POST GAME THREAD!! Gophers Win Rate Bowl!’

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Minnesota's streak now tied for second all time at 9 with USC (1922-1944) and Utah (1999-2009).

Certainly difficult to watch at times, like a lot of games this season. Though better to be on the win side in those than the losing side. Let's hope for a big step up in the offensive line for 2026.

I will say, I get frustrated with Fleck when some of the games go like this. However, I will say, I am impressed with his postseason record.

He's now 9-2 in postseason play all time (8-2 in bowls, 1-0 in conference title games). That takes some consistency.
 

Was Jameson Geers out with an injury? Did he play at all?
 






They are pretty young, add a couple big offensive lineman and a good wr from the portal and next yr could be special. Penn St and Michigan next yr on our schedule and they will be down, with their new coaches.
 

We have to fix the offense.

Lindsay had some deep routes on multiple plays that were wide open and he had the time to step up and throw it.

Did he not see it ?

Is he being coached to not ever risk a throw so he is afraid to try ?

We have to fix our offense before next year or it is 5 or 6 wins again.
 




Texan Gopher said:
We have to fix the offense.

Lindsay had some deep routes on multiple plays that were wide open and he had the time to step up and throw it.

Did he not see it ?

Is he being coached to not ever risk a throw so he is afraid to try ?

We have to fix our offense before next year or it is 5 or 6 wins again.
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Gophers should add a QB coach or QB analyst to the staff. Would be a good time to bring an experienced QB coach on staff.
 







Great to end the year with a bowl win! A Smith and J Smith were amazing today! Just wow on the two J Smith TD’s! Drake struggled but got the job done. O-Line really needs work this off-season for us to have a chance for a successful 2026. The amount of penalties and the special teams breakdown on the kick return TD were frustrating. Seeing the shots of Phoenix made me wish I went to the game. It looked like really nice weather. RTBSUMGG and happy new years everyone!
 

Felt like the Vikes, great defense, hard to watch offense, 1 big offensive rush did the trick in both games. Very happy we won.
 

Credit to Los Lobos as they brought the physicality and are an all around good team. Drake did miss some deep routes and yet played okay. Baronowski, A Smith, and the entire defense played really well. It looked like both Lobos QBs were roughed up. The only negative was the kick off coverage on the TD.
 

Texan Gopher said:
We have to fix the offense.

Lindsay had some deep routes on multiple plays that were wide open and he had the time to step up and throw it.

Did he not see it ?

Is he being coached to not ever risk a throw so he is afraid to try ?

We have to fix our offense before next year or it is 5 or 6 wins again.
Click to expand...
This is it, this is correct.
 

Texan Gopher said:
We have to fix the offense.

Lindsay had some deep routes on multiple plays that were wide open and he had the time to step up and throw it.

Did he not see it ?

Is he being coached to not ever risk a throw so he is afraid to try ?

We have to fix our offense before next year or it is 5 or 6 wins again.
Click to expand...
Gotta get a running game.
 


  • Anthony Smith was simply dominating. Gonna be an absolute joy to watch him next year. Along with Menz and some of the incoming recruits, that defensive line will be effing nasty.
  • Fleck is getting better at some of his game day decisions. Most notably was not going for the long FG attempt and punting. We have seen too many games in the past where going for the very low FG% has absolutely backfired.
  • Jalen Smith is legit. Two incredible high pressure scenario catches. A full year under his belt (along with Tracy) with Drake should also be a joy to watch next season as they continue to gel.
  • Tom Weston had a very solid game. The coffin corner punt fielded by Tracy was a huge play.
  • Baranoski was literally everywhere! 17 tackles!!!!!!!!!!! Insanity.
  • It was awesome to finally see the Gophers run effectively. It's clear that Darius had an injury this season that was affecting him. He looked like the unit he is in this game. Several broken tackles.
 

We were literally laughing out loud the first quarter or more. Let’s be honest: that was hideous execution and Bad News Bears level stuff, with mediocre defense but they gradually started to work in Taylor (who looked very healthy) and shut down the Lobos offense and the feeling turned toward a modest but comfortable win versus a physically overmatched team after Taylor’s TD. Then came the 100 yard return and too easy 2 point conversion to tie it. Then it became a back and forth butt clencher, a highly entertaining defensive game that felt like it could go either way. When PJ ran the clock out with 37-40 seconds (and a timeout left in his pocket) left I had flashbacks to 1999 and a certain NFC title game and a bad feeling. The OT defense held up but I was really worried about Denaburg having to deliver in the clutch. Luckily Lindsey chucked it to the post off balance and Smith made a diving reception in the middle of 4 defenders to end it. Pop the champagne.

I was throughly entertained by this one. I’m not sure anyone nationally was impressed by the Gopher’s rollercoaster performance..but a W is a W and feels a lot better. Congrats to PJ and the boys for pulling it out.
 

So with the win, Fleck now has five seasons with 8 or more wins. Here's how that stacks up to other Minnesota coaches:
  • Henry Williams - 6
  • PJ Fleck - 5
  • Bernie Bierman - 4
  • Murray Warmath - 3
  • Glen Mason - 3
  • Jerry Kill - 2
Couple notes there:
Henry Williams had 6 seasons of 6-1 or 6-0-1. Bernie Bierman had 5 seasons of 6-2, 7-2, 7. Murray Warmath had 4 seasons of 7-2, 6-1-2, 6-2-1, 6-4. In today's game with modern schedules including G5 games there's a good chance they would have had well over 8 wins

Tracy Claeys is usually tied to Kill so could count that “era” as having 3 such seasons, too.
 

WAGopher said:
It was a crazy start. It was like Lindsey had the very rare Turquoise-Maroon color blindness.
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It is a testament to how good Drake has been at protecting the ball that it was so weird seeing him put multiple balls up for grabs early in the game. Thankfully New Mexico was not able to make the plays to actually secure the turnover.

Ugly game but a win is a win. The two TD passes were truly impressive plays by both the QB and WR and hopefully a preview of what is going to become a great combo for us over the next few years.

The first TD pass was an amazing throw by Drake, literally put that ball in a spot where only his guy could catch it even though he was surrounded by defenders. The game winner was also a great throw by Drake but an even more impressive catch by Jalen.
 

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