Location: Minneapolis

Mascot: Golden Gophers

Conference: Big Ten

Coach: Tim Brewster, second season

2008 Record: 7-5 (3-5 in the Big Ten)

Last bowl game: Lost, 44-41, to Texas Tech in 2006 Insight Bowl

General: No team in college football enjoyed a better turnaround this season, as the Gophers put together seven victories just a year after finishing 1-11. In doing so, the team earned its eighth bowl invitation in the past 10 seasons. This will mark the second Insight Bowl appearance in the past three years for Minnesota, which faced Texas Tech in the 2006 game. Overall, the Gophers are making their 13th bowl appearance and have an all-time bowl record of 5-7.

Offensive outlook: Much of Minnesota’s offensive success this season can be attributed to the team’s passing game. Junior receiver Eric Decker earned first-team All-Big Ten honors after catching 76 passes for 925 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season. Sophomore quarterback Adam Weber, meanwhile, was a second-team all-conference selection after completing 236 of 376 passes (62.8 percent) for 2,585 yards and 14 touchdowns with eight interceptions.

The Gophers have struggled running the ball, however, as they rank 11th in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (105.8) and average yards per carry (3.2). The bulk of the team’s carries have gone to freshman DeLeon Eskridge, who has compiled 652 yards and seven touchdowns on 170 carries.

Defensive outlook: In giving up 378.4 yards per game, the Gophers rank 10th in the Big Ten in total defense. They’re also 10th in pass defense, allowing 231.6 yards a game through the air. However, their turnover margin (30 takeaways to 18 turnovers) is second in the conference to only Fiesta Bowl-bound Ohio State and is a big reason they were able to win seven games this year.

Led by defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg (18 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks in ’08), defensive back Traye Simmons (four interceptions, one touchdown return) and linebacker Lee Campbell (two interceptions, three fumbles recovered), Minnesota has proved to be among the nation’s best at taking the ball from opposing offenses.