Gophers football notes: U drops out of AP Top 25

The Gophers football team fell from the AP Top 25 on Sunday and found itself sitting behind No. 25 Nebraska, a team it defeated only eight days ago.

The Gophers were No. 22 in last week's AP poll but lost 34-24 to Wisconsin. That win helped the Badgers climb three spots to No. 11.

Minnesota fell three spots to No. 25 in the coaches poll. Nebraska, which fired coach Bo Pelini on Sunday, is at No. 23 in the coaches poll.

The Gophers finished the regular season at 8-4, 5-3 in the Big Ten. Three of their losses came to teams currently ranked in the top 11 — TCU (No. 4), Ohio State (No. 6) and Wisconsin (No. 11). Their other loss was to an Illinois team that defeated Northwestern on Saturday to become bowl-eligible.

Nebraska came back to defeat Iowa on Friday, leaving the Cornhuskers 9-3, 5-3 in the Big Ten. Nebraska's three losses were to Michigan State (No. 7), Wisconsin and the Gophers.

The Gophers gave David Cobb their Bronko Nagurski Award (team MVP) and honored his cousin, Damien Wilson, with the Carl Eller Award (top defensive player). Other awards from their annual banquet included:

• Bruce Smith Award (top offensive player): Cobb.

• Tony Dungy Award (character and community service): Luke McAvoy.

• Butch Nash Award (competitive on field and in classroom): Jon Christenson.

• Paul Giel Award (unselfish and concern about the university): Donnell Kirkwood.

• Neil Fredenburg Award (courage and love of the game): Mitch Leidner.

• Gary Tinsley Underdog Award: Briean Boddy-Calhoun.

• Offensive Freshman of the Year: Brandon Lingen.

• Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year: Cody Poock.