![Minnesota's tight end Maxx Williams (88), center, celebrated with the "Floyd of Rosedale," trophy after the Gophers defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 51-14, Saturday, November 8, 2014 at TCF Stadium in Minneapolis, MN. ] (ELIZABETH FLORES/STAR TRIBUNE) ELIZABETH FLORES � eflores@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/4RHSBAEKEQ6K535UB5T73IBCMI.jpg?&w=1080)
The Gophers could be back in play for the Citrus Bowl, with the Outback Bowl and Holiday Bowl seeming to be the other top possibilities, with their bowl announcement coming later this afternoon.
The announcement is coming at 5:30 p.m., though word could leak earlier. We'll post all the latest news here.
The College Football Playoff selection committee did the whole Big Ten a favor by moving Mississippi State ahead of Michigan State in the final rankings, even though both teams had a bye this week. The Gophers wound up No. 25 in the final rankings.
Because of that Mississippi State (not Michigan State) is heading to the Orange Bowl. If Michigan State had drawn that assignment, the Big Ten would not have been able to send a team to the Citrus Bowl.
But Michigan State will play Baylor in the Cotton Bowl. Ohio State is headed to the College Football Playoff as the No. 4 seed.
The Citrus Bowl (Jan. 1 in Orlando) will get next dibs followed by the Outback Bowl and the Holiday Bowl. Even if the Citrus Bowl would prefer Wisconsin or Nebraska, the Big Ten could step in and make them take the Gophers.
Nebraska played in the Gator Bowl (Jacksonville, Fla.) last year and the Capital One Bowl (in Orlando) two years ago. Wisconsin played in the Capital One Bowl last year and was in Orlando five straight years between 2005-2009.
In his latest projections for CBSSports.com, Jerry Palm has the Gophers playing Missouri in the Citrus Bowl.
