Rate Bowl: Minnesota outlasts New Mexico, 20–17, in overtime

By Truman Begaye
Special to the Times

PHOENIX

The University of New Mexico Lobos came within a final play of capping a historic season Friday afternoon but fell 20–17 to the Minnesota Golden Gophers in overtime at the 2025 Rate Bowl at Chase Field.

Making their first bowl appearance since 2016, the Lobos relied on defense and special teams to stay locked in against Minnesota before the Gopher sealed the intense, low-scoring battle with a 12-yard touchdown pass in overtime.

“I’m very proud of our team for this season, and I thought we fought our tails off today,” UNM head coach Jason Eck said. “We played particularly well on defense. We just got a little worn down as the game went on.”

The Lobos struck first late in the opening quarter, driving to the 1-yard line before settling for a 31-yard field goal after a near-touchdown dive by sophomore running back DJ McKinney. New Mexico limited Minnesota to 112 yards in the first half and gained a key momentum swing when senior safety Caleb Coleman recovered a fumble on a failed fourth-and-one snap in the second quarter, giving the Lobos possession at the Minnesota 45-yard line.

The ensuing drive included a successful fourth-and-seven conversion hauled in by senior wide receiver Keagan Johnson and ended with senior kicker Luke Drzewiecki’s second field goal of the game, extending New Mexico’s lead to 6–0.

Minnesota answered before halftime when freshman quarterback Drake Lindsey dropped a 10-yard touchdown pass to fellow freshman Jalen Smith, who secured the catch in the corner of the end zone with three defenders closing in, giving the Gophers a 7–6 edge at the break.

The third quarter remained scoreless, but Minnesota extended its lead early in the fourth when junior running back Darius Taylor punched in a 5-yard rushing touchdown to make it 14–6. On the ensuing kickoff, UNM senior Damon Bankston flipped the game with a 100-yard return for a touchdown, the longest return in Rate Bowl history. New Mexico completed a two-point conversion to tie the game at 14–14 early in the fourth quarter. Both teams traded punts for the remainder of the period, sending the game into overtime.

In overtime, the Lobos settled for a 36-yard field goal to take a 17–14 lead. Minnesota answered by driving to the 12-yard line, where on third-and-eight, Lindsey connected with Smith once more. Smith dove in front of an outstretched New Mexico defender near the back of the end zone for the winning touchdown, which was upheld after official review.

“We didn’t play our best football game, but we found a way to be 1–0,” Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck said. “These guys believed, stayed together and kept rowing the boat.”

Bankston and James Laubstein led New Mexico’s rushing attack, each finishing with 57 yards. Bankston carried the ball 10 times, while Laubstein had 15 carries. Minnesota’s Taylor rushed for 116 yards on 24 carries, and Smith caught six passes for 64 yards and two touchdowns to claim the Offensive MVP for the Rate Bowl. Lindsey finished 18 of 28 passing for 147 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

The loss closed a memorable season for the Lobos, who finished 9–4 and went undefeated at home for the first time since 1962.

“I’m proud of everything this team accomplished,” Eck said. “The toughness, the response, the way they stayed together even when things didn’t look great. That’s who this group is.”

The win marked Minnesota’s seventh straight bowl victory under Fleck and the program’s ninth overall.

“This was about our seniors and everyone in this program,” Fleck said. “We’re a young team in a lot of key spots and winning a bowl like this says a lot about where we’re headed.”

Minnesota finished the season 8–5 and opens the 2026 campaign at home against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 3. New Mexico will open next season at home against Central Michigan on Sept. 5.

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