University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Accepts Invitation to Duke's Mayo Bowl
12/8/2024 2:00:00 PM | Football
Gophers will face Virginia Tech in Charlotte on January 3
The University of Minnesota football team has accepted an invitation to compete in the Duke's Mayo Bowl on Jan. 3, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C.
The Gophers will face Virginia Tech at 6:30 p.m., at Bank of America Stadium on ESPN.
The Duke's Mayo Bowl will be the 25th bowl game all-time for Minnesota. The Gophers have won seven straight bowl games dating back to the 2015 Quick Lane Bowl. That is the longest active streak in the nation (excluding national championship games), the longest in Big Ten history and tied for the seventh longest in college football history.
"We are thrilled to be headed to the Duke's Mayo Bowl in Charlotte and represent the Big Ten against a great Virginia Tech team in the Queen City," said Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck. "We are grateful to Duke's Mayo for the invitation and to executive director Danny Morrison and everyone at the Charlotte Sports Foundation. We are looking forward to experiencing the pageantry of the bowl and the warm hospitality of Charlotte. I know Gopher fans are excited to watch their team compete, and our guys will be ready to play in January."
The Gophers are 5-0 in bowl games under Fleck, as they posted wins against Bowling Green (2023 Quick Lane Bowl), Syracuse (2022 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl), West Virginia (2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl), Auburn (2020 Outback Bowl) and Georgia Tech (2018 Quick Lane Bowl).
"We are excited to welcome Minnesota and Virginia Tech to the Queen City for the Duke's Mayo Bowl," said Danny Morrison, executive director of the Charlotte Sports Foundation. "We believe this is a compelling game and are confident that fans and players will have a fantastic time in Charlotte!"
This will be Minnesota's first appearance in the Duke's Mayo Bowl and it will also be the school's first-ever meeting against Virginia Tech.
If Minnesota were to win the game, Fleck has committed to participating in the traditional Duke's Mayo Bowl bath, which features gallons of Duke's Mayo being poured in jubilant celebration on the winning team coach.
Since Fleck arrived in Minnesota in 2017, the Gophers have gone 23-3 against non-conference opponents, including bowl games, which at 88.5 % is the fifth-best winning percentage in the FBS in that span behind only Georgia (97.1%), Alabama (91.9%), Oklahoma State (89.7%) and Penn State (88.9%).
Dating back to a 37-15 win at Wisconsin on Nov. 24, 2018, Minnesota has gone 23-12 (65.7%) away from home, including five bowl wins. Of the 12 losses, seven were against ranked teams and three more went to overtime. Since the date of Minnesota's win at Wisconsin in 2018, the Gophers rank third in the Big Ten in winning percentage away from home and are tied for third in wins in such games. Only Ohio State and Oregon have better win percentages away from home, and the Buckeyes (28) and Ducks (26) are the only teams with more wins over that time.
Tickets for the Duke's Mayo Bowl are on sale now.
The Gophers will face Virginia Tech at 6:30 p.m., at Bank of America Stadium on ESPN.
The Duke's Mayo Bowl will be the 25th bowl game all-time for Minnesota. The Gophers have won seven straight bowl games dating back to the 2015 Quick Lane Bowl. That is the longest active streak in the nation (excluding national championship games), the longest in Big Ten history and tied for the seventh longest in college football history.
"We are thrilled to be headed to the Duke's Mayo Bowl in Charlotte and represent the Big Ten against a great Virginia Tech team in the Queen City," said Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck. "We are grateful to Duke's Mayo for the invitation and to executive director Danny Morrison and everyone at the Charlotte Sports Foundation. We are looking forward to experiencing the pageantry of the bowl and the warm hospitality of Charlotte. I know Gopher fans are excited to watch their team compete, and our guys will be ready to play in January."
The Gophers are 5-0 in bowl games under Fleck, as they posted wins against Bowling Green (2023 Quick Lane Bowl), Syracuse (2022 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl), West Virginia (2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl), Auburn (2020 Outback Bowl) and Georgia Tech (2018 Quick Lane Bowl).
"We are excited to welcome Minnesota and Virginia Tech to the Queen City for the Duke's Mayo Bowl," said Danny Morrison, executive director of the Charlotte Sports Foundation. "We believe this is a compelling game and are confident that fans and players will have a fantastic time in Charlotte!"
This will be Minnesota's first appearance in the Duke's Mayo Bowl and it will also be the school's first-ever meeting against Virginia Tech.
If Minnesota were to win the game, Fleck has committed to participating in the traditional Duke's Mayo Bowl bath, which features gallons of Duke's Mayo being poured in jubilant celebration on the winning team coach.
Since Fleck arrived in Minnesota in 2017, the Gophers have gone 23-3 against non-conference opponents, including bowl games, which at 88.5 % is the fifth-best winning percentage in the FBS in that span behind only Georgia (97.1%), Alabama (91.9%), Oklahoma State (89.7%) and Penn State (88.9%).
Dating back to a 37-15 win at Wisconsin on Nov. 24, 2018, Minnesota has gone 23-12 (65.7%) away from home, including five bowl wins. Of the 12 losses, seven were against ranked teams and three more went to overtime. Since the date of Minnesota's win at Wisconsin in 2018, the Gophers rank third in the Big Ten in winning percentage away from home and are tied for third in wins in such games. Only Ohio State and Oregon have better win percentages away from home, and the Buckeyes (28) and Ducks (26) are the only teams with more wins over that time.
Tickets for the Duke's Mayo Bowl are on sale now.
Game Trailer: Gophers-Bears
Friday, September 12
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Rout Demons
Tuesday, September 09
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Win 66-0
Monday, September 08
Highlights: Gophers 66, Northwestern State 0
Saturday, September 06