Gophers to face Bowling Green in Quick Lane Bowl

The game will be played Tuesday, Dec. 26 at 1 p.m. CT.

Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Golden Gophers will play Bowling Green in the Dec. 26 Quick Lane Bowl. 

The announcement was made by the NCAA on Sunday afternoon, pitting the 5-7 Gophers against the 7-5 Falcons. Minnesota lost four straight to end the regular season and is the only five-win team playing in a bowl thanks to finishing highest among five-win teams in the Academic Progress Report. 

Bowling Green finished third in the MAC and had just one common opponent with Minnesota: Michigan. The Gophers were thumped 52-10 at home by No. 1 Michigan while the Falcons lost at Michigan 31-6. 

The Quick Lane Bowl will be played at Ford Field -- the home of the Detroit Lions -- on Tuesday, the day after Christmas, at 1 p.m. CT. 

Minnesota played in the Quick Lane Bowl in 2015 and 2018, winning both times against Central Michigan and Georgia Tech, respectively. P.J. Fleck was the head coach in 2015 and Tracy Claeys was the interim head coach in 2015.  

The Gophers' will look a lot different in the bowl game because numerous players, including quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis and running back Zach Evans, have announced intentions to enter the transfer portal. 

Max Brosmer reportedly visits Gophers as Fleck watches Arkansas prep commit