2024 Minnesota Gophers Bowl Projections

The Armed Forces Bowl is played at TCU’s home field and was played between James Madison and Air Force last season. West Virginia is 5-4 on the season and has contests against Baylor, UCF, and Texas Tech to end the year. This would certainly be the lowest caliber bowl currently projected for Minnesota.

TransPerfect Music City Bowl – December 30, 2024 – Nashville, TN

Arguably the most prominent among current projections, the Music City Bowl certainly boasts the best destination for the Gophers. Nashville is an awesome city, and Minnesota fans would likely travel in droves to escape the winter. The Minnesota Vikings are expected to have a good showing at Nissan Stadium this weekend.

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura has the Gophers matching up against LSU, which would be a premier opponent. Despite this being a December bowl game, it’s typically one that hosts a team just on the outside of the College Football Playoff. If this were to be achieved, then it likely comes on the heels of two more wins. LSU is currently 21st in the nation and has games left against Florida, Vanderbilt, and Oklahoma.

If this were to be the matchup and the game, Fleck would have another opportunity for a benchmark victory. The ability to knock off an SEC opponent in a prominent bowl would definitely be a resume builder.

Duke’s Mayo Bowl – January 3, 2025 – Charlotte, NC

The Duke’s Mayo Bowl has drawn eyeballs because of the postgame celebration. It’d certainly be a sight to see Minnesota Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck have a mayonnaise condiment dumped all over his head. If he can guide his team to a January bowl, and they come out victorious, I’m sure he wouldn’t care though.

247 Sports has Minnesota matching up with Syracuse in this scenario. The Mayo Bowl pits Big Ten and ACC schools against each other. The Orange are currently 6-3 with games left against Cal, UConn, and Miami. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach also sees the Gophers here, but has them facing off against Louisville. The Cardinals are also 6-3. Their remaining games come against Stanford, Pittsburgh, and Kentucky.

Minnesota is certainly a popular pick for the Mayo Bowl as The Athletic has them there as well (and facing Louisville). Maybe everyone just wants to see Fleck with Mayo on his head.