New Mexico and Minnesota Selected to Play in 2025 Rate Bowl on December 26 at 2:30 p.m.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (December 7, 2025) – History will be made when New Mexico and Minnesota meet for the first time ever in the 2025 Rate Bowl on Friday, December 26, 2025, at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. Kickoff will feature a new time of 2:30 p.m. MST with the college football postseason matchup broadcast live on ESPN and its digital platforms.

New Mexico (9-3, 6-2 Mountain West) makes its second-ever Rate Bowl appearance, first since 1997, after a historic turnaround season under first-year head coach Jason Eck. The Lobos, who are bowl eligible for the first time since 2016, will face Minnesota (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten), who are bowl eligible for the third time in four seasons. The Gophers play in the Rate Bowl for the fifth time, looking for a second-straight win in the game after an 18-6 victory over West Virginia in 2021.

Tickets, including a variety of premium seating, are available by visiting ratebowl.com/tickets or calling (480) 350-0911.

“To host the first ever game between New Mexico and Minnesota after solid regular seasons by both teams makes this year’s Rate Bowl a can’t miss matchup. Bringing teams together from across the country is what makes Coca-Cola Bowl Season so unique,” said Fiesta Sports Foundation Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. “The resurgence of Lobos football under Coach Eck, including their first sellout in 18 years, combined with Minnesota’s streak of 8 consecutive bowl victories, promises an incredible college football postseason experience for players, fans, alumni and families. An afternoon kickoff in downtown Phoenix, combined with our amazing weather and two highly motivated teams, will be a game you won’t want to miss.”

New Mexico earned its first bowl game invitation since 2016, its 14th bowl invite overall, achieving the program’s third nine-win season this century and tying for the most victories by a first-year head coach in school history. The Lobos finished the regular season in a four-way tie for the Mountain West regular season title. Minnesota has an eight-game bowl winning streak – the longest current streak in FBS – and a 13-11 Bowl Season record overall.

Winning six of their final eight games, the Lobos became bowl eligible for the first time in nine seasons with a thrilling 40-35 victory over UNLV on November 1. New Mexico finished the regular season with a perfect 6-0 record at home at University Stadium, marking the first time the Lobos have gone undefeated at home since 1962.

The Lobos’ offense is led by junior quarterback Jack Layne, an Idaho transfer who threw for 2,398 yards and 13 touchdowns while adding four rushing scores this season. Layne completed 65.9 percent of his passes and has guided New Mexico to one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football this season. The Lobos boast a deep and talented backfield with running backs Damon Bankston (578 rushing yards, 5 TDs), D.J. McKinney (454 yards, 7 TDs) and Scottre Humphrey (349 yards, 5 TDs) providing a three-headed rushing attack.

Keyshawn James-Newby and Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year Jaxton Eck anchor a Lobos defense that has been fundamental to New Mexico’s success. The defense recorded a program-record-tying nine sacks against New Mexico State and has been particularly stout against the run, allowing just 113.5 yards per game, which ranks 22nd nationally.

New Mexico’s head coach is Jason Eck, in his first season at the helm after previously serving as head coach at Idaho where he went 26-13 with three straight FCS Playoff appearances. The Wisconsin native and former Badgers offensive lineman has engineered one of college football’s most impressive turnarounds, leading the Lobos from an 11th-place preseason prediction to a share of the conference championship. Eck was named Mountain West Coach of the Year after transforming a program that brought in more than 70 new players, including quarterback Layne and several key contributors from his Idaho program.

Minnesota became bowl eligible in a 23-20 overtime victory over Michigan State on November 1 and capped off its first perfect season at home since 1967 with a 17-7 win over rival Wisconsin. The Gophers won five or more conference games for the fourth time in five seasons and the fifth time overall for Head Coach P.J. Fleck.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Lindsay will look to close out what has been a solid debut season as Minnesota’s starter. He is 228-for-361 for 2,235 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions, good for an efficiency rating of 126.9. In addition, he recorded a team-high four rushing touchdowns, and his seven wins this season are most by a freshman quarterback in Gophers history. Running back Darius Taylor leads Minnesota with 100 rushing attempts and 454 rushing yards with three touchdowns despite missing nearly five full games due to injury.

Minnesota has been one of the best teams in the country at getting after the quarterback, posting 35 sacks in 12 games. The rate of 3.09 sacks per game leads the Big Ten and is tied for fourth in the country. Anthony Smith, named All-Big Ten First Team, has been the top disruptor for the Gophers, leading the team with 13.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks, the latter ranks second in the Big Ten and eighth nationally. In the secondary, John Nestor’s five interceptions are tied for the third-most in the nation.

“Bringing our Arizona neighbors from New Mexico to play Minnesota for the first time in their long histories, backed by dedicated fans and families, will make the Rate Bowl a special experience,” said Judy Bernas, Fiesta Sports Foundation Board Chair. “We look forward to making history with this matchup and we can’t wait for these teams to arrive and enjoy the holidays in sunny Arizona. This is truly a unique college football bowl event in which we transform a major league ballpark into a premier college football venue.” 

Over the course of its 35-year history, the Rate Bowl has hosted standout players like Ron Dayne, Drew Bledsoe, Aaron Rodgers and Larry Fitzgerald along with millions of fans across Arizona. Hosted by the Fiesta Sports Foundation, the Rate Bowl kicks off Arizona’s Coca-Cola Bowl Season action. Following the conclusion of the game, the 75,000 square feet of Bermuda Sports Sod will be donated to C.O. Greenfield Academy of Design & Innovation, part of the Roosevelt School District in south Phoenix.

One week after the Rate Bowl, the fun of Bowl Season continues at 10 a.m. MST on Saturday, January 3, at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe. Arizona’s highest-attended single-day event is free for all fans to attend. Additionally, the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Thursday, January 8, 2026, with the winner punching its ticket to the College Football Playoff National Championship in Miami.

All tickets purchased for the 2025 Rate Bowl support the Fiesta Sports Foundation and its mission to enhance Arizona nonprofits through its three pillars of youth, sports and education.

 

ABOUT THE FIESTA SPORTS FOUNDATION

Since 1971, the Fiesta Sports Foundation is a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision for the importance of community outreach and service. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Rate Bowl and its year-round events, such as the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the organization provides charitable giving to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through youth, sports and education.