| Minnesota returns to a familiar sight, although their previous three appearances happened during a four year span from 2006-2009, in the Insight Bowl incarnation. While nobody involved with the current Gopher program had anything to do with those teams, you might forgive Minnesota fans if they cringe at the thought of returning. Minnesota lost all 3 games, which included blowing a 38-7 lead with 7:47 left in the 3rd quarter, for the biggest blown lead in FBS bowl history. TCU subsequently tied the record in the 2016 Alamo Bowl. That was a Mike Leach Texas Tech team. Just about the farthest thing from that is this West Virginia offense, at #73 in the nation in SP+ offense. They had the worst rushing attack in the Big XII, averaging just 3.5 ypc, and 124 ypg. Top running back Nick Leddy opting out of the bowl game makes a bad situation worse. The only other back on the roster with more than 20 carries is Tony Mathis Jr., who showed promise in the final game of the season, at Kansas, getting by far his biggest workload of the season, and finishing with 118 yards on 22 carries. Jarrett Doege finished the season strong with 6 touchdowns and just one interception in back to back wins to end the season, lifting the 4-6 Mountaineers to bowl eligibility. But the strength of this Minnesota defense is the secondary, holding opponents to just 55.3% completions, 7th best in the nation, and behind only NC State among Power 5 teams. The Gopher offense, who knows. Minnesota has moved on from Mike Sanford Jr., and brought back in Kirk Ciarrocca, whose 2019 Minnesota offense, with Tanner Morgan, was one of the most entertaining offenses to watch in my memory. After an unsuccessful 2020 at Penn State, he spent this season as an Offensive Analyst at...West Virginia. He won't be calling plays in the bowl game, but just working with Tanner Morgan again, and what he knows about the Mountaineers can't hurt. |