It’s bowl season, which means we have a lot of football to watch between Dec. 13 and Jan. 19! Ohio State, Utah, Georgia Southern, Army, Texas A&M — and just about everyone in between — will take part in a total of 47 games that will ultimately conclude with the 2026 CFP National Championship.
NESN has you covered with previews for each and every game — with our next contest bringing us to the southwest:
2025 Rate Bowl
Matchup: New Mexico Lobos vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Date: Friday, Dec. 26, 2025
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. ET
Stadium: Chase Field — Phoenix, Ariz.
TV: ESPN
Game Overview
The Rate Bowl has gone by many names over the years — Copper Bowl (1989-1996), Insight.com Bowl (1997-2001), Insight Bowl (2002-2011), Buffalo Wild Wings (2012-2013), Cactus Bowl (2014-2019) and Guaranteed Rate Bowl (2020-2023).
It’s not like there isn’t a decent history behind it, though.
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Drew Bledsoe (1992), Aaron Rodgers (2003), LeVeon Bell (2012) and Tyler Lockett (2013) have all one the game’s MVP. Chase Field has hosted since 2016, making it one of three bowl games staged in baseball stadiums (Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium and the Fenway Bowl at Fenway Park).
Team Overviews
New Mexico Lobos
Conference: Mountain West
Head Coach: Jason Eck
Record: 9–3
New Mexico has an opportunity to reach double-digit wins for the first time since 1982, as they enter this game coming off an insane turnaround that saw them beat UCLA, Utah State and San Diego State to finish 9-3.
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Jason Eck was an unbelievable find, as he took over for Bronco Mendenhall and helped the program make tremendous strides in his transition to FBS from FCS Idaho.
The Lobos don’t do anything extraordinary, but their only two losses of more than one score came against Michigan and Boise State. It;s safe to say they can play with anyone.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Conference: Big Ten
Head Coach: P.J. Fleck
Record: 7-5
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Minnesota was another victim to an outrageously difficult Big Ten schedule, which saw them drop games to Iowa, Ohio State and Oregon — with the latter two teams scheduled to appear in the college football playoff.
P.J. Fleck, the club’s head coach, has built a respected program that includes six bowl victories in the last seven years.
The Golden Gophers are essentially even across the board, as they average slightly less points per game (23.2; 99th of 136) than they allow (23.4; 56th of 136).
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Players to Watch
New Mexico
QB Jack Layne
RB Damon Bankston
RB DJ McKinney
WR Keagan Johnson
TE Dorian Thomas
LB Keyshawn James-Newby
LB Jaxton Eck
DB Austin Brawley
Minnesota
QB Drake Lindsey
RB Darius Taylor
WR Lemeke Brockington
WR Javon Tracy
DL Anthony Smith
LB Maverick Baranowski
DB John Nestor
DB Koi Perich
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Key Notes
P.J. Fleck has never lost a bowl game at Minnesota, winning the Duke’s Mayo Bowl (2024), Quick Lane Bowl (2023 and 2018), Pinstripe Bowl (2022), Guaranteed Rate Bowl (2021) and Outback Bowl (2019).
Betting Lines
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DraftKings Sportsbook: Minnesota -2.5 | O/U 43.5
FanDuel Sportsbook: Minnesota -2.5 | O/U 43.5
BetMGM Sportsbook: Minnesota -2.5 | O/U 43.5
The Pick: Minnesota -2.5
Featured image via Matt Krohn/Imagn Images
