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NEW MEXICO FOOTBALL
Six Gophers to know entering New Mexico's Rate Bowl matchup against Minnesota
Lobos could face All-Big Ten edge rusher entering Friday's game at Chase Field
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Six Minnesota players to know ahead of New Mexico’s matchup with the Gophers in the Rate Bowl:
DE Anthony Smith
Why: The 6-foot-6, 285-pound redshirt junior was an absolute force this season, racking up 32 total tackles and 10.5 sacks on his way to first team All-Big Ten honors. Whether or not Smith plays Friday has been a real question — he could enter the portal for a likely significant payday or test the NFL Draft waters — but if he does, consider him one of the marquee names in this iteration of the Rate Bowl.
“Any decision he decides to make, we’ll support him 100%,” Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck said of Smith. “Because all (the) decisions he makes are going to be good decisions – he doesn’t have a bad decision-making process right now.”
DB Koi Perich
Why: The 6-1, 200-pound sophomore might just be the most dynamic player on the field come Friday after racking up 77 total tackles and one interception on top of 613 total return yards (499 on kick returns, 114 on punt returns) this season. Perich made one catch as a receiver, logging 20 snaps on offense. Could he see more in the Rate Bowl?
QB Drake Lindsey
Why: In his first season as the Gophers’ starter, the 6-5, 230-pound redshirt freshman was a bright spot for Minnesota’s offense, completing 228 of 361 passes for 2,235 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. Lindsey notably didn’t throw a pick over Minnesota’s last four games, a quality (among other things) his coach lauded him for recently.
“I’m really proud of Drake,” Fleck said. “We didn’t skip steps … His leadership has grown (as well as) his decisive decision-making and understanding of the offense. We never held back – I mean, this is like drinking out of a fire hose, from our (offensive) shifts and motions and play calls and (managing the huddle) and leadership.
“(Lindsey) had one year to watch (former Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer) and then, bang, you’re thrown into it. And I’m just really proud of his progress.”
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TE Jameson Geers
Why: The 6-5, 250-pound redshirt senior caught 26 passes for 206 yards and four touchdowns, good for an All-Big Ten honorable mention. Minnesota likes to spread the ball out among its playmakers — be on the lookout for how much they get Geers involved.
RB Darius Taylor
Why: Despite a slew of injuries, the 6-0, 215-pound junior turned in a rock-solid 554 rushing yards and 222 receiving yards this season, notably putting up 164 total yards in a 24-6 win over Nebraska on Oct. 17. Taylor also has a strong postseason track record, rushing for an average of 160.5 yards in his last two bowls.
LB Maverick Baranowski
Why: The 6-2, 230-pound redshirt junior made a team-high 86 total tackles with two sacks and one forced fumble to boot. Baranowski was among Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded players on this defense, and recently announced his plans to return to Minnesota in 2026.
Odds and ends
FURTHER IMPRESSIONS: After sharing some initial thoughts after the matchup was announced, Fleck had more impressions of New Mexico to share last week.
On UNM’s offense: “They throw a lot at you in the run game,” Fleck said. “They keep it really honest with an RPO system, a run game system, with the quarterback. They don’t ever really let you get tendencies and get a bead on it … They’re constantly in flow and rhythm, have a good vibe on offense – you can feel it.”
On the Lobos’ defense: “They play a lot of Cover 3,” Fleck added. “They do a really good job of creating havoc with their front seven … They’re really aggressive, they play downhill. They’re good tacklers. They fly to the football.”
All in all? “They’re a really good football team,” Fleck said.
OPT-OUTS: UNM has a low number of (public) opt-outs entering Friday. Minnesota’s number is a little more unclear.
“We have a lot of players that are practicing with us, that are around with us,” Fleck said. “Some are not. Some will play, some won’t play.”
FLYING IN STYLE: UNM flew to Phoenix ahead of the Rate Bowl on Tuesday — in the New England Patriots team plane.
Why? Per a program spokesman, that was simply the plane UNM was assigned via its charter service.
