Duke’s Mayo Bowl (Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech)

The Duke’s Mayo Bowl returns to Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium this week with the Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-5) taking on the Virginia Tech Hokies (6-6). Originally the Continental Tire Bowl (2002-2004), Meineke Car Care Bowl (2005-2010), Belk Bowl (2011-2019), and now the Duke’s Mayo Bowl since 2020, the game pairs an ACC school against a Big Ten or SEC team each year. As part of Duke’s Mayo’s sponsorship, the head coach of the winning team gets a giant jar of mayonnaise dumped on his head.

Virginia Tech’s third appearance in the bowl game, they lost to Kentucky 37-30 in 2019, and beat Arkansas 35-24 in 2016. This will be the Hokies’ second consecutive bowl game, following last year’s 41-20 victory over No. 23 Tulane in the Military Bowl. Their roster unfortunately will be vastly different from the final regular season game with injuries, opt-outs, and transfers decimating the roster, leaving the team without multiple starters.

Minnesota is on a seven-game bowl winning streak, with head coach P.J. Fleck boasting a 5-0 record. The Gophers finished the season 7-5, including a 5-4 mark in the Big Ten, earning impressive wins against No. 11 USC, No. 24 Illinois, and Wisconsin. Unlike Virginia Tech, Minnesota’s roster is relatively intact. While key players like offensive lineman Aireontae Ersery, linebacker Cody Lindenberg, defensive end Jah Joyner, and cornerback Justin Walley may miss the game, the overall impact is far less significant than what Virginia Tech faces.

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