West Virginia to play Minnesota in Guaranteed Rate Bowl

Tribune-Review
Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021 6:47 p.m. | Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021 6:47 p.m.

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AP

West Virginia quarterback Jarret Doege (2) hands the ball off to running back Leddie Brown (4) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Texas in Morgantown, W.Va., Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021.

West Virginia will cap its 2021 season against Minnesota in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on Dec. 28.

Kickoff is set for 10:15 p.m. at Chase Field in Downtown Phoenix. The game will air on ESPN.

This will be the first matchup between the Mountaineers (6-6) and Gophers (8-4).

“We have been eager to kick off the Guaranteed Rate Bowl with teams from the Big 12 and Big Ten Conferences and the time has finally come,” said Mike Nealy, executive director of the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, in a statement. “Minnesota and West Virginia are both rich in football history. Each has played in this game before, and we welcome the teams and their fans back to Downtown Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun.”

The Mountaineers are making their 39th bowl appearance and own a 16-22 all-time record in bowl games. They finished sixth in the Big 12 this season, going 4-5 in conference play.

Minnesota tied for second in the Big Ten West with a mark of 6-3 in conference play.

“One of the best parts of bowl season is having matchups that don’t regularly happen, and we have that in this first-time meeting, plus a new conference pairing,” said Patrick Barkley, chairman of the Guaranteed Rate Bowl board of directors, in a statement.