3 takeaways from Minnesota’s win over Syracuse in Pinstripe Bowl

Minnesota football capped off a nine-win season thanks to a victory over Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl and here are three takeaways from the 28-20 win. 

The 2022 Pinstripe Bowl was a game of two teams going in opposite directions. Minnesota closed the season strong and was looking for its third nine-win season under P.J. Fleck.

For Syracuse, it was all about trying to end the season on a high note but without their top player in running back Sean Tucker, it didn’t work out.

The offense still put up big numbers — nearly 500 total yards in fact — but turnovers and poor execution in the red zone cost the Orange as Minnesota football notched a 28-20 win despite being outgained 477-213.

A pick-six with Syracuse driving down 14-20 was especially costly. All of a sudden, it was 21-10 after the Orange were driving for the lead.

Regardless of the outcome, Minnesota football lost its starting quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis to an injury after he went 7-for-9 for 80 yards. It allowed Tanner Morgan one last chance in a Minnesota football uniform and he took advantage with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Here are three takeaways from the Minnesota football win over Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Good programs make and win bowl games

Some people don’t like Fleck but you have to respect what he’s done with the Minnesota football program. This is the fourth consecutive full season (excluding a 3-4 campaign in 2020) that the Gophers have advanced to a bowl game and won.

You can make fun of bowl games all you want but teams that are well-coached tend to win them and the idea is to match evenly-matched teams for the most part. Minnesota football has won those games and has won 29 games in the last three full seasons.

That makes it a good program.