The Call: Everything to know ahead of Gophers vs. New Mexico in the Rate Bowl

Rate Bowl: Gophers vs. New Mexico, 3:30 p.m. Dec. 26

Where: Chase Field, Phoenix

TV, radio: ESPN, 100.3-FM

Line: Gophers by 1½ (43.5 over/under)

A Gophers season that began Aug. 28 finishes Dec. 26 against New Mexico in the Rate Bowl at the home of of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Gophers went 7-5 in the regular season and will try to match their final 2024 record by beating the Lobos for the school’s ninth consecutive bowl victory and seventh in a row under coach P.J. Fleck. New Mexico takes a six-game winning streak into the first matchup between the programs.

Who will play for the Gophers?

Fleck is keeping things close to the vest, but there are indications that the Gophers won’t be hit hard by transfer portal departures other than running back Fame Ijeboi and wide receivers Kenric Lanier II and Malachi Coleman who have indicated they’ll be transferring. Key in that will be defensive end Anthony Smith, the team’s leader in sacks and tackles for loss who hasn’t announced his plans other than to say he’ll play in the bowl game.

The Gophers starting quarterback keeps improving, and he’s carrying a four-game streak of not throwing an interception into the bowl game. Lindsey has been a bright spot for an offense that’s struggled to run consistently because of injuries to starting back Darius Taylor and inconsistent play on the offensive line.

How many catches will Javon Tracy and Jalen Smith have?

Senior Le’Meke Brockington, the Gophers’ leading receiver, posted on Instagram that he is declaring for the NFL draft. He has no college eligibility left after this season, so that could be an indication he is sitting out the Rate Bowl. That puts the focus on Javon Tracy and Jalen Smith to be the primary pass-catchers. A wild card in the mix could be safety Koi Perich, who caught three passes early in the season and rushed twice at Oregon.

Gophers LB Maverick Baranowski vs. Lobos RB Damon Bankston

This is the classic linebacker-running back matchup with Baranowski, the Gophers’ leading tackler with 86 stops, facing New Mexico’s top rusher in Bankston, who has carried 104 times for 578 yards and five touchdowns. The Lobos average 155.1 rushing yards per game, and they will need success on the ground to set up the New Mexico passing game with quarterback Jack Layne.

This might be a matchup for the present and for the future. Eck, a La Crosse, Wis., native and former Wisconsin offensive lineman, is a coach whose star is rising after going 9-3 in his first season at New Mexico. Should Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell again falter in 2026, Eck could be considered a replacement in Madison. Fleck has won four of five against the Badgers, and he could make it a potential five of six if he beats Eck and the Lobos.

203.8-105.2 The Gophers’ advantage in average rushing yards in their six bowl wins under Fleck. This year, they are averaging 103.1 rushing yards per game and giving up 121.5.