The Minnesota Gophers face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the Quick Lane Bowl Wednesday in Detroit. The Gophers have the opportunity to become the first team to win two Quick Lane Bowl titles and to finish the season 7-6 after a dominating win over rival Wisconsin in the regular season finale last month.
In addition to the game, Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center hots its third year of Trading One Uniform for Another, a scholarship program created to support veterans and first responders.
For complete information on the Quick Lane Bowl, visit QuickLaneBowl.com.
More details on the bowl game per GopherSports:
5 Things You Need to Know
1. Minnesota earned a bowl berth – its 20th in school history – with a 37-15 win at border rival Wisconsin on Nov. 24. The Gophers reclaimed Paul Bunyan’s Axe with the win and beat the Badgers for the first time since 2003 and won at Wisconsin for the first time since 1994. Minnesota will play Georgia Tech, from the Atlantic Coast Conference, on Dec. 26 in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit. This will be Minnesota’s second appearance in the Michigan-based bowl, as the Gophers beat Central Michigan, 21-14, on Dec. 28, 2015.
2. The Gophers are 7-12 in Bowl Games, but have won their last two. In addition to beating Central Michigan 21-14 in the 2015 Quick Lane Bowl, the Gophers also posted a 17-12 win against Washington State in the 2016 Holiday Bowl. Prior to 2015, Minnesota had lost its previous seven bowl games. The Gophers seven bowl wins have come in the following bowls: 1962 Rose Bowl (beat UCL 21-3), 1985 Independence Bowl (beat Clemson 20-3), 2002 Music City Bowl (beat Arkansas 29-14), 2003 Sun Bowl (beat Oregon 31-30), 2004 Music City Bowl (beat Alabama 20-16), 2015 Quick Lane Bowl (beat Central Michigan 21-14) and 2016 Holiday Bowl (beat Washington 17-12).
3. Seven members of this year’s team played in the Quick Lane Bowl when the Gophers beat Central Michigan in 2015. Running back Rodney Smith started for the Gophers and rushed 15 times for 74 yards. The following players also saw action in that game: Shannon Brooks (15 carries, 65 yards), Jacob Huff, Julian Huff (3 tackles), Payton Jordahl (starting long snapper), Antonio Shenault and Blake Cashman. Smith and Brooks will not play in this year’s bowl game, as they are injured. Cashman has elected not to play in the Quick Lane Bowl as he prepares for a professional career.
4. Minnesota won two of its final three games to earn a bowl berth. In addition to beating rival Wisconsin in the final game of the season, the Gophers also topped Purdue (held Boilers to season low 233 yards and 10 points) 41-10. Minnesota’s lone loss in its last three games was a 24-14 setback to Big Ten West division champions Northwestern. Minnesota last won its final game of the regular season in 2011 when it beat Illinois 27-7 at home. Minnesota has never won its final game of the regular season and a bowl game in the same year. A bowl victory would mean that Minnesota would win three of its final four games of the year, which is something the Gophers have not done since 2006 (beat Indiana, Michigan State and Iowa to end the regular season before losing to Texas Tech in the Insight Bowl).
5. Minnesota is 7-12 in its 19 played bowl games, but nearly every game has been closely contested. Fourteen of the games have been decided by 10 points or less and 12 were decided by one score. Minnesota has scored 418 points (22 ppg ave) in 19 bowl games and has allowed 421 points (22.1 ppg ave).
In the spirit of full-disclosure, I’ve partnered with Quick Lane as part of the Quick Lane Bowl Preferred Influencer Program. I’ll be receiving special access to the Quick Lane Bowl, however, no payment was given or expected for posting about the program and, as always, all opinions given here are fully my own.