Gophers Stay Perfect in Bowls Under PJ Fleck, Ride Defense and Freshman Heroics to Rate Bowl Win
Another December, another bowl win for PJ Fleck and the Minnesota Golden Gophers. This time, it came in dramatic fashion - a 23-20 overtime victory over a 9-win New Mexico Lobos team in the 2025 Rate Bowl. And while the final score will go down as a nail-biter, the real story was Minnesota’s defense - and one freshman wideout who made the moment his own.
Let’s start with the ending. Overtime.
Game on the line. Freshman quarterback finds freshman wide receiver - Jalen Smith - for a walk-off touchdown that sealed it.
The kind of play that lives on in bowl game montages for years. But don’t let that one throw overshadow what really carried Minnesota to their seventh straight bowl win under Fleck.
This one was all about the defense.
Anthony Smith Dominates, Again
If you didn’t know Anthony Smith’s name before Friday, you do now. The redshirt junior defensive lineman was everywhere in this game.
New Mexico’s quarterbacks couldn’t drop back without seeing No. 0 in their peripheral vision. Smith came into the Rate Bowl already regarded as a top-100 NFL Draft prospect, and he played like a guy trying to climb even higher.
His stat line? Let’s run it back: **six total tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, and two passes defended.
** That’s not just disruptive - that’s game-wrecking. Smith was the engine of a Minnesota defense that held the Lobos to just 204 total yards, including overtime.
New Mexico managed only 88 passing yards, and much of that came under duress.
Smith earned Defensive MVP honors, and frankly, it wasn’t even close.
A Surprise Return Announcement
Then came the postgame mic drop. Before reporters could even ask about his NFL future, Smith made his intentions clear: he’s coming back to Dinkytown for his redshirt senior season.
That’s massive news for Minnesota. In an era where top prospects often opt out of bowl games - let alone return for another college season - Smith’s decision signals something bigger.
He’s not just running it back. He’s trying to finish something.
Offense Does Just Enough
Offensively, Minnesota didn’t light up the scoreboard - far from it. Outside of Darius Taylor’s 116 yards on 24 carries, the Gophers offense was mostly stuck in neutral.
No touchdowns through the air, no interceptions either. It was a clean but conservative showing.
But with the defense playing lights-out, all they needed was one big play. Jalen Smith delivered it.
That final touchdown - freshman to freshman - was a glimpse into the future. Smith’s grab in the end zone was the exclamation point on a game where the offense mostly played it safe, but rose to the moment when it mattered most.
PJ Fleck’s Bowl Streak Continues
With the win, Fleck moves to 7-0 in bowl games as Minnesota’s head coach. That’s not just impressive - that’s elite company.
In a sport where bowl prep can be chaotic and opt-outs are the norm, Fleck’s teams show up ready to play. Every time.
And while coaching rumors swirl elsewhere this time of year, Fleck is staying put. When the Gophers kick off the 2026 season, it’ll mark his 10th year at the helm in Minneapolis.
He’ll have his star defensive lineman back. He’ll have a promising young core.
And he’ll have momentum.
Looking Ahead
With Smith returning and quarterback Drake Lindsey already committed to another year, Minnesota’s 2026 roster is shaping up to be one of the most talented of the Fleck era. There’s still an offseason to navigate, but the pieces are aligning for a serious run.
For now, the Gophers can enjoy this one. A walk-off win.
A defensive clinic. A future star announcing he’s not done yet.
That’s how you close out a season.
And if you’re a fan of Big Ten football - or just good football - you’ll want to keep an eye on Dinkytown in 2026. Something’s building.