out in the right way."
But instead of getting a Gatorade shower, the winning coach in this game will have mayo - yes, mayonnaise - poured over their head.
Coach Fleck says he has no issues getting doused with the sauce if they win.
"Yeah, I mean that's what's so great about college football," says Fleck. "I know everybody wants to see that for coaches, period. I think it's one of the quirky, really cool traditions with the mayo dumping on the coach's head. But I think bullhead coaches are really open to that because that's what makes college football really, really special."
In the 2024-25 world of college football, the on the field product tends to look very different in the postseason too. Players on both sides are opting out of the game to prepare for the NFL, or entering the transfer portal and leaving the program.
Neither team has been specific with who will be opting out, but Minnesota may be without their top wide receiver in Daniel Jackson, and a couple of their best defensive players in Cody Lindenberg, Jah Joyner and Justin Walley. Quarterback Max Brosmer and top running back Darius Taylor have committed to playing in the bowl game.
"What a team looked like in November is very different than what they look like in January, and that is not a negative," Fleck explained. "It's just you're preparing for ghosts. You gotta have a plan for every single plan, and then have a plan when that plan isn't that plan. But that's what makes your bowl games really unique. You really, truly don't know what you're preparing for and Virginia Tech back to us."
But that's nothing compared to what Virginia Tech has lost. Seven offensive starters, two All-America defensive linemen and their entire starting secondary won't play. That's why Las Vegas has the Gophers as big favorites in this one.
The Golden Gophers are 12-12 in their history in bowl games, but they have won seven straight bowl contests overall, including all five of those appearances under Fleck (2023 Quick Lane, 2022 Pinstripe, 2021 Guaranteed Rate, 2020 Outback, 2018 Quick Lane). With five bowl wins, Fleck already has the most in Gophers history.
If you're keeping track, seven straight bowl wins is the fourth longest bowl winning streak in college football history (Florida St. won 11 straight between 1985-1995) and the longest current streak in the nation.
PREVIEW
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Minnesota (7-5) vs. Virginia Tech (6-6), Jan. 3 at 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Minnesota by 9.
KEY MATCHUP
The Golden Gophers average 3.6 yards per carry (104th in college football) compared to the 3.9 per attempt the Hokies give up (43rd in the FBS).
Virginia Tech averages 192.8 passing yards per game (102nd in the FBS). It play Minnesota’s defense that ranks 15th, giving up 178.3 yards per game through the air.
LAST GAME
Minnesota won 24-7 over Wisconsin. Max Brosmer threw for 191 yards on 17-of-26 attempts (65.4%) with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also carried the ball four times for -8 yards and one rushing touchdown. Darius Taylor had 143 rushing yards on 32 carries, adding two receptions for 13 yards. Elijah Spencer put up 75 yards on five catches.
Virginia Tech beat Virginia 37-17. William Watson III led the Hokies with 254 yards on 14-of-21 passing (66.7%) for one touchdown and no interceptions. He also carried the ball 11 times for 48 yards and one rushing touchdown. Bhayshul Tuten carried the ball 18 times for 124 yards and scored two touchdowns. Jaylin Lane had four receptions for 91 yards and one touchdown.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Minnesota: Brosmer has 2,617 passing yards (218.1 per game) while completing 66.8% of passes (250 for 374), with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions. Taylor has 185 carries for 873 rushing yards (72.8 yards per game) and nine touchdowns. He also has 50 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns. Daniel Jackson has 863 receiving yards (71.9 per game) on 75 catches with four touchdowns.
Virginia Tech: Kyron Drones has 1,562 passing yards (173.6 per game) while completing 60.7% of passes (136 for 224), with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has 337 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, averaging 37.4 per game. Tuten has 183 carries for 1,158 rushing yards (105.3 yards per game) and 15 touchdowns (14th in CFB). He also has 22 catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Stephen Gosnell has 27 receptions for 497 yards (41.4 per game) and has one touchdown.
FACTS & FIGURES
Minnesota has outscored opponents by 8.8 points per game this season, and Virginia Tech has outscored opponents by 6.9 per game.
While Minnesota ranks 19th-worst in college football in rushing offense with 111.3 yards per game, it’s been a different story on the other side of the ball, ranking 20th-best (112.6 yards per game allowed).
In terms of points scored Virginia Tech ranks 53rd in college football (29.7 points per game), and it is 44th on defense (22.8 points allowed per game).
The Associated Press contributed to this story.