P.J. Fleck has been hot on the recruiting trail the past couple of weeks, as he looks to add talent for the future. But don’t let his recent transfer portal focus fool you. He and the Minnesota Gophers will be fully locked in on January 3, the season finale vs Virginia Tech, in the 2024-25 Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
While the Mayo Bowl isn’t exactly the Rose Bowl, it isn’t some half-rate, nobody cares bowl that falls in the middle of a Tuesday, in December, either. Next Friday, at 6:30 p.m. CST, Minnesota vs Virginia Tech will be the only college football game on TV that night.
CFB expert confident Minnesota Gophers will win Duke’s Mayo Bowl
PJ Fleck has never lost a bowl game, in the five attempts as head football coach at the University of Minnesota. And ESPN Senior Writer Adam Rittenberg doesn’t see the 2024-25 Duke’s Mayo Bowl turning out any different, matter-of-factly stating, “Minnesota will win, setting up an epic mayo dump for Fleck”.
“P.J. Fleck was born to play and coach football, brainstorm mottos and eventually douse himself in mayonnaise after winning a bowl game. Can’t you see it now? Fleck’s team wasn’t far away from a much better season and boasts a solid formula of defense, Darius Taylor’s running and quarterback Max Brosmer’s efficient passing. Virginia Tech had far greater expectations than 6-6 this season, and could be facing some damaging personnel departures before January. The Hokies are very talented with running back Bhayshul Tuten, defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland and others, but there has been something missing all season. But Minnesota will win, setting up an epic mayo dump for Fleck.”
Adam Rittenberg on Minnesota’s bowl matchup (ESPN)
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Rittenberg projects a 28-24 final score, in favor of the Gophers. It will be quarterback Max Brosmer’s first bowl game start in maroon and gold… and also his last last. The one-and-done graduate transfer has thrown for 2,617 yards with a 17/5 TD/INT ratio this season.
Last chance to watch Max Brosmer ball out…
With one game yet to play, Brosmer ranks top-10 in Minnesota QB history, in single-season yards and touchdowns. At the end of January, he will play in the Shrine Bowl, before focusing on further pre-draft activities.
🚣 26/33 CMP
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 26, 2024
🚣 320 YDS
🚣 4 TD
Max Brosmer's best game of the season sent @GopherFootball to an easy win over Maryland.#B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/f8v1VTBv9G
NFL Draft expert Jordan Reid (ESPN) currently has Max as the 9th-best quarterback on his board, and a day 3 pick. If Brosmer is drafted, come April, he will be the first U of M QB taken since Craig Curry was drafted No. 208 overall in 1972.
Minnesota had all the chances to put up a better record than the 7-5 mark they wound up with. They should have beaten UNC, in the season opener, and they came out on the wrong end of two very winnable games vs ranked Illinois and Penn State.
Related: Minnesota QB Max Brosmer Lands on NFL Draft Hot Board
That said, a statement win against a solid ACC opponent, to put a bow on the season, would end the year on a positive note. Momentum is again building in Dinkytown and the 2025 Gophers squad could make some serious noise.
Every Gophers fan would sign up in an instant, to watch Fleck enjoy a mayonnaise bath. It’s also hard to turn away from another opportunity to see Koi Perich play football.
Koi Perich 🔥😮💨 pic.twitter.com/pjnYUlIZBT
— Swish (@swishxvibes) October 31, 2024