For the first time in more than five decades, the Gophers football team is playing in a January bowl game. Minnesota is preparing to face Missouri in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Jan. 1, the school's first New Year's Day bowl game since the 1962 Rose Bowl. The Gophers' final opponent of the season is a Tigers team that played in the Southeast Conference championship and finished with a 10-3 record. Minnesota, meanwhile, hasn't played in more than a month after the regular-season finale against Wisconsin. Here are five things to watch in Thursday's Citrus Bowl as the Gophers and Tigers square off.
1. Questions abound in Minnesota's passing game
Over the weekend, Gophers wide receiver Donovahn Jones was dismissed from the team for violating a team policy. Minnesota hoped Jones would emerge after a solid freshman year, but he had just 11 catches for 253 yards and two touchdowns during the regular season. Without Jones, the Gophers' receiving corps is even thinner. Sophomore Drew Wolitarsky should return to action after missing several games with an injury, but it remains to be seen what type of impact he'll have. Tight end Maxx Williams will once again be a focal point in the passing game for the Gophers, and it could be his last game. The redshirt sophomore, who won numerous individual accolades this year, could possibly turn pro and leave early for the NFL Draft after the Citrus Bowl. Meanwhile, quarterback Mitch Leidner will have to tune out all of these distractions against a rather stingy Missouri defense. The Tigers have allowed just 208.5 passing yards per game, which is well above Leidner's average (140.0).
2. All eyes on Shane Ray
The Gophers have faced some tough defenses with good players this season, but the best player they'll see all year might be on Jan. 1. Ray, a junior defensive end for Missouri, was named the SEC's Defensive Player of the Year. He finished the season with 14 sacks, which was tied for third-most among all FBS players. Ray's 21 tackles for loss also were the third-most in college football. Missouri has another pretty good player at the other defensive end spot in Markus Golden (8.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss), but Ray is the most likely to create havoc. He was ejected in the SEC championship game against Alabama for a targeting penalty, so his production was limited in that game. But Ray has had two or more sacks in five of the Tigers' 13 games this year. Minnesota was one of the better teams in the Big Ten in limiting sacks against, but the Gophers have yet to try to protect against a pass rusher of Ray's caliber.
3. Containing Maty Mauk
Missouri's passing game took a hit when it was announced that wide receiver Jimmie Hunt will miss the Citrus Bowl due to an injury. Hunt was the Tigers' second-leading receiver with 698 yards and seven touchdown catches. Still, Minnesota will have to worry about the scrambling ability of Mauk, Missouri's quarterback. Mauk isn't the most accurate passer, having completed just 52.9 percent of his attempts this year. But the Gophers have noted his ability to scramble in the pocket to not only gain yards on the ground but also extend plays and give himself a chance to find receivers downfield. Mauk has rushed for 335 yards on 97 carries, so he'll bring the threat of a run. Minnesota's front seven will also need to contain him within the pocket and make sure he doesn't get enough room to scramble around and buy time for his receivers to get open.
4. Can David Cobb replicate Alabama's and Indiana's success on the ground?
The SEC championship game was rather one-sided, with Alabama dispensing of Missouri by a 42-13 final. In that game, the Crimson Tide rushed for 242 total yards -- including 141 yards and two touchdowns by Derrick Henry. The 242 yards were the most Missouri has surrendered on the ground this year, but only by one yard. In fact, it was the Indiana Hoosiers who gashed the Tigers' defense for 241 rushing yards back in late September en route to an upset of Missouri. Hoosiers running back Tevin Coleman had a nice game that day, rushing for 132 yards on just 19 carries. The recipe to beat the Tigers seems to start with a strong running game; Missouri's other loss came when Georgia ran for 210 yards and three touchdowns. If Cobb and Co. can move the chains by running the ball, Missouri may be susceptible on defense. The Tigers are 0-3 when allowing 200 or more rushing yards this season, while Minnesota is 6-1 when tallying 200 or more yards on the ground.
5. Getting that elusive bowl victory
Plenty of players on this year's Gophers team have talked about the fact that they have lost their last two bowl games -- the Meineke Car Care Bowl in 2012 and the Texas Bowl last season. You have to go back to the 2004 Music City Bowl to find the last time Minnesota has won a bowl game; the Gophers beat Alabama 20-16 in that game in December of 2004. Minnesota's program has made great strides under head coach Jerry Kill in his four seasons in charge, jimbut winning a bowl game would certainly go a long way in helping the Gophers take the next step. Minnesota has shown progress just by getting to the Citrus Bowl and playing in a Jan. 1 bowl game for the first time since 1962. The Gophers seniors have already done plenty to leave their mark on this program, but beating Missouri would be icing on the cake.
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