In the wake of the final day of major college football’s regular season, news poured in from across the country on Saturday. Locations such as Lafayette, La.; Norfolk, Va.; Pasadena, Calif.; and Honolulu delivered their final totals. Just like on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, the action was intense.
Teams with five victories aimed for a sixth win to clinch a trip to a bowl game, including the Gophers, who finished their regular season with a 5-7 record after losing 28-14 to Wisconsin at Huntington Bank Stadium.
However, Minnesota still had one last shot to reach a bowl game, and that opportunity would soon unfold into Sunday morning.
Five-win teams with the best Academic Progress Rate scores have the chance to fill any open spots in the 41 bowl games if there are not enough six-win teams to occupy all 82 spots. This year, the NCAA allowed James Madison (11-1) and Jacksonville State (8-4) to take precedence over five-win teams due to their transition to FBS. The Gophers secured a bowl game spot in 2015 through this route.
As of Saturday, 71 of the 82 bowl spots were filled, including James Madison and Jacksonville State, leaving little room for the Gophers to secure a bowl game.
After the afternoon games, the Gophers’ fate looked uncertain, with eight more teams securing bowl eligibility, and the team’s elimination number at 3.
Key results buoyed the Gophers’ hopes, such as Syracuse’s win over Wake Forest, preventing the Demon Deacons from winning a fifth game. However, three games in play posed a threat to the Gophers’ chances.
South Florida’s victory guaranteed their sixth win, leaving one last hope resting on the outcome of late-night games between Cal and UCLA, and Colorado State and Hawaii.
With Cal’s triumph, the Gophers pinned their hope on an underdog Hawaii against Colorado State.
Despite Colorado State’s rally, Hawaii secured a stunning victory with a 51-yard field goal, making it the final game’s last second and landing the Gophers a bowl game spot.
The time was 1:26 a.m., and the Gophers were bowl-bound at the close of college football’s regular season.
Coach P.J. Fleck saluted the team’s academic staff, acknowledging the importance of the APR score in the Gophers’ bowl game qualification.
The question of the bowl game’s destination will be answered next Sunday. Coach Fleck praised the academic staff and recognized the importance of the APR score in qualifying for the bowl game.
Minnesota’s athletic director, Mark Coyle, hinted at several possible bowl destinations and stressed the importance of fan support in attending bowl games.
Alex Martin is your guide to the global phenomenon of football. With a focus on international leagues and tournaments, he provides match commentary, player interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of football.
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