Gophers will not play in a bowl game this season
Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck yells instructions during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. Minnesota won 24-17.[Nati Harnik/Associated Press]
The Minnesota Golden Gophers football team will not accept an invitation to a bowl game this season, the university announced in a news release.
A joint decision was made by leadership in the athletics department, head coach PJ Fleck and members of the football team.
In a statement, Fleck said the team is turning its focus to student-athletes’ health off the field.
“The health and safety of our student-athletes has always been our first priority. They invested a tremendous amount of physical and mental energy into competing in the Big Ten season this year and proudly represented Minnesota," Fleck said. "The season was filled with daily off-field adversity caused by the pandemic, but their desire to play never wavered and they sacrificed so much in their personal lives to be able to compete in the Maroon and Gold this year."
The Gophers finished their shortened season with a 3-4 record and had two games against Northwestern and Wisconsin canceled due to COVID-19 outbreaks. The Minnesota-Wisconsin game was rescheduled and played on Saturday, with the Badgers winning 20-17 in overtime.