This holiday season brings a historic showdown rarely seen in bowl play: the New Mexico Lobos and the Minnesota Golden Gophers will meet for the first time when they clash in the 2025 Rate Bowl on December 26 at 2:30 p.m. MST (ESPN / ESPN App). Both programs arrive in Phoenix carrying very different—but equally fascinating—storylines.
Mountain West Connection
Photo Courtesy of Fiesta Sports Foundation
New Mexico aims to complete one of the most remarkable single-season turnarounds in modern college football, while Minnesota looks to protect the nation’s longest active bowl-winning streak and extend a run of postseason excellence.
Jason Eck’s Remarkable Year-One Rebuild at New Mexico
The New Mexico Lobos (9–3, 6–2 MWC) have authored one of the best “prove-everybody-wrong” seasons in the country. Predicted near the bottom of the Mountain West preseason polls, first-year head coach Jason Eck reshaped the program in a matter of weeks. Eck brought in around 73 newcomers, revamping nearly every position group, including several players who followed him from Idaho. The result? A roster that went from an afterthought to a conference contender—and now a bowl participant.
The Rise of Quarterback Jack Layne
Red-shirt junior quarterback Jack Layne has been the engine behind UNM’s offensive resurgence. Layne has thrown for 2,398 yards, 13 touchdowns, completed almost 66% of his passes, and added four rushing scores—a steady, composed presence in the Lobos’ new system.
A Three-Headed Backfield That Changed Everything
New Mexico’s ground game has been one of the most reliable in the Mountain West. The trio of Damon Bankston, D.J. McKinney, and Scottre Humphrey combined for over 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns, giving UNM a balanced, physical rushing attack capable of controlling tempo.
A Defense Built on Pressure and Disruption
Defensively, the Lobos have taken significant strides. Keyshawn James-Newby and Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year Jaxton Eck headline a defense that tallied nine sacks against rival New Mexico State last week—tying a school record. The Lobos also boast a top-25 rushing defense, allowing just 113.5 yards per game.
Season Highlights
New Mexico’s resurgence includes several program milestones:
* First undefeated home season since 1962
* Bowl eligibility clinched on Nov. 1, during a thrilling 40–35 road win at UNLV
* Only the third 9-win season for UNM in the 21st century
Minnesota Attempts to Extend College Football’s Longest Bowl Winning Streak
While New Mexico enters the spotlight as a rising program, Minnesota (7–5, 5–4 Big Ten) arrives with something the Lobos don’t have: years of postseason experience and a historic streak on the line.
The Nation’s Longest Active Bowl Winning Streak
The Golden Gophers have won eight straight bowl games, the longest current streak in the FBS. Their consistency under head coach P.J. Fleck—particularly in high-pressure postseason moments—makes them a formidable opponent.
Perfect at Home & Clutch When It Counted
Minnesota’s season included major highlights:
* 8–0 home record, their first perfect home slate since 1967
* A dramatic 23–20 overtime win over Michigan State that secured bowl eligibility
* A rivalry victory over Wisconsin that fueled momentum into the postseason
A Freshman Quarterback Surging at the Right Time
Redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Lindsay may be young, but he has quickly become one of the Big Ten’s most exciting rising stars. 2,235 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, four rushing scores, and his seven wins are the most ever by a freshman quarterback in Minnesota history.
A Defense That Lives in the Backfield
Defensively, the Gophers thrive on pressure: 35 sacks (4th most nationally), Anthony Smith (1st-Team All–Big Ten): 13.5 TFL, 10.5 sacks, and John Nestor: five interceptions, ranking No. 3 nationally.
The 2025 Rate Bowl: Celebrating 35 Years of Tradition
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Rate Bowl, organized by the Fiesta Sports Foundation. The committee emphasized how special this matchup is: Two programs with no prior meetings in their long football histories, a contrast of styles, identities, and trajectories, and a combination of storylines that bowl organizers say makes this one of the most intriguing Rate Bowls ever staged.
A Bowl With Community Impact
As part of the Rate Bowl’s ongoing tradition, the postgame festivities will include the donation of 75,000 square feet of Bermuda grass to C.O. Greenfield Academy of Design & Innovation in south Phoenix—continuing the bowl’s long-standing commitment to community development.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Rate Bowl brings together two programs traveling very different paths: New Mexico, pursuing validation of one of the most remarkable season turnarounds in program history, and Minnesota, fighting to extend the longest active bowl-winning streak in college football. Add in the historical significance of their first-ever meeting, the electric atmosphere of a downtown Phoenix bowl game, and the stakes for both coaching staffs, and this matchup becomes one of the can’t-miss events of the holiday season. Whether it’s the rebirth of a Mountain West contender or the continuation of a Big Ten powerhouse’s postseason dominance, the Rate Bowl promises to deliver an unforgettable December 26th showdown in the Arizona sun.
Fuente: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/mexico-vs-minnesota-fascinating-holiday-044312718.html