EL PASO, Texas (Ticker) -- In a rematch of the 1999 Sun Bowl, No. 20 Minnesota tries to reach 10 wins for the first time in nearly a century when it meets Oregon.
The Golden Gophers (9-3) have not won 10 games since going 10-1 in 1905, when they outscored their opponents, 542-22. That also was the last Minnesota team to win as many as nine games.
The Gophers suffered a 40-22 loss at Iowa in their regular-season finale. Minnesota's leading rusher Marion Barber III suffered a pulled groin in the first half and did not return.
The strength of the Golden Gophers all season was their potent ground attack, which ranked third in the country, averaging 293.2 yards per game. Minnesota was seventh in scoring (39.3) and second in total offense (501.4 ypg).
The Golden Gophers' running game was paced by Barber and Laurence Maroney, who combined for more than 2,200 yards. Barber rushed for 1,159 yards and a school-record 17 touchdowns on 191 carries while Maroney added 990 yards on 147 attempts.
However, the Golden Gophers will be facing a physical Oregon defense that ranked 12th against the run (95.9). The Ducks held six opponents under 100 yards on the ground, including a season-low minus-three years in a 31-27 victory over Michigan.
Minnesota is appearing in its fourth bowl game in five years. Last season, it snapped a three-game bowl losing streak with a 29-14 victory over Arkansas in the Music City Bowl.
Four years ago in the Sun Bowl, Oregon rallied for a 24-20 victory over Minnesota as Joey Harrington tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Howry with 1:32 remaining. It was the Golden Gophers' first bowl appearance in 13 years.
Oregon (8-4) won four of it last five games to earn its seventh straight bowl appearance and 12th in 15 years. They are 4-3 in bowl games under coach Mike Bellotti, who recently signed a contract extension through the 2009 season.
Linebacker Kevin Mitchell, who surpassed the century mark in tackles for the third straight season, anchors Oregon's defense. Tackle Igor Olshansky led Oregon with 15 tackles for losses and end Devan Long recorded a team-high 10.5 sacks.
Minnesota leads the all-time series, 2-1, posting wins in 1961 (14-7) and 1975 (10-7).
