12/26/25 08:55:00
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12/26 20:53 CST Smith's diving TD catch in overtime sends Minnesota to 20-17
win over New Mexico in Rate Bowl
Smith's diving TD catch in overtime sends Minnesota to 20-17 win over New
Mexico in Rate Bowl
By JOHN MARSHALL
AP Sports Writer
PHOENIX (AP) --- Minnesota thrives in an era of bowl opt-outs, even when a
national championship is out of reach.
These Golden Gophers dig the postseason.
Jalen Smith scored his second touchdown on a diving 12-yard catch in the first
overtime and Minnesota extended its postseason winning streak to nine games
with a 20-17 win over New Mexico in the Rate Bowl on Friday.
Minnesota's bowl winning streak --- seven straight under coach P.J. Fleck ---
matches Southern California and Utah for second-longest all-time, behind
Florida State's 11 in a row from 1985-95.
"It's all about the players --- the resolve, the resiliency, the scrap they
have," Fleck said. "I'm proud to be their coach for what they've done and what
they continue to do."
A year after Kansas State beat Rutgers 44-41 in the Rate Bowl, the 2025 version
turned defensive in the desert --- until a flurry early in the fourth quarter.
Minnesota (8-5) went up 14-6 when Darius Taylor scored on a 5-yard touchdown
run, but Damon Bankston returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.
New Mexico's 2-point conversion on a trick play tied the game at 14-all.
The teams returned to trading punts, sending the game to overtime at Chase
Field, home of baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks.
New Mexico (9-4) failed to get a first down on the opening possession and Luke
Drzewiecki kicked a 36-yard field goal.
The Gophers and their fans then got to celebrate Smith's spectacular touchdown
twice --- once live, the other after an official review confirmed the catch.
"Obviously, we didn't start the way we wanted, but we battled," said Minnesota
quarterback Drake Lindsey, who threw for 147 yards and two touchdowns. "We had
to battle back all season and we did it again."
New Mexico had its chances and took a couple more that failed.
It didn't work out, but the Lobos took quite a step forward in coach Jason
Eck's first season.
A team picked to finish 11th in the 12-team Mountain West Conference, New
Mexico went undefeated at home for the first time since 1962, beat a Power Four
team (UCLA) for the first time since 2007 and played in a bowl game outside of
Albuquerque for the first time since 2004.
"I'm proud of all those things this team did," Eck said. "In terms of
toughness, we showed that we always respond and we did that again tonight."
The Lobos earned a spot in their first bowl game since the 2016 New Mexico Bowl
behind a vastly improved defense. Fourth-worst in the FBS a year ago, New
Mexico climbed to No. 49 this season, allowing about 222 yards less in total
defense.
The Lobos shut down Minnesota for most of the first half, recovering a botched
snap on a midfield fourth-and-1 attempt and holding the Gophers to 112
first-half yards.
Minnesota finally found an offensive rhythm late in the half, moving 75 yards
in nine plays on a drive capped by Lindsey's rainbow 10-yard touchdown pass to
Smith in the back corner of the end zone.
Minnesota's defense wasn't bad, either.
The Gophers allowed two drives deep into their own end, but stiffened when they
needed to, holding New Mexico to two field goals and 124 total yards for a 7-6
halftime lead.
"They have some really good players and a really good scheme," Eck said. "They
know who they are."
And they know how to play in the postseason.
Up next
Minnesota: The Gophers open the 2026 season at home against Eastern Illinois on
Sept. 3.
New Mexico: Hosts Central Michigan on Sept. 5 to open next season.
___
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