Gophers will not accept any Bowl bids

The University of Minnesota will decline the opportunity to compete in a bowl this year. The decision was made by Athletics leadership, head coach P.J. Fleck and the football team. “The health and safety of our student-athletes has always been our first priority” said Fleck. “They invested a tremendous amount of physical and mental energy into competing in the Big Ten season this year and proudly represented Minnesota. The season was filled with daily off-field adversity caused by the pandemic, but their desire to play never wavered and they sacrificed so much in their personal lives to be able to compete in the Maroon and Gold this year. Right now, our focus is strictly on their well-being off the field, and we look forward to them being able to responsibly spend some of the remaining holiday season with family and loved ones. We will return our attention to football when everyone is back on campus in mid-January.”