Gophers to face Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl
FILE PHOTO: Minnesota running back Jordan Nubin (30) signals for a first down during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-7) will face Bowling Green (7-5) in the Quick Lane Bowl on Tuesday, December 26 (1:00 p.m.) at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.
It’s 24th bowl game all-time for Minnesota. The Gophers have won six straight bowl games dating back to the 2015 Quick Lane Bowl. Excluding national championship game appearances, only Alabama has a longer active streak with eight straight wins.
This will also be the fifth bowl game for Minnesota under head coach P.J. Fleck. The Gophers are 4-0 in bowl games under Fleck, as they posted wins against Syracuse (2022 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl), West Virginia (2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl), Auburn (2020 Outback Bowl) and Georgia Tech (2018 Quick Lane Bowl).
Quick Lane Bowl
Bowling Green (7-5, 5-3 Mid-American) vs. Minnesota (5-7, 3-6 Big Ten), Dec. 26, 2 p.m. EST
LOCATION: Detroit
TOP PLAYERS
Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin is seventh at his position nationally with 573 yards and fifth with six touchdowns. Cornerbacks Jalen Huskey and Jordan Oladokun are tied for 16th nationally with four interceptions each.
Minnesota DB Tyler Nubin tied for second in the Big Ten with five interceptions and eighth with nine passes defended. QB Athan Kaliakmanis threw for 1,838 yards 14 TDs with nine interceptions.
NOTABLE
Bowling Green is making its second consecutive appearance in the Quick Lane Bowl after facing New Mexico State last season.
Minnesota became bowl eligible because there were not enough teams meeting the six-win eligibility threshold.
LAST TIME
Bowling Green won 14-10 in 2021 to tie the series at 2.
BOWL HISTORY
Bowling Green is 5-8 lifetime and looks to end a two-game slide with its first win since beating South Alabama 33-28 in the Camellia Bowl.
Minnesota is 11-12 overall but has won its last six appearances, including last season’s 28-20 win over Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl. The Golden Gophers will play in their third Quick Lane Bowl in the past 10 years.