The Minnesota Gophers closed out their 2025 season with a 20-17 overtime win against the New Mexico Lobos in the Rate Bowl at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, marking the program’s ninth consecutive bowl victory. A late touchdown from Drake Lindsey to Jalen Smith in overtime delivered the win.
Minnesota’s ongoing bowl streak, now at nine straight, highlights a consistent level of success in the postseason. Prior to tonight, the Gophers had won eight straight bowl games — the longest active streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and a Big Ten record — and tied for one of the longer runs in college football history. While historical lists place longer streaks by programs like Florida State’s 11 from 1985–1995 and USC and Utah at nine straight in earlier eras, Minnesota is now tied for 2nd longest in college football history.
Under head coach P.J. Fleck, the Gophers have emphasized bowl games as meaningful opportunities to compete, develop younger players, and build continuity heading into future seasons. Minnesota has embraced the bowl experience at a time when some programs treat lower-tier postseason games as optional or see players opt out to prepare for the NFL Draft.
While these bowl victories are important, Minnesota’s broader football goal remains clear: to reach the College Football Playoff.
History shows Minnesota’s bowl history has had its ups and downs: the Gophers are currently 14–12 all-time in bowl games.
Still, the postseason hierarchy in college football places the CFP and New Year’s Six bowls at the highest levels of prestige. While winning bowls like the Rate Bowl is valuable for program momentum and a positive finish to the season, Minnesota’s path to national relevance is tied to regular-season performance in the tough Big Ten and ultimately earning one of the playoff spots.
Fleck is now 7-0 in bowl games at Minnesota. Here’s hoping the Gophers take that next step in Season 10 of the Fleck Era.