Oddsmakers put their belief in the Gophers, who entered the Mayo Bowl as -10 point favorites. It did take a bit for Minnesota to shake off that aforementioned rust, but the Golden Gophers eventually returned the dominant bowl game team they usually are under PJ Fleck.

QB Max Brosmer didn’t win over any of the NFL scouts, in attendance tonight, completing 18-of-29 passes (62%) for 211 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. It’s only the third time in Max’s last eight games that he has finished with a completion percentage lower than 65%.

What We Learned: Minnesota Gophers vs Virginia Tech Hokies

But for most of the evening, the Gopher offense didn’t need Brosmer. Instead, they turned back to clock to a an offense that looked much more like what we have seen from Fleck’s Gophers, prior to the grad transfer QB’s arrival. And it worked.

Throw in another great performance from a Minnesota Gophers defense (that was missing a handful of important pieces), and it was the maroon and gold who took home the Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory, moving PJ Fleck’s Bowl Game record at the University of Minnesota to 6-0. So… here is what we learned from the final Gopher football game of the 2024-25 season.

Darius Taylor is still him

It’s been an up and down season for Darius Taylor. He came into his sophomore season as the sole superstar-type talent on that side of the ball, after a freshman season that included three Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors and even more injuries.

Quickly, however, we all learned that the 2024 Minnesota Gophers offense was going to look completely different than offenses of Gophers past. After running the ball 71 times in the first two weeks, and averaging a brutal 2.75 yards per carry, PJ Fleck and Greg Harbaugh mostly abandoned the run for the rest of the season.

But not on Friday night vs Virginia Tech, where the Gophers turned back the clock and leaned into their phenom sophomore running back, Darius Taylor, handing him the ball 20 times, which he took for 113 yards (5.7 YPC) and a touchdown.

Darius Taylor TD
pic.twitter.com/q6whvJ448W

— Pick 6 Pack (@Pick6PackFB) January 4, 2025

Michigan State transfer Jared Mangham, who hasn’t seen a lot of run all year, got 9 carries too. He took those carries for an impressive 57 yards (6.3 YPC) against a depleted Hokies front-seven that never really stood a chance, even with the Gophers offensive line missing their own key pieces on the offensive line.

Related: Minnesota Gophers Swipe Physical Freak WR (and Former Top 75 Recruit) from Big Ten Rival

But Darius Taylor does a lot more than run the football. His 4 receptions and 7 targets were both second on the team behind only WR Elijah Spencer, who had 6 receptions on 9 targets. Oh, and Taylor — who has already committed to returning to Minnesota next season — threw a touchdown, too. Because why not?

Darius Taylor did it all in @GopherFootball’s Mayo Bowl win 💪#B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/5sH9reXMB6

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) January 4, 2025

Taylor was injured for the Gophers first game of the season, vs UNC, but in the four games that followed, he never once topped 14 carries. Still, there were a few games this season where the offense leaned on him in a major way.

• Oct 5 vs USC: 25 carries, 144 yards
• Nov 2 vs Illinois: 22 carries, 131 yards, TD
• Nov 29 vs Wisconsin: 32 carries, 143 yards

And whatever Darius Taylor didn’t get in carries, this year, he made up for with receptions. Brosmer found him 21 times in those four September games where he never reached 14 carries.

That included 10 receptions on September 29 vs Michigan. On the season, Taylor totalled 54 receptions and 350 yards receiving on the year, to go along with his 986 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.

Minnesota defense dominant again

What is there to say about the Minnesota Gophers defense? They lost their longtime defensive coordinator in the offseason, and never blinked. Friday night, Virginia Tech posted just 223 yards in total offense (149 pass, 74 rush) and ZERO 2nd half points.

Sure, the Hokie offense was missing a lot of players, but so was the Gopher defense, including starters (CB) Justin Walley, (LB) Cody Lindenberg (DL) Jah Joyner, and (S) Darius Green. But it didn’t really matter. Once Minnesota figured out what Va Tech was trying to do, the night was pretty much over.

Gophers defense gets the pick back on 4th and goal pic.twitter.com/ZKSlNKVUIF

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) January 4, 2025

None of this is new, though. The 2024 Minnesota Gophers have been one of the best in PJ Fleck’s coaching tenure at the U of M, and that is saying something because defense has been this program’s staple attribute since Joe Rossi took it over during the 2018 season.

There are still a few bowl games left to play. But as of Saturday morning, the Minnesota defense ranks 9th nationally in points allowed (16.9), 5th in total yards allowed (285.7), 12th in rush yards allowed (109.6) and 10th in pass yards allowed (176.1). That’s top 12 in every major defensive statistic on the books. They also ranked 29th in turnovers created per game (1.6).

Related: Lots of Minnesota Gophers Players are Planning to Sit Out Bowl Game

It was very concerning when Joe Rossi left for Michigan State. Before he took over, Robb Smith was fired for giving up nearly 40 points per game. If the Minnesota Gophers defense reverted back to that in 2024, they may not have won a game. Instead, in Corey Hetherman’s debut DC season, the defense never skipped a beat.

PJ Fleck mayo bath was as good as advertised

Finally, let’s get to what really matters. Everyone watching on Friday night wanted one thing (even the Virginia Tech fans I bet). We all wanted to see PJ Fleck take a Duke’s Mayo bath. The Hokies are dealing with all sorts of problems.

I can’t even tell you what their coach’s name is. But everyone knows and has an opinion on Fleck. So you’re damn right that’s the coach everyone wanted to see doused in tangy mayonaise. And when the clock expired and the Minnesota Gophers were 21-10 winners on the scoreboard, we all got what we came for.

And it was everything we could have imagined… and more. We even got Flava Flav, and a PJ Fleck “Yeeeeeaaaaahhh Boooiiiii” right before the vat of mayo was dumped onto his smooth, bald head.

The Duke's Mayo celebrity mascot is — Flava Flav.

Flava Flav: FLAVA FLAV IN THE BUILDING AT THE DUKE'S MAYO BOWL. Welcome champions.

P.J. Fleck: IT'S FLAVA FLAV! HOLY CRAP. pic.twitter.com/GPMLWWdRrn

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 4, 2025

PJ Fleck gets the mayo bath and they got him GOOD pic.twitter.com/RcRgmH9tDQ

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) January 4, 2025

Well, most of the healthy Minnesota players will be playing vs the Hokies. That includes quarterback Max Brosmer, who will be playing in the final game of his collegiate career on Friday. So will sophomore running back Darius Taylor, who can push his rushing totals on the season over 1,000 yards, if he can gain 130 yards on the ground in the season finale.

Minnesota Gophers will be missing lots of talent at Duke’s Mayo Bowl

That’s the good news. The bad news is that some of the other most important Gophers players will not be participating. According to Ryan Burns (247Sports), most of the Gophers who are hoping to hear their name called during the 2025 NFL Draft will not play.

Those names include (LT) Aireontae Ersery, (LB) Cody Lindenberg, (WR) Daniel Jackson, (RB) Marcus Major, (C) Tyler Cooper and (OL) Phillip Daniels. That’s a lot of beef to be missing off of an offensive line that underperformed for much of the 2024 season.

“Minnesota is likely going to be without Marcus Major, Daniel Jackson, Aireonae Ersery, Tyler Cooper, Phillip Daniels. I mean, you’re going to be without quite a bit there.”

Ryan Burns (247Sports) – Gopher Gridiron Podcast (41:20 mark)

The Star Tribune’s Randy Johnson added a couple more guys to the list, noting that the Gophers “might be without” (DL) Jah Joyner and (CB) Justin Walley, as well. As you can see, Minnesota will be far from 100% in Charlotte.

Even with these expected absences, the Minnesota Gophers remain -9 favorites. Why? Well, PJ Fleck is 5-0 in bowl games as head coach at the U of M. Additionally, the Gophers are probably a better team than the Hokies, even with both squads at full strength. But if you think we have an opt-out problem, Virginia Tech has it much worse.

Related: Minnesota QB Max Brosmer Lands on NFL Draft Hot Board

As Burns also notes, the Virginia Tech Hokies will be without two 1st Team All-ACC defensive linemen, “essentially their entire secondary” and two starting linebackers. Good luck stopping Max Brosmer and Darius Taylor with that going on…

What are Gophers missing without Jackson, Ersery, Lindenberg, others?

Nonetheless, Minnesota’s absences will certainly hurt, too. Aireontae Ersery is expected to be a first round draft pick, come April. Daniel Jackson was by far the Gophers most prolific pass catcher, posting 75 receptions for 863 yards and 4 touchdowns. He was also the biggest All-Conference snub of the 2024 class.

Screw fox, that's a Gophers TD and I'm posting it pic.twitter.com/dQOnD9o9Fz

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) September 28, 2024

On defense, Minnesota will lose Cody Lindenberg, who easily leads the team in tackles, with 94. The 2nd highest leading tackler? Kerry Brown and Maverick Baranowski are tied at 59 each. That type of production isn’t easily replaced.

Related: CFB Expert Confidently Picks Minnesota Gophers to Win Duke’s Mayo Bowl

Good thing Virginia Tech is missing their two stud big men up front, on defense, because most of the Gophers offensive line is sitting this game out. Nonetheless, this will be a great opportunity for PJ Fleck and his coaching staff to get a look at some of the linemen who have not gotten a lot of run yet this season, then adjust their post bowl game transfer portal plans, as necessary.

While the Mayo Bowl isn’t exactly the Rose Bowl, it isn’t some half-rate, nobody cares bowl that falls in the middle of a Tuesday, in December, either. Next Friday, at 6:30 p.m. CST, Minnesota vs Virginia Tech will be the only college football game on TV that night.

CFB expert confident Minnesota Gophers will win Duke’s Mayo Bowl

PJ Fleck has never lost a bowl game, in the five attempts as head football coach at the University of Minnesota. And ESPN Senior Writer Adam Rittenberg doesn’t see the 2024-25 Duke’s Mayo Bowl turning out any different, matter-of-factly stating, “Minnesota will win, setting up an epic mayo dump for Fleck”.

“P.J. Fleck was born to play and coach football, brainstorm mottos and eventually douse himself in mayonnaise after winning a bowl game. Can’t you see it now? Fleck’s team wasn’t far away from a much better season and boasts a solid formula of defense, Darius Taylor’s running and quarterback Max Brosmer’s efficient passing. Virginia Tech had far greater expectations than 6-6 this season, and could be facing some damaging personnel departures before January. The Hokies are very talented with running back Bhayshul Tuten, defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland and others, but there has been something missing all season. But Minnesota will win, setting up an epic mayo dump for Fleck.”

Adam Rittenberg on Minnesota’s bowl matchup (ESPN)

Related: Minnesota Gophers Swipe Physical Freak WR (and Former Top 75 Recruit) from Big Ten Rival

Rittenberg projects a 28-24 final score, in favor of the Gophers. It will be quarterback Max Brosmer’s first bowl game start in maroon and gold… and also his last last. The one-and-done graduate transfer has thrown for 2,617 yards with a 17/5 TD/INT ratio this season.

Last chance to watch Max Brosmer ball out…

With one game yet to play, Brosmer ranks top-10 in Minnesota QB history, in single-season yards and touchdowns. At the end of January, he will play in the Shrine Bowl, before focusing on further pre-draft activities.

🚣 26/33 CMP
🚣 320 YDS
🚣 4 TD

Max Brosmer's best game of the season sent @GopherFootball to an easy win over Maryland.#B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/f8v1VTBv9G

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 26, 2024

NFL Draft expert Jordan Reid (ESPN) currently has Max as the 9th-best quarterback on his board, and a day 3 pick. If Brosmer is drafted, come April, he will be the first U of M QB taken since Craig Curry was drafted No. 208 overall in 1972.

Minnesota had all the chances to put up a better record than the 7-5 mark they wound up with. They should have beaten UNC, in the season opener, and they came out on the wrong end of two very winnable games vs ranked Illinois and Penn State.

Related: Minnesota QB Max Brosmer Lands on NFL Draft Hot Board

That said, a statement win against a solid ACC opponent, to put a bow on the season, would end the year on a positive note. Momentum is again building in Dinkytown and the 2025 Gophers squad could make some serious noise.

Every Gophers fan would sign up in an instant, to watch Fleck enjoy a mayonnaise bath. It’s also hard to turn away from another opportunity to see Koi Perich play football.

Koi Perich 🔥😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/pjnYUlIZBT

— Swish (@swishxvibes) October 31, 2024

After plenty of speculation about which bowl game the Gophers would land in, it’s now official. They’re heading to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

Minnesota Gophers to take on Virginia Tech in Duke’s Mayo Bowl

It’s Selection Sunday, the day the College Football Playoff committee reveals the playoff matchups and assigns bowl games to teams that didn’t make the cut. Today, they announced the Gophers will face Virginia Tech in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

Minnesota IS Duke's Country‼️ Officially headed to Charlotte! #RTB #SkiUMah #Gophers

BOWL CENTRAL: https://t.co/XHKlr2pRQY pic.twitter.com/twXK0ZND8x

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) December 8, 2024

The Gophers are set to face a 6-6 Virginia Tech team that finished 8th in the ACC. This matchup marks the first time these two programs will ever meet on the football field.

Where and what is the Duke’s Mayo Bowl?

The Duke’s Mayo Bowl takes place in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is held at Bank of America Stadium, home to the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. The game will take place on January 3rd 2025.

Related: Two Minnesota Gophers Football Stars Announce Return for 2025 Season 

Duke’s Mayonnaise has been the title sponsor of the game since 2020, but before that, it went by other names like the Continental Tire Bowl, Meineke Car Care Bowl, and Belk Bowl.

One of the fun traditions Dukes Mayo has introduced is giving the winning team’s head coach a mayo bath after the game.

MAYO DUMP. pic.twitter.com/pEqLT19Zc5

— Duke's Mayo Bowl (@DukesMayoBowl) December 28, 2023

Will P.J. Fleck continue his impressive bowl game streak and improve to a perfect 6-0 while capping it off with a celebratory mayo bath? The answer awaits us on January 3rd.

Mayo bath incoming for Minnesota Gophers P.J. Fleck

For quite some time a ceremonial Gatorade bath has been the way to congratulate a coach following a victory. The Duke’s Mayo Bowl dumping a condiment all over the dome of the winning head coach is the new wave. That’s exactly what P.J. Fleck could be looking at in a couple of weeks.

Source with #Gophers football tells me it’s likely the team will be heading to Charlotte for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Jan 3. Nothing definitive yet but it’s trending in that direction

— Pierre Noujaim (@TheNoujFOX9) December 1, 2024

Although Noujaim cautions that nothing is official, he is plenty connected. As a host of the P.J. Fleck Show on Fox 9, the reporter has a direct line to the top source in the Gophers football program. Bowl announcements will start to trickle out in the coming days as conference championship week is upon us.

Bowl projections have shifted for weeks and multiple destinations for Minnesota have come up. The Gophers became bowl eligible after knocking off a ranked Illinois team on the road. They could have aimed even higher by playing to their abilities against Rutgers, or finishing a complete game against Penn State. Even still, the 7-5 record is better than what was expected of them, and a January bowl game is hardly a bad result.

MAYO BATH pic.twitter.com/GQh03Beue1

— Duke's Mayo Bowl (@DukesMayoBowl) December 30, 2021

Related: 2024 Minnesota Gophers Bowl Projections

The Duke’s Mayo Bowl takes place on January 3, 2025. They have had representatives in person at Huntington Bank Stadium, and there have been multiple results that make them a worthy selection. The opponent won’t be known until a further level of confirmation is achieved, but Syracuse has been a rumored name. The Orange have former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord under center, and they knocked off #8 Miami on Saturday to finish 9-3. A win for Minnesota against an opponent of that ilk would be a substantial one.

Related: Minnesota Gophers Rise Back Up College Football Rankings

Daniel Jackson with an AMAZING catch for @GopherFootball. pic.twitter.com/yOngaMWf43

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 29, 2024

A bowl game will be the final opportunity to see Max Brosmer and Daniel Jackson in a Gophers uniform. The quarterback will go down as one of the best in program history, and both should find themselves as legitimate draft prospects in April.