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Duke’s Mayo Bowl Preview: Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-5) vs Virginia Tech Hokies (6-6)

7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, North Carolina

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Minnesota Golden Gophers Notes

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

1 Minnesota (7-5, 5-4 B1G) will make its 25th all-time bowl appearance on Friday, Jan., 3, in the 2025 Duke’s Mayo Bowl when it faces Virginia Tech (6-6, 4-4 ACC) for the first time ever. The game is set to take place at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., at 6:30 p.m. with ESPN televising and KFAN providing radio coverage.

2 The Golden Gophers are 12-12 in their history in bowl games, but they have won seven straight bowl contests, including all five appearances under head coach P.J. Fleck (2023 Quick Lane, 2022 Pinstripe, 2021 Guaranteed Rate, 2020 Outback, 2018 Quick Lane). The seven-game bowl winning streak is the longest active streak in the country, excluding national championship game appearances (see chart at bottom of page). With five bowl wins, Fleck already has the most in Gopher’s history, while the other 34 coaches in program history have combined for seven bowl wins. Fleck’s six bowl game appearances will rank second in team annals.

3 Minnesota is heading to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl for the first time in program history. It will be the 15th different bowl game the Gophers have appeared in, and Virginia Tech will be the 21st different bowl opponent. Taking place on Jan. 3, it is slated to be the latest date for a Gopher football game ever, surpassing the 1961 Rose Bowl, which was played on Jan. 2. It’ll be the fifth all-time game in January, along with the 1962 Rose Bowl, 2015 Citrus Bowl and 2020 Outback Bowl, all of which were played on Jan. 1, plus the 1961 Rose Bowl. The Gophers are 2-2 all-time in the month of January. In addition, it’ll be just the second contest ever played in the state of North Carolina for the Gophers, joining a road game at the University of North Carolina last season.

4 Aireontae Ersery has been named the Big Ten Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year, as well as a Second Team All-American. He is one of the highest rated lineman in the nation according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). Entering the bowl season, Ersery was the No. 3 graded offensive lineman overall in the Big Ten and No. 18 among FBS tackles. According to PFF, Ersery gave up just one sack and one quarterback hit in 398 opportunities this season. Ersery, who has started the last 38 games of his Minnesota career at left tackle, has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl. He is the second Gopher to be recognized as the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, joining Greg Eslinger, who took home the honor in 2005. Ersery is the 12th Gopher ever to receive an “Of the Year” award from the Big Ten and the fifth to play for head coach P.J. Fleck, joining Antoine Winfield Jr. (2019 Defensive Back of the Year), Rashod Bateman (2019 Wide Receiver of the Year), Mohamed Ibrahim (2020 Running Back of the Year) and Dragan Kesich (2023 Kicker of the Year).

5 The 2024 campaign is the eighth for P.J. Fleck at Minnesota, where his record stands at 57-39. He is fourth in program history in Big Ten wins (34) and is fifth in overall wins and games coached (96). Fleck’s .594 win percentage is third best among Minnesota coaches with at least 45 games under their helm behind only Henry L. Williams (.786, 1900-21) and Bernie Bierman (.716, 1932-41, ‘45-50). In his 12th season overall as a college head coach, Fleck is 87-61 (.588).

FACING VIRGINIA TECH

• Minnesota and Virginia Tech meet for the first time ever in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. The Golden Gophers have played 89 different teams currently in the FBS, and they are 64-23-2 when playing those teams for the first time. • All-time against schools currently in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Golden Gophers are 20-14-1, including a 3-3 mark in neutral-site games, all of which were bowl games. Against ACC schools at the time of the game, the Gophers are 4-6. • Coupled with games earlier this season against Rhode Island and Nevada, whom Minnesota had also never faced, the 2024 season is the first time since 2006 (Kent State, Temple and Texas Tech) that the Golden Gophers are facing three brand new opponents in the same season. • Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck has faced Virginia Tech once before in his career in 2014 when he was in his second season as the head coach at Western Michigan. The Hokies won in Blacksburg, 35-17. • Gopher redshirt freshman quarterback Dylan Wittke spent the 2023 season at Virginia Tech where he redshirted and did not see any game action. u Minnesota has one native Virginian on its roster in true freshman defensive back Zahir Rainer. He’s from Richmond and went to Trinity Episcopal, a little over three hours northwest of Blacksburg. • Virginia Tech has no Minnesotans on its roster. • Gopher seventh-year defensive lineman Darnell Jefferies played against the Hokies in 2020 when he was at Clemson, though he did not record any stats. • Minnesota offensive lineman Quinn Carroll’s brother, Collin, played at Virginia Tech from 2007-11 and was a four-year letterwinner as a long snapper. • With the game taking place in Charlotte, Minnesota has one North Carolina native on its roster in redshirt sophomore defensive back Coleman Bryson. He’s from Waynesville, which is a little over two and half hours west of Charlotte. • In addition, Gopher offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Greg Harbaugh was born in Raleigh, N.C., and attended Sanderson High School, about two and a half hours northeast of Charlotte. In his coaching career, he spent the 2009-10 seasons as the wide receivers and running backs coach at North Carolina Wesleyan, roughly four hours northeast of Charlotte, as well as the 2011-12 seasons as assistant coach at Methodist University in Fayetteville, three hours east of Charlotte. • Other Gopher coaches to work in the Tar Heel State include defensive line coach Winston DeLattiboudere, who was a graduate assistant at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2020, as well as special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky, who was a GA at Wake Forest in 1985. • Minnesota senior wide receiver Elijah Spencer spent his first two seasons in college at Charlotte. • The Hokies went 6-6 during the regular season, including a 4-4 mark in ACC play. They were 5-3 after a 21-6 win over Georgia Tech on Oct. 26, but then dropped three in a row to Syracuse, Clemson and Duke. A win against in-state rival Virginia on Nov. 30, 37-17, made them bowl eligible. • Minnesota and Virginia Tech have one common opponent this year as both lost to Rutgers. The Gophers dropped the game in Piscataway on Nov. 9, 26-19, while the Hokies stumbled at home on Sept. 21, 26-23. • Kyron Drones has started at quarterback in nine games this season for Virginia Tech, though injuries forced him to miss three of the final four games of the regular season. Drones has completed 136 of 224 passes for 1,562 yards with 10 touchdown passes and six interceptions for a rating of 128.7. Meanwhile, Collin Schlee started the other three games, going 26-of-49 for 346 yards, three touchdowns and a pick for a 128.5 mark. • Bhayshul Tuten is Virginia Tech’s top rusher at 1,159 yards and 15 rushing scores on 183 carries this year. Entering bowl season, Tuten was leading the ACC in rushing touchdowns (13th nationally) and scoring (9.3; 15th in the FBS) and was second in the league in yards per carry (6.33; 16th), rushing yards per game (105.4; 18th) and total touchdowns (17; 13th). In addition, his average of 119.18 all-purpose yards per game ranked fifth and 21st in the FBS. • The Hokies have spread it around in the passing game. Five players have registered at least 23 catches, but none have more than 38. Additionally, five players have between 330-497 receiving yards, and six have at least two touchdown catches but none have more than three. Jaylin Lane is the top receiver at 38 catches, while Ali Jennings has a team-best three touchdown grabs and Stephen Gosnell’s 497 yards are most on the team. Gosnell’s 18.41 yards per catch leads the ACC and ranks 21st nationally. • Antwaun Powell-Ryland has 19.0 tackles for loss and 16.0 sacks. The former figure finished second in the ACC and fourth nationally, while the latter is second in the league and third in the country. He has also forced three fumbles and recovered three. • Jaden Keller is the Hokies’ top tackler at 76 stops this season. Mansoor DeLane had a team-high four interceptions this year, but he’s since entered the transfer portal. Jaylen Jones is second on the squad with three picks, while his eight pass breakups lead Virginia Tech. • John Love is 15-of-17 on field goals with a long of 57 yards. His field goal percentage of 88.2 is third in the ACC and 16th in the FBS. Peter Moore is averaging 45.1 yards per punt to rank 10th nationally and second in the ACC. • Jaylin Lane is one of the top punt returners in the country with 245 yards and a touchdown on 24 returns the average of 10.2 yards per return ranks second in the ACC and 11th nationally. Thomas Williams has a team high in kick returns (10) and kick return yards (190), while Bhayshul Tuten is averaging a team-high 23.7 yards per kick return.

PREVIOUSLY VS. THE ACC

• With assistance from the AP: Minnesota faced an ACC team to open the 2024 season as it wrapped up a homeand-home series with North Carolina. u Noah Burnette made four field goals, three of them after quarterback Max Johnson was sent to a hospital with a leg injury, highlighted by the go-ahead 45-yarder with 1:44 left for the Tar Heels in a 19-17 victory over the Gophers. • Dragan Kesich, whose 30-yarder with 3:40 to go gave the Gophers the lead, missed his chance to win it as time expired when a 47-yard try went wide right. He also missed a 27-yarder earlier. • Omarion Hampton rushed 30 times for 129 yards and Jahvaree Ritzie had three sacks for the Tar Heels. Quarterback Conner Harrell relieved Johnson and had a key 32-yard completion to J.J. Jones to set up Burnette’s winner. • With Darius Taylor sitting out with a leg injury, Marcus Major rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown in his first game for the Gophers. • Justin Walley had a 70-yard interception return that set up Major’s score to give the Gophers a 14-7 halftime lead. Max Brosmer had a rushing touchdown and went 13-for-21 passing for 165 yards in his Minnesota debut.

FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

• The bowl game marks just the 18th game in Minnesota history to be played on a Friday, though its the second in a row as the Gophers closed out the regular season at Wisconsin on Friday, Nov. 29. Prior to that, the Gophers hadn’t played on the day since hosting Purdue on Nov. 20, 2020. u The Gophers are 6-10-1 all-time in program history on Fridays, including 1-5 in bowl games. • Minnesota is 3-2 under P.J. Fleck on Fridays. The Gophers have a .661 winning percentage in their history when playing on days other than Saturday, going 60-30-3. Under Fleck, the team is 13-4 on non-Saturdays. A list of Friday games can be found on Page 12 of the notes.

A WIN WOULD…

• Push Minnesota’s record to 8-5 overall and mark the fourth 8-win season under P.J. Fleck, tied for second most in team history • See Minnesota’s bowl record improve to 13-12 all-time, including 6-0 under Fleck; it would be the first time Minnesota is above .500 in bowl games in program history • Extend the Gophers’ winning streak in bowl games to eight and would be an eighth straight win at neutral sites • Make Minnesota 65-23-2 when playing an FBS program for the first time. • Get the Gophers to 21-14-1, including 4-3 in neutral-site games, all-time against teams currently in the ACC (5-6 versus the ACC at the time of the game). • Push Minnesota to 7-10-1 all-time on Fridays and make them 14-4 on non-Saturdays under Fleck • Enhance Fleck’s record to 58-39 at Minnesota and 88-61 overall

TURNOVER TIME

• An opportunistic Minnesota defense has forced 20 turnovers this season with 16 interceptions and four fumble recoveries. The Gophers have forced at least one turnover in nine of 12 games this year and have six games with at least two turnovers forced. The Gophers forced a season-high four against Rhode Island and had three each versus Nevada, USC and UCLA. • The 16 interceptions are tied for 10th nationally and tied for fourth among Power 4 teams. The 16 picks are tied for 10th most in Gopher program history and are the most since recording 17 in 2006. • The 20 turnovers forced ranks third in the Big Ten behind Iowa (24) and Indiana (23). With 10 giveaways and 20 takeaways, the Minnesota turnover margin of +10 ranks tied for 13th in the FBS and third in the Big Ten behind the Hoosiers (+15) and Hawkeyes (+13). • Minnesota has capitalized on its 20 takeaways by turning them into 72 points, or an average of 3.60 points per turnover. u Minnesota committed zero turnovers in a three-game stretch against UCLA, Maryland and Illinois, marking the first time since 2003 that the Gophers went three games in a row without turning the ball over.

Virginia Tech Hokies Notes

MATCHUP AT A GLANCE

JAN. 3 vs. MINNESOTA • Friday’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl will mark the first-ever meeting between Virginia Tech and Minnesota. • Tech is making its third appearance in the Charlotte, North Carolina, bowl game at Bank of America Stadium. The Hokies hold a 1-1 record from their previous appearances, including their 35-24 victory against Arkansas in 2016 when Virginia Tech was ranked No. 18. • This season, the Hokies have secured consecutive bowl appearances for the first time since the 2018 and 2019 campaigns. • Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry faced off against the Golden Gophers and head coach P.J. Fleck in 2019 when Pry was a member of the Penn State coaching staff. Minnesota defeated the Nittany Lions, 31-26. • Virginia Tech and Minnesota shared Rutgers as a common opponent during the 2024 season. The Hokies fell, 26-23, to the Scarlet Knights while the Gophers dropped a 26-19 decision. • The Hokies are 3-6 during their nine all-time games against the Big Ten. • Minnesota graduate offensive lineman Quinn Carroll is the younger brother of Collin Carroll, who was a long snapper at Virginia Tech from 2007 to 2011. Collin started a program record, 55 consecutive games and was a four-time letterwinner for the Hokies.

GOING BOWLING

• Virginia Tech (6-6, 4-4 ACC) is making its 36th all-time bowl appearance. • The Hokies went to 27 consecutive bowl games between 1993 and 2019. At its conclusion, Virginia Tech’s bowl appearance streak was the longest in the nation and the fifth longest spanning all-time. • Head coach Brent Pry will try to improve to 2-0 in bowl games after leading the Hokies to their 41-20 win against No. 23 Tulane in the 2023 Military Bowl.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR APR

• DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland garnered national attention for his performance this season. • The product of Portsmouth, Virginia, was named a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award, the Bednarik Award, and Walter Camp Player of the Year. • Powell-Ryland tallied 16 sacks on the season, second most in the NCAA FBS during the regular season. He registered 25.5 sacks for his career at Virginia Tech. • APR recorded 19 TFLs this season and was named a second team All-American by the AFCA, the FWAA, the Sporting News, and the Walter Camp Foundation. He was a third team All-American according to the Associated Press. He was also named a first team All-ACC selection, as well as the Dudley Award winner by the Richmond Touchdown Club as the best FBS player in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

TUGBOAT TUTEN

• RB Bhayshul Tuten finished the regular season with 1,159 rushing yards, becoming the Hokies’ first 1,000- yard rusher since 2020. Khalil Herbert last achieved the feat with 1,182 yards and eight scores. • Tuten tallied 17 total touchdowns in 2024 (15 rushing, two receiving). The Paulsboro, New Jersey, product was named a second team All-ACC selection. • For his efforts, he earned his highest coverage grade of the season (86.7), according to Pro Football Focus.

START ME UP

• Redshirt freshman QB Pop Watson made the first start of his career against Virginia and made the most of it. Watson is the sixth Virginia Tech quarterback to get his first career start in a conference game since the Hokies joined The BIG EAST in 1992. • The Springfield, Massachusetts, native completed 14 of his 21 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 48 yards and another score, accounting for 302 yards of the Hokies’ 456 yards of offense. • Watson was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Massachusetts in 2022.

GOSNELL BROTHERS MAKE AN IMPACT

• WR Stephen Gosnell and brother Benji Gosnell played big roles in Virginia Tech’s passing game during the 2024 season. • The duo combined for 58 receptions and three touchdowns on the season. Stephen’s 27 catches were fourth most on the team while Benji’s 31 catches were third most. • Stephen’s 497 receiving yards and 41.4 yards per game both led the team. • Benji tallied 171 yards after the catch this season while Stephen recorded 138 yards.

THRIVING ON TURNOVERS

• Tech’s defense has had a knack for forcing turnovers this season. The Hokies have registered 23 takeaways through 12 games, ranking in a tie for 18th in the country in that category. • Since 2012, the Hokies have a record of 59-13 when winning the turnover battle for an 81.9 winning percentage.

KELLER & WOODSON EMERGE AT LB

• Jaden Keller and Caleb Woodson have proven to be versatile assets in the Tech linebacking corps. • Keller led the team in tackles through the regular season with 76 tackles (32 solo). The redshirt junior added two fumble recoveries, two QB hurries and a pass breakup. •Woodson was second on the team in tackles with 67 (25 solo). The sophomore registered 7.5 TFLs, including two sacks, an interception, five hurries and a pass breakup.

SCORING STEAK IS ALIVE

• The 37 points against Virginia marked the 382nd consecutive game during which Virginia Tech has scored. • The Hokies are in fourth place on both the all-time and active streak lists. • In that span, the Hokies have shutout their opponent 34 times.

MOORE A WEAPON

• Punter Peter Moore has been a weapon in winning field position this season. • The redshirt senior punted four times for 166 yards against Virginia, averaging nearly 42 yards per kick. • Moore is averaging 45 yards per punt on the season. 13 of his 50 punts have been 50-plus yards. • With 11,058 yards punting for his career, Moore joins A.J. Hughes as the only two Tech punters to top 10 thousand yards. • Moore will play in his 51st career game against Minnesota in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. • The fifth-year senior is one of two Hokies to serve as three-time team captains, along with former OL Tyrell Smith.

PAGING DR. LOVE

• Redshirt sophomore kicker John Love has been steady in 2024 for the Hokies. • Love has nailed 15 of his 17 field goal attempts through 12 games for an 88.2 percentage. • The Spartanburg, South Carolina product is seven of eight from beyond 40 yards, and two of three from 50-plus, including a 57-yard boot against Miami. • Love is also a perfect 41 for 41 on PATs

HOKIES ‘D’ TOUGH IN RED ZONE

• Virginia Tech led the ACC in red zone defense this season, allowing scores just 71 percent of the time (32 scores in 45 red zone trips). • Opponents scored touchdowns just 56 percent of the time against the Hokies in the red zone (25 for 45). • The Hokies also lead the conference in fourth down defense allowing just 9 conversions on 23 attempts (39 percent).

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