The 2006 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Coached by Glen Mason, the Gophers played their home games at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as they had since Memorial Stadium closed after the 1981 season. Mason was fired on December 31, 2006, two days after the Gophers' epic collapse in the last 20 minutes of the Insight Bowl against Texas Tech, which saw Minnesota blow a 38–7 lead to lose 44–41 in overtime. The Tech comeback was the biggest in NCAA Division I-A postseason history. Previous season 2005 was the ninth season under head coach Glen Mason. He led the team to a 7–5 record and an appearance in the Music City Bowl. The most notable game of the season came when Minnesota defeated Michigan for the first time in 19 years to win the Little Brown Jug. Pre-season The 2006 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team received votes in the Coaches' Poll. Schedule Roster Game summaries Kent State All-time record against Kent State: 1–0–0 (First Meeting) This was the season opener for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. It was played on a Thursday in Kent, Ohio in Dix Stadium. The Golden Gophers were quite successful in the game, scoring on seven of their ten drives. The Golden Gophers dominated this game from the start of the game to the finish. Converted linebacker Alex Daniels rushed for 155 yards and 3 touchdowns. Kent State additionally had six of their ten drives ended by turnovers. Minnesota averaged a starting position of their own 36 yard line, 16 yards better than the Golden Flashes. This game was a homecoming for Minnesota head coach Glen Mason, whose first head coaching job was at Kent State. Kent State is currently 6–5. California All-time record against California: 2–3–0 The Golden Gophers faced off against their first team from a BCS since the 2000 season, and the first time the Minnesota Golden Gophers faced off against a team from the Pac-10 in the regular season since 1988. The Golden Gophers and Golden Bears remained close until the California scored twice in a three-minute span in the second quarter. The Gophers did manage a field-goal to close the second half, but were unable to find the red-zone in the second half. Golden Gophers quarterback Bryan Cupito did manage to pass for 243 yards with a 64%