The Gophers’ 34-20 loss to No. 8 UCLA wasn’t unexpected, but the way it happened made it one of the most frustrating results of the season. They will now have three tricky opportunities left to earn their elusive sixth win and officially claim bowl eligibility.

Gophers bowl game projections

The bowl system will likely look completely different after the 2026-27 season, with the 24-team College Football Playoff officially finalized for next season, but the Gophers have been a shoo-in for a bowl game in seven of the nine seasons under P.J. Fleck. They’re still one win away from officially earning bowl eligibility with three games left on the schedule.

The latest bowl projections from industry experts:

  • On3 (Brett McMurphy): Gasparilla Bowl vs. West Virginia
  • ESPN (Mark Schlabach): First Responder Bowl vs. Army
  • ESPN (Kyle Bonagura): Myrtle Beach Bowl vs. Georgia Southern
  • CBS Sports: Gasparilla Bowl vs. Louisville
  • Athlon (Steve Lassan): Birmingham Bowl vs. Florida State

Big Ten outlook

Now 3-3 in conference play, Minnesota has been eliminated from contention to play in the final Big Ten championship game. They’re tied with Northwestern for seventh place. There is still no easy game remaining on the schedule.

Gophers bowl game outlook: Another season of missed opportunities looms for P.J. Fleck

Indiana remains the betting favorite to win the conference, followed by UCLA. Oregon and USC probably highlight the second tier, with Ohio State, Iowa and Wisconsin as dark horses. Minnesota is probably in a tier alongside Northwestern and Illinois, with an opportunity to climb in the final three weeks of the season. The bottom of the conference is also now a mess after Michigan State beat Michigan and Maryland beat Purdue.

Liebert’s post-Week 10 Big Ten power rankings

  • 1. UCLA
  • 2. Indiana
  • 3. Oregon
  • 4. USC
  • 5. Ohio State
  • 6. Iowa
  • 7. Wisconsin
  • 8. Illinois
  • 9. Northwestern
  • 10. Minnesota
  • 11. Penn State
  • 12. Washington
  • 13. Nebraska
  • 14. Michigan State
  • 15. Michigan
  • 16. Rutgers
  • 17. Maryland
  • 18. Purdue

Minnesota’s loss to Purdue continues to look worse, and the win over Iowa looks like an anomaly more than anything on its season-long résumé. We’re starting to gain some clarity in the conference, and the Gophers are nowhere near the top.

Overall outlook

When the Gophers were 4-2 heading into the Iowa game, a 1-2 stretch against the Hawkeyes, Hoosiers and Bruins seemed acceptable, but the way it has happened makes it almost impossible to digest. If Minnesota’s offense were even average, it would likely be 7-2 right now and firmly in the College Football Playoff (CFP) race, but that’s not the reality.

The reality is that Minnesota is 5-4, and they’ll have to fight for bowl eligibility. 5-7, 6-6 or 7-5 all feel like possibilities at this point. Wins over Penn State and Wisconsin to claim all four rivalry trophies in the same season would obviously be historic, but it would still feel like a season of missed opportunities, which has been a theme for Fleck’s entire decade as Minnesota’s head coach.

Source: Yahoo Sports