The first of three college football bowl games that will be played inside MLB Ballparks on the holiday weekend begins in The Valley with the Rate Bowl at Chase Field between two teams that have exceeded expectations in their respective conference.
It’ll be Minnesota and New Mexico meeting on the baseball diamond in the Rate Bowl, which traditionally features a Big Ten-Big 12 matchup, but with Iowa State opting out of the bowl season, the Mountain West’s Lobos were sent to the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks to play the Golden Gophers instead.
The Golden Gophers and the Lobos are set for a 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff from Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.
Watch New Mexico vs Minnesota in the Rate Bowl live with Fubo (free trial)
The Gophers are led by quarterback Drake Lindsey and edge rusher Anthony Smith, the latter of whom was named to the All-Big Ten First Team after recording 10.5 sacks this season. Minnesota is looking to extend its nation leading active-bowl win streak to nine consecutive games with a win on Friday.
The Lobos went 9-3 in the regular season under first-year coach Jason Eck, giving New Mexico its first season with at least nine wins for the first time since 2016. Jaxton Eck is a player that Minnesota will have to contain and limit on Friday, as he has racked up 126 total tackles (6.5 for a loss), 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery this season for the Lobos.
USA TODAY Sports is bringing live updates from the game. Follow along.
New Mexico vs Minnesota score
New Mexico vs Minnesota live updates
This section has been updated with new information
Third quarter: Minnesota 7, New Mexico 6
New Mexico punts
Karter Menz bats down Jack Layne’s pass attempt on third-and-8, and New Mexico is forced to send out the punt unit. The Lobos will now look to their defense to get another stop and hold the score at 7-6 in favor of Minnesota, as New Mexico’s offense tries to find some rhythm and consistency.
Minnesota punts
An 11-play drive to open up the second half for Minnesota results in a punt. The Gophers were unable to recover from Dimitri Johnson’s 7-yard sack on Drake Lindsey. It’s a nice response by the New Mexico defense, who hands the ball back to its offense trailing 7-6 with 8:53 remaining in the third quarter.
New Mexico sacks Drake Lindsey
Dimitri Johnson finds the hole and gets to Drake Lindsey for the 7-yard sack. It’s the first sack of the afternoon for the Lobos defense and creates a second-and-long for the Gophers.
Minnesota moving on offense
Drake Lindsey hits Jalen Smith near the sideline for a 17-yard catch on third-and-5 to pick up the first down. The play moves the Gophers into plus territory at the New Mexico 42-yard line. Minnesota is now 4-of-7 on third-down conversion attempts.
End of first half: Minnesota 7, New Mexico 6
Minnesota takes a 7-6 lead into halftime at the Rate Bowl against New Mexico after the Lobos were unable to get a scoring drive together to respond to Drake Lindsey’s touchdown pass to Jalen Smith. The Golden Gophers’ defense had a monster first half, as it recorded six tackles for a loss, four sacks and a turnover in the first 30 minutes of action.
New Mexico quarterback Jack Layne finished 12-of-16 passing for 67 yards and an interception in the first half, while Lindsey was 6 of 12 passing for 56 yards and a touchdown.
Drake Lindsey throws TD pass
Minnesota has some life, as Drake Lindsey finds Jalen Smith in the back left corner of the end zone for the 10-yard touchdown. It’s a well-placed ball by Lindsey and a great route and catch made by Smith, who gets his first receiving touchdown since Week 5 against Rutgers.
The scoring drive was nine plays for 75 yards and took 4:21 off the game clock. Minnesota now leads New Mexico 7-6 with less than two minutes to go until halftime.
Darius Taylor breaks off big run
On a night where Minnesota hasn’t had much going for it offensively, Darius Taylor breaks off a 38-yard run down near the New Mexico 35-yard line. This might be the Gophers’ biggest scoring opportunity yet of the Rate Bowl.
New Mexico kicks field goal
Luke Drzewiecki kicks a 29-yard field goal to extend the Lobos’ lead to 6-0 with 7:29 remaining in the first half. New Mexico capitalizes on the Minnesota turnover, even converting its own fourth-down attempt, to score the field goal.
Minnesota turns it over
The Gophers, trying to capitalize on the turnover, attempt to go for it on fourth down in their own territory. However, they bobble the ball and it’s recovered in Gophers territory.
John Nestor intercepts New Mexico
There’s a heads-up play by Minnesota defensive back John Nestor, who makes the heads-up play to make the interception across the sideline and give Minnesota possession back in its own territory.
End of first quarter: New Mexico 3, Minnesota 0
Jack Layne connects with Keagan Johnson on a quick pass as time expires in the first quarter to pick up the first down. Layne completed 5-of-6 passes for 35 yards in the first quarter, while New Mexico outnumbers Minnesota 77-18 in total yards of offense in the frame.
With a 3-0 lead, New Mexico will start the second half knocking on the door of moving into plus territory.
Minnesota punts
It’s a three-and-out for Minnesota on its second drive of the night, and the Golden Gophers send out the punt unit. New Mexico’s defense held Minnesota’s offense to just 1 yard of total offense on the drive.
The Lobos take over at their own 35-yard line after a 15-yard kick catch interference penalty was called against the Golden Gophers.
New Mexico takes lead with field goal
New Mexico settles for the 31-yard field goal from Luke Drzewiecki to take the early lead against Minnesota. It’s a disappointing end to a well-constructed and executed drive by the Lobos, as New Mexico quarterbacks James Laubstein and Jack Layne took 6- and-8-yard sacks after DJ McKinney got down to the 1-yard line.
The scoring drive was 15 plays for 66 yards and took 8:35 off the game clock.
Minnesota, New Mexico exchange punts
Both teams exchange punts on their first, as New Mexico breaks up Drake Lindsey’s intended pass to Cam Davis on a third-and-6 pass. The Lobos nearly had a takeaway on the play, but safety Drew Speech couldn’t hold onto the ball.
Minnesota catches two breaks on the drive, as the Golden Gophers had a fumble recovery by the Lobos overturned into an incomplete pass deep on the second play of the drive, on top of that near interception from Speech.
Minnesota sacks Jack Layne
Maverick Baranowski delivers a loud statement on the first play of the Rate Bowl with a 10-yard sack on New Mexico quarterback Jack Layne. The Golden Gophers rank second in the Big Ten in sacks this season, with 35.
Pregame
Brian Urlacher at Rate Bowl
Former New Mexico linebacker Brian Urlacher is in attendance for the Rate Bowl against Minnesota. Urlacher went No. 9 overall in the 2000 NFL Draft to the Chicago Bears after a decorated career with the Lobos. In his senior season, Urlacher was named the 1999 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year after leading the league in tackles (154), forced fumbles (five) and fumble recoveries (three).
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
Minnesota football bowl record
Minnesota brings a 13-12 record in bowl games into Friday’s Rate Bowl against New Mexico. The Golden Gophers are currently on an eight-game win streak in bowl contests, which is the longest active streak in the country and tied for the fourth longest in FBS history.
Minnesota is 6-0 in bowl games under P.J. Fleck, winning the 2018 Quick Lane Bowl, 2020 Outback Bowl, 2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl, 2022 Pinstripe Bowl, 2023 Quick Lane Bowl and 2025 Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
New Mexico uniform for Rate Bowl revealed
New Mexico will wear its alternate ‘United in Turquoise’ uniform for Friday’s bowl game against Minnesota. The alternate uniform is a replica of the uniforms the team wore from 1973 through 1979.
Minnesota availability report vs New Mexico in Rate Bowl
Minnesota defensive back Garrison Monroe and offensive lineman Daniel Shipp are questionable for Friday’s Rate Bowl against New Mexico, according to Minnesota’s availability report. Here’s the full availability report for Minnesota against New Mexico:
Minnesota uniform for Rate Bowl revealed
Minnesota will rock its home uniforms for Friday’s bowl game against New Mexico. The Golden Gophers will wear their maroon tops with gold piping.
Why is New Mexico football playing in the Rate Bowl?
How did a team from the Mountain West, like New Mexico, get sent to the Rate Bowl when the bowl game is traditionally a Big 12-vs.-Big Ten matchup?
It’s a rather straightforward answer: Iowa State opted out of bowl game participation due to a coaching change as Matt Campbell left to take the Penn State job. Because of that, the Big 12 did not have a team to send to the Rate Bowl.
What channel is New Mexico vs Minnesota on today?
TV Channel: ESPN
Livestream:Fubo (free trial)
New Mexico and Minnesota will broadcast nationally on ESPN for the Rate Bowl. Mike Monaco and Kirk Morrison will call the game from Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona with Dawn Davenport reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include Watch ESPN and Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
New Mexico vs Minnesota time today
Date: Friday, Dec. 26
Start time: 4:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. MT)
The New Mexico vs Minnesota game starts at 4:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. local time) from Chase Field in Phoenix.
Stream New Mexico vs Minnesota with Fubo (free trial)
New Mexico vs Minnesota predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Dec. 21
Spread: Minnesota -2.5
Over/under: 44.5
Moneyline: Minnesota (-130) | New Mexico (+110)
Here’s who experts within the USA TODAY Sports Network picked to win the Rate Bowl:
Matt Hayes: Minnesota
Jordan Mendoza: New Mexico
Paul Myerberg: Minnesota
Erick Smith: Minnesota
Eddie Timanus: Minnesota
Blake Toppmeyer: Minnesota
New Mexico football schedule 2025
Here’s a look at New Mexico’s football schedule in 2025:
Saturday, Aug. 30: No. 14 Michigan 34, New Mexico 17
Saturday, Sept. 7: New Mexico 32, Idaho State 22
Friday, Sept. 12: New Mexico 35, UCLA 10
Saturday, Sept. 20: BYE
Saturday, Sept. 27: New Mexico 37, New Mexico State 20
Friday, Oct. 3: San Jose State 35, New Mexico 28 *
Saturday, Oct. 11: Boise State 41, New Mexico 35 *
Saturday, Oct. 18: New Mexico 24, Nevada 22 *
Saturday, Oct. 25: New Mexico 33, Utah State 14 *
Saturday, Nov. 1: New Mexico 40, UNLV 35 *
Saturday, Nov. 8: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 15: New Mexico 20, Colorado State 17 *
Saturday, Nov. 22: New Mexico 20, Air Force 3 *
Friday, Nov. 28: New Mexico 23, San Diego State 17 (2OT) *
Friday, Dec. 26: vs. Minnesota | 4:30 p.m. ET | ESPN (Fubo)
* Denotes Mountain West game
** Denotes Rate Bowl
Minnesota football schedule 2025
Thursday, Aug. 28: Minnesota 23, Buffalo 10
Saturday, Sept. 7: Minnesota 66, Northwestern State 0
Saturday, Sept. 13: Cal 27, Minnesota 14
Saturday, Sept. 20: BYE
Saturday, Sept. 27: Minnesota 31, Rutgers 28 *
Saturday, Oct. 4: No. 1 Ohio State 42, Minnesota 3 *
Saturday, Oct. 11: Minnesota 27, Purdue 20 *
Friday, Oct. 17: Minnesota 24, No. 25 Nebraska 6 *
Saturday, Oct. 25: Iowa 41, Minnesota 3 *
Saturday, Nov. 1: Minnesota 23, Michigan State 20 (OT) *
Saturday, Nov. 8: BYE
Friday, Nov. 14: No. 8 Oregon 42, Minnesota 13 *
Saturday, Nov. 22: Northwestern 38, Minnesota 25 *
Saturday, Nov. 29: Minnesota 17, Wisconsin 7 *
Friday, Dec. 26: vs. New Mexico | 4:30 p.m. ET | ESPN (Fubo) **
* Denotes Big Ten game
** Denotes Rate Bowl