In what was a largely defensive game, the Golden Gophers won offensively with a walk-off, 12-yard touchdown pass from Drake Lindsey to Jalen Smith to defeat New Mexico 20-17 in the Rate Bowl on Friday, Dec. 26 inside Chase Field in Phoenix.
It is the ninth consecutive bowl win for the Gophers, and the first win for the Big Ten Conference in the Rate Bowl — which traditionally features a Big Ten vs. Big 12 matchup — since Wisconsin defeated Oklahoma State in 2022.
The Gophers elected to take the ball second in overtime, and it proved to be the right decision as Lindsey and Co. only needed a touchdown to win the game after New Mexico was held to a field goal. Lindsey’s game-winning TD to Smith marked the second time he connected with the redshirt freshman wide receiver on the afternoon.
The Lobos finish their first season under first-year coach Jason Eck with a 9-4 record, the most wins they’ve recorded since 2016.
With its offense cold for a majority of the second half, New Mexico was able to get itself back in the game with Damon Bankston’s 100-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter. Bankston’s score turned out to be a momentum switcher, as the Lobos’ defense came up with three consecutive three-and-outs to help force overtime.
Lindsey completed 18-of-28 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns, while Minnesota running back Darius Taylor recorded his third bowl game with at least 100 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. New Mexico quarterback Jack Layne completed 14-of-25 passes for 88 yards, with an interception.
The win for Minnesota improves its record in bowl games under P.J. Fleck to a perfect 7-0, and 2-0 in the Rate Bowl.
USA TODAY Sports provided live updates, scores and highlights of the game:
New Mexico vs Minnesota score
Minnesota-New Mexico Rate Bowl highlights
Here’s a compilation of highlights from Minnesota’s win over New Mexico in the Rate Bowl on Friday:
New Mexico vs Minnesota live updates
This section has been updated with new information
Final score (OT): Minnesota 20, New Mexico 17
Minnesota wins Rate Bowl with TD pass
Drake Lindsey connects with Jalen Smith for the game-winning, diving touchdown catch to give Minnesota the 20-17 overtime win in the Rate Bowl.
New Mexico hits FG in first overtime
New Mexico attempts to pick up the first down by sending out James Laubstein for the quarterback keeper, but he is stuffed at the line. Lobos hit the 36-yard field goal to take a brief 17-14 lead.
Next up will be the Minnesota offense, where the Gophers can win the game with a touchdown.
Minnesota wins toss, New Mexico up first
Minnesota wins the coin toss and elects to send its defense out first in overtime. It will be New Mexico’s offense out first.
End of fourth quarter: Minnesota 14, New Mexico 14
New Mexico sacks Minnesota to force overtime
Keyshawn James-Newby sacks Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey for a loss of 5 yards to force overtime at the Rate Bowl. It’s the second sack of the afternoon for New Mexico’s defense.
Minnesota gets ball back
Jack Layne’s screen pass to Keagan Johnson is batted down by Anthony Smith, and Minnesota will get the ball back with an opportunity to win it. Both teams’ defenses have traded third-down stops on seven of the nine drives in the second half.
Minnesota has one timeout remaining after burning two early in the third quarter. Gophers start on their own 15-yard line with 56 seconds remaining.
New Mexico gets stop
It’s a three-and-out for Minnesota for the third consecutive drive, and New Mexico gets another shot at putting together a potential game-winning drive. The Gophers started each of their last two drives at the New Mexico 40-yard line and their own 49-yard line and created just six total yards of offense.
Minnesota punts
New Mexico’s failed fake punt attempt ends up not hurting the Lobos (for now), as Minnesota elects to punt instead of attempting a long field goal attempt. Which team can rely on and find success with their running may win this game.
New Mexico fails fake punt attempt
Minnesota comes up with a stop on fourth-down as Anthony Smith sacks DeShaun Buchanan for a loss of 10 yards on a fake punt attempt. It’s a costly trick play by New Mexico, as Minnesota takes over at the Lobos’ 40-yard line with 7:46 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The failed trick play comes right after Jack Layne was unable to pick up the first down with the quarterback keeper. Minnesota now looks for the go-ahead score in the Rate Bowl.
New Mexico gets stop, Minnesota punts
New Mexico’s defense gets the stop it needs, and Minnesota punts the ball back to the Lobos. The Gophers were unable to regroup from consecutive penalties that moved them back 20 yards after facing third-and-4. The drive ends with three plays for a net loss of 14 yards for Minnesota.
New Mexico cuts deficit with kickoff return, 2-point conversion
We’ve got a tied game in Phoenix! Damon Bankston delivers the quick score for New Mexico with a 100-yard kickoff return, and then Jack Layne connects with Keagan Johnson for the 2-point conversion pass to tie it at 14-14. It’s the second kickoff return touchdown for Bankston this season.
What a sequence of events in the Rate Bowl in the last minute!
Here’s a look at Bankston’s return:
Here’s a look at the successful 2-point conversion attempt:
Darius Taylor extends Minnesota lead
Darius Taylor breaks a tackle and finds the end zone for a 5-yard rushing touchdown. Taylor’s score extends Minnesota’s lead to eight points at 14-6 with 13:30 remaining in the fourth quarter.
It’s a well-balanced drive put together by Minnesota, as the Gophers found success on the ground and in the air during their 12-play drive that went 80 yards and took 6:37 off the game clock. Minnesota’s change to relying on its run game more in the second half has given New Mexico’s defense trouble.
End of third quarter: Minnesota 7, New Mexico 6
Minnesota is 15 minutes away from securing its ninth consecutive bowl win, as it takes a 7-6 lead over New Mexico into the fourth quarter at the Rate Bowl in Arizona. Darius Taylor picked up 3 yards on a carry to end the third quarter, giving the Gophers a first down at the New Mexico 12-yard line.
Neither team was able to score in the third quarter.
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