The Gophers returned to the Rate Bowl at Chase Field, their first appearance since 2021. In a 20-17 overtime win, head coach P.J. Fleck defended his undefeated bowl record, with seven straight.
The Gophers determination won them their first away game of the season, ending their season 8-5.
Despite being in the Mountain West Conference, Fleck said the New Mexico University Lobos were still an incredibly talented team, holding a 9-3 record. The Lobos tied for the conference champions. Both teams boasted undefeated home records.
Though LB redshirt junior Maverick Baranowski and senior DL Anthony Smith gave thorough defensive performances, the Lobos put the first points on the board and the second. Baranowski ended the game with 17 tackles, 13 solo and one sack.
The opposing quarterbacks were lackluster in their performances.
At least four of redshirt freshman QB Drake Lindsey’s passes in the first half would have been interceptions if Lobos defenders could control them. It took him a while to get comfortable with the noise Lobos fans were making. Lindsey seemed startled by the pressure and provided little support to bolster the Gophers offense and ended the game with 147 passing yards.
“We didn’t play our best football game, we didn’t play as complimentary as we wanted to play,” Fleck said. “However, we found a way to be 1-0.”
In the first half of the game, the Lobos were able to battle into the redzone.
After one-and-a-half quarters reliant on Lindsey’s passing game, Fleck moved more trust over to the run game. Darius Taylor carried for 38 yards to put the Gophers in good field position and helped the Gophers end the half with a touchdown. Taylor ended the game with 116 yards.
Taylor dominated the run game, especially after partner RB Fame Ijeiboi bowed out of the Rate Bowl to join the transfer portal.
Jalen Smith scored the first touchdown, but he barely came down with the pass from Lindsey due to two defenders blocking him. Anthony Smith, created a huge momentum shift when he sacked New Mexico QB Jack Layne with 0:32 seconds left in the half to help kill their drive and put the Gophers in the lead going into the second half.
This wasn’t the only impressive moment from Anthony Smith during the bowl game. He ended up getting six tackles, two sacks and broke up two passes, on top of winning defensive player of the game.
Fleck joked that during the off season they will run some wide receiver drills with Anthony Smith to help him catch the balls next time.
Fleck chose to risk it early in the second, attempting a fourth down conversion. Failure to hold onto the ball led to a fumble and Gophers turnover at Minnesota’s 46-yard-line. Fleck tried it again up one in the third. A QB sneak got the job done, though no points come from the drive.
The Gophers saw a defensive shift during the second half of the game. In the third quarter the Lobos only had one drive that resulted in a punt, while the Gophers started the fourth quarter with a touchdown.
The Lobos quickly fought back as senior Damon Bankston got a 100-yard kickoff return and then senior Keegan Johnson completed the two-point conversion, which tied the game, 14-14.
After the touchdown from the Lobos, the crowd ignited. A hands to the face penalty, a false start and a controversial pass interference call looked troubling for the Gophers. Lobos fans were on their feet, bolstered by players jumping up and down, waving their hands and barks from the crowd rang out in the stadium.
Anthony Smith made a huge tackle to stop the Lobos from getting a kick off. The Gophers had the opportunity to start with the ball on New Mexico’s 40-yard-line. Again, the Gophers struggled to capitalize on the stop, but Layne couldn’t find a connection. Strong defense from both teams brought the game into overtime.
The crowd was on the edge of their seats when overtime began.
The Gophers won the coin flip, for the second time. The Lobos drove down the field, but no touchdown.
Jalen Smith brought down another Lindsey pass with confidence to win it for the Gophers. His teammates immediately rushed the field to congratulate him on the fantastic catch. Jalen Smith’s two touchdowns won him the offensive MVP of the game. A major triumph for the redshirt freshman.
During the postgame awards ceremony, Anthony Smith declared that he’s not ready to leave the Gophers just yet and he will be returning for a fifth year.
“I made the decision pretty early in December,” Anthony Smith said. “I definitely knew that I wanted to come back, and I knew how good our team was going to be next year in 2026. I wouldn’t want to miss that for the world.”
