Gophers

The Guaranteed Rate Bowl at a glance

The Gophers play West Virginia on Tuesday night in Phoenix.

By Randy Johnson

December 26, 2021 at 4:13AM
West Virginia quarterback Jarret Doege (2) makes a pass against Virginia Tech during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Morgantown, W.Va., Saturday, Sep. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/William Wotring)
West Virginia’s Jarret Doege has thrown for 2,908 yards with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this season. (William Wotring, Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

GUARANTEED RATE BOWL: GOPHERS VS. WEST VIRGINIA

9:15 p.m. Tuesday, Chase Field, Phoenix

TV: ESPN. Radio: 100.3-FM

Series history: First meeting

Gophers at a glance

Record: 8-4, 5-3 Big Ten, tied for second in West Division

Key wins: 23-13 over Wisconsin, 20-13 at Purdue, 30-0 at Colorado.

Key losses: 14-10 to Bowling Green, 14-6 to Illinois, 27-22 at Iowa.

Key players: QB Tanner Morgan (141-for-237 passing, 1,935 yards, 10 TDs, 8 INTs), RBs Ky Thomas (145 carries, 680 yards, five TDs) and Mar'Keise Irving (114-57-0-4), WR Chris-Autman Bell (35 catches, 490 yards, six TDs), OG Blaise Andries, DE Boye Mafe (six sacks, nine tackles for loss), LB Jack Gibbens (86 tackles), S Tyler Nubin (44 tackles, three INTs).

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Key stat: The Gophers rank fourth nationally in both time of possession (35:10 average) and total defense (284.8 yards allowed per game).

West Virginia at a glance

Record: 6-6, 4-5 Big 12, tied for fifth.

Key wins: 27-21 over Virginia Tech, 38-31 over Iowa State.

Key losses: 16-13 to Oklahoma, 45-20 to Baylor.

Key stat: West Virginia's red zone defense ranks 11th best in the country, allowing opponents to score on 73.3% of their chances.

Key players: QB Jarret Doege (2,908 yards, 19 TDs, 11 INTs), WR Winston Wright Jr. (60 catches, 672 yards, five TDs), C Zach Frazier (second-team All-America); LB Josh Chandler-Semedo (104 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two INTs), DL Dante Stills (six sacks), S Sean Mahone (two INTs).

about the writer

about the writer

Randy Johnson

College football reporter

Randy Johnson covers University of Minnesota football and college football for the Minnesota Star Tribune, along with Gophers hockey and the Wild.

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