Minnesota had a storybook season this year. After winning exactly zero conference games last year, the Gophers went 7-5 in the '08 campaign and received a bid to the Insight Bowl to take on Kansas. We thought Minnesota was a likely candidate to close out their fine season on a high note and get the conference back on track in bowl games.

We were wrong.

We didn't really think Kansas was all that impressive this year, but they came to play as rolled Minnesota, 42-21....