2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl

The 2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 28, 2021, with kickoff at 10:15 p.m. EST (8:15 p.m. local MST) and televised on ESPN.[3] It was the 32nd edition of the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, although the first played under that name (the 2020 edition was canceled due to an insufficient number of teams being available to fill all bowl slots) and was one of the 2021–22 bowl games concluding the 2021 FBS football season. Residential mortgage company Guaranteed Rate was the game's title sponsor.

2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl
32nd Guaranteed Rate Bowl
1234 Total
West Virginia 0600 6
Minnesota 01530 18
DateDecember 28, 2021
Season2021
StadiumChase Field
LocationPhoenix, Arizona
MVPKy Thomas (RB, Minnesota) & Tyler Nubin (S, Minnesota)[1]
FavoriteMinnesota by 4
RefereeJeff Flanagan (ACC) [2]
Attendance21,220
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
ESPN Radio
AnnouncersESPN: Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (sideline)
ESPN Radio: Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), and Dawn Davenport (sideline)
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
 < 2019 2022

Teams

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Consistent with conference tie-ins, the game was played between teams from the Big 12 Conference and the Big Ten Conference.

This was first time that Minnesota and West Virginia ever played each other.[4]

West Virginia Mountaineers

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West Virginia finished their regular season with an overall 6–6 record, 4–5 in Big 12 games. After starting their season with four losses in their first six games, the Mountaineers won four of their final six games to become bowl eligible. West Virginia played four ranked opponents, losing to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State while defeating Virginia Tech and Iowa State.

Minnesota Golden Gophers

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Minnesota finished their regular season with an overall 8–4 record, 6–3 in Big Ten games. The Golden Gophers were ranked 20th after winning six of their first eight games, but then lost two of their final four games. Minnesota played three ranked teams, losing to Ohio State and Iowa while defeating Wisconsin.

Game summary

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2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Quarter 1 2 34Total
West Virginia 0 6 006
Minnesota 0 15 3018

at Chase FieldPhoenix, Arizona

  • Date: Tuesday, December 28, 2021
  • Game time: 10:15 p.m. EST (8:15 p.m. local MST)
  • Game attendance: 21,220
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (sideline)
  • Box score
Game information
First quarter
No scoring plays
Second quarter
  • 14:19 MIN – Daniel Faalele 2-yard rush, Brock Annexstad conversion rush good. Drive: 7 plays, 54 yards, 4:00. Minnesota 8–0
  • 8:48 WVU – Jarret Doege 1-yard rush, conversion pass incomplete. Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 5:31. Minnesota 8–6
  • 2:14 MIN – Ky Thomas 5-yard rush, Matthew Trickett kick good. Drive: 14 plays, 61 yards, 2:17. Minnesota 15–6
Third quarter
  • 5:53 MIN – Matthew Trickett 49-yard field goal. Drive: 8 plays, 39 yards, 4:58. Minnesota 18–6
Fourth quarter
No scoring plays

Statistics

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Statistics WVU MIN
First downs 16 17
Plays–yards 58–206 64–358
Rushes–yards 27–66 51–249
Passing yards 140 109
Passing: compattint 18–31–1 8–13–1
Time of possession 21:31 38:29
Team Category Player Statistics
West Virginia Passing Jarret Doege 18/31, 140 yards, INT
Rushing Tony Mathis Jr. 13 carries, 56 yards
Receiving Sam James 3 receptions, 40 yards
Minnesota Passing Tanner Morgan 8/13, 109 yards, INT
Rushing Ky Thomas 21 carries, 144 yards, TD
Receiving Dylan Wright 2 receptions, 58 yards

References

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  1. ^ @andygreder (December 29, 2021). "MVPs" (Tweet). Retrieved December 29, 2021 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "2021-22 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  3. ^ "2021 College Football Bowl Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "Winsipedia - Minnesota vs. West Virginia". Winsipedia.com. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
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