Minnesota faced the Orange in the 2022 iteration of the Pinstripe Bowl, when the Gophers won 28-20. They last faced Pitt in 1992 in a true road game. If Minnesota loses this week against Wisconsin as 2-point underdogs, its chances of returning to the Bronx would rise dramatically.

The Gophers have been working on a couple trick plays during closed practices in recent weeks. Unveiled Saturday, one worked to huge success and one didn’t pan out in a 26-25 loss to No. 4 Penn State.

Aireontae Ersery and Anthony Smith were two of the top players in the loss to the Nittany Lions and it could provide a silver lining as the Gophers head to Madison to close out the regular season against the Wisconsin Badgers on Friday.