There is plenty to report on from the Minnesota Gophers Football program as they prepare to go bowling, welcome transfer portal additions, celebrate good news on the NIL front, announce season-ending honors, and look ahead to their 2025 schedule. There are plenty of positive things to celebrate this holiday, from their extended playing schedule to a 2025 season that shows much promise.
There are still more things to look forward to, but coach P.J. Fleck is truly excited about the possibilities surrounding the Minnesota Gophers Football team.
Gophers Go Bowling for Mayo
The Gophers were chosen to play in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Virginia Tech on January 3, 2025, at Bank America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. Historically, this is Minnesota’s 25th bowl game ever, and they are on a seven-game winning streak in bowl contests dating back to the Quick Lane Bowl in 2015.
During coach Fleck’s tenure, they have won five straight bowl games, most recently beating Bowling Green last December in the Quick Lane Bowl 30-24. The Gophers were also a candidate to appear in the Pinstripe Bowl in New York City on December 28. Of the two, this was the clear favorite of the Gophers’ team and fans.
This will be their first-ever meeting with Virginia Tech. In more good news for the Gophers, seniors quarterback Max Brosmer and offensive lineman Quinn Carroll have said they will play in the Mayo Bowl.
Positive Portal News
Mostly positive news is coming out of the transfer portal. After the first wave of defections, the only other Minnesota players to announce their departures are offensive tackle Phillip Daniels and walk-on running back Zander Rockow. Otherwise, portal news has been dominated by the announcements of players inbound to Minnesota. Georgia Tech quarterback Jack Pyron and Purdue tight end Drew Biber have announced that they will play for the Gophers starting in 2025. Pyron constitutes a solid backup for incoming starter Drake Lindsey. And the team expects Biber to replace graduating senior Nick Kallerup as the blocking tight end.
And just in the past twenty-four hours, Minnesota has received commitments from Illinois State defensive lineman Steven Curtis, North Carolina Central cornerback Jayden Bowden, Miami (Ohio) wide receiver Javon Tracy, and Syracuse placekicker Brady Denaburg.
Other recent commits include three running backs: Washington graduate student Cameron Davis, Cole Cabana from Michigan, and Marshall’s A.J. Turner. And sometimes, the best news regarding the portal is when your own players stay home. Players announcing their intention to return to the Gophers include running back Darius Taylor; quarterback Drake Lindsey; linebacker Maverick Baranowski; safeties Koi Perich and Kerry Brown; and defensive lineman Anthony Smith, Deven Eastern, and Jalen Logan-Redding.
Good News on the NIL Front
There is good news on the NIL front. Minnesota announced that Gopher Athletics and Dinkytown Athletes have added the Golden Gopher Fund to their partnership. Dinkytown Athletes, the Gophers’s official NIL collective since April 2021, announced the latest move that will grant individuals who support NIL through Dinkytown Athletics Gopher Score priority points. These points can be used for things such as season ticket upgrades, postseason ticket purchases, and single-game priority seating. This new partnership started on November 1.
In other NIL news, coach Fleck spoke optimistically about the program’s NIL situation. “From this year to last year, it’s way more. It’s way more. We just have to continue to find ways to be able to fill those three buckets. And for me, as we continue to get more, we can do more with more. Simple.”
Gophers Players Earn Post-Season Honors
When teams do well, players are recognized. This is true for the Gophers, where several players have received post-season honors for their outstanding play. The following players were named to the Big Ten’s first or second all-conference teams.
First Team
Aireontae Ersery, offensive line (coaches, media)
Koi Perich, defensive back (coaches, media)
Cody Lindenberg, linebacker (coaches)
Second Team
Cody Lindenberg, linebacker (media)
Justin Walley, defensive back (coaches)
Koi Perich, return specialist (media)
Ersery was also named to the Associated Press All-Big Ten First Team Offense and Perich to the conference’s First Team Defense. Lindenberg also received Second Team Defense honors. In addition to these honors, offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery was named the Big Ten Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year. Ersery was also named third-team All-American by the Associated Press.
Several senior Minnesota players have been invited to play in the collegiate post-season all-star games. Offensive lineman Quinn Carroll and defensive lineman Danny Striggow have been invited to the Hula Bowl on January 11. Receiving invites to the East-West Shrine Bowl on January 30 are offensive linemen Tyler Cooper, Brosmer, and Walley. Brosmer was originally invited to the Hula Bowl, but since the East-West game is scheduled for later in the month, he elected to go with the option that would give him more preparation time after the Gophers play in the Mayo Bowl on January 3. Ersery will represent Minnesota at the Reese’s Senior Bowl on February 1.
2025 Schedule Released
Last week, the Gophers 2025 Football Schedule was released, and the consensus among fans is that it was a very favorable schedule for Minnesota. Even though they have to travel to Columbus to take on Ohio State and Oregon to play the Ducks, the Indiana Hoosiers, Michigan Wolverines, Penn State Nittany Lions, USC Trojans, and Washington Huskies are missing from the schedule. 8-10 wins are not an unrealistic expectation for Fleck’s crew.
