Minnesota wide receiver makes incredible diving catch to win bowl game

Minnesota Golden Gophers wide receiver Jalen Smith made an unthinkable diving touchdown drawback to assistance the squad to a Rate Bowl triumph implicit the New Mexico Lobos connected Friday night.

Minnesota trailed by 3 points successful overtime and needed a tract extremity to widen the play oregon a touchdown to triumph the game. On 3rd down, Drake Lindsey recovered Smith betwixt 3 Lobos defenders. Smith dove and made the chaotic drawback to springiness Minnesota the 20-17 win.

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Minnesota wide receiver Jalen Smith scores a touchdown successful overtime successful beforehand of New Mexico information Austin Brawley (21) during a Rate Bowl NCAA assemblage shot game, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, successful Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

The Golden Gophers led 14-6 aft Darius Taylor scored a touchdown. But connected the ensuing kickoff, Damon Bankston returned a footwear 100 yards for a touchdown. New Mexico’s instrumentality play 2-point conversion tied the game.

The vessel triumph marked Minnesota caput manager P.J. Fleck’s seventh since helium took the helm for the Golden Gophers. Minnesota hasn’t mislaid a vessel crippled nether Fleck and hasn’t mislaid a vessel crippled since the 2014 play erstwhile Jerry Kill was the caput coach.

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New Mexico information Austin Brawley and information Tavian Combs (7) respond aft losing to Minnesota successful a Rate Bowl NCAA assemblage shot game, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, successful Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Lindsey was 18-of-28 with 2 touchdown passes – some to Smith.

The Lobos went viral during the crippled for their turquoise uniforms, but they didn’t bash capable to distract Minnesota’s defense.

New Mexico backmost Jack Layne was 14-of-25 with an interception.

Minnesota caput manager P.J. Fleck, wide receiver Jalen Smith, and information Albert Nunes assistance the trophy aft defeating New Mexico successful a Rate Bowl NCAA assemblage shot game, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, successful Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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Minnesota finishes the play with an 8-5 record. New Mexico fell to 9-4.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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