Mayo Bowl ends with secret celebrity reveal and eighth straight bowl win for Minnesota, as Max Brosmer showcased his skills by throwing for 211 yards and one touchdown. Darius Taylor complemented this performance with 113 rushing yards and a touchdown of his own, while also contributing a passing score. This impressive display led Minnesota to a 24-10 victory over Virginia Tech on Friday night, further extending their bowl winning streak to eight.
Elijah Spencer emerged as a standout player for the Golden Gophers (8-5), making six receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Under the guidance of coach P.J. Fleck, the team improved to 6-0 in bowl games, culminating in a celebratory mayo bath for their coach after the game.
On the other side, backup quarterback Collins Schlee led Virginia Tech (6-7) with a rushing touchdown, while Ayden Greene recorded six catches for 115 yards. Unfortunately for the Hokies, they have now lost five of their last six bowl games.
In terms of yardage, the Golden Gophers outperformed the Hokies, racking up 403 total yards compared to Virginia Tech’s 223.
With Minnesota leading 24-10, a glimmer of hope appeared for Virginia Tech when Dante Lovett intercepted Brosmer, giving the Hokies a chance at a comeback from the Minnesota 15-yard line. However, their efforts fell short as Za’Quan Bryan intercepted a pass from William Watson in the end zone, effectively sealing the victory for Minnesota with just 4:24 left on the clock.
Both Schlee and Watson shared quarterback duties for Virginia Tech, but neither managed to surpass the 100-yard mark in passing.
After failing to secure a first down in three consecutive series under Watson, coach Brent Pry made a strategic switch to Schlee, who quickly ignited the offense with a 67-yard pass to Greene, setting up his own 3-yard touchdown run.
Unfortunately, the Hokies couldn’t maintain that momentum.
Minnesota went on a scoring spree, netting 21 unanswered points, largely thanks to Spencer, a transfer from Charlotte. He caught a 10-yard halfback option pass from Darius Taylor, followed by a 12-yard touchdown reception from Brosmer on consecutive possessions. Taylor capped the scoring run with a 28-yard touchdown run around the left end, bringing the score to 21-7.
Celebrity mascot
During the game, word spread about a celebrity mascot named “Tubby,” designed to resemble a large yellow-and-white mayonnaise jar. The big reveal came post-game when it was disclosed that the mascot was none other than hip-hop artist Flavor Flav, who is also a superfan from the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Bowl-record boot
Virginia Tech’s John Love made headlines by kicking a bowl-record 60-yard field goal just before halftime, showcasing his remarkable leg strength.
In a moment of controversy, Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct when he sprinted down the sideline, well beyond the coach’s box, to contest a call with officials during the second quarter.
