The Gophers will play Central Michigan in the Quick Lane Bowl on Dec. 28 in Detroit.
The Gophers (5-7) were able to compete in a bowl game when only 77 of a necessary 80 teams reached bowl eligibility with six victories.
Minnesota will be making its fourth consecutive bowl appearance. Central Michigan (7-5) lost 24-13 to Oklahoma State and 30-10 to Michigan State, which is in the College Football Playoff.
The Gophers have lost seven consecutive bowl games since 2004 when they beat Alabama 20-16 in the Music City Bowl.
In the Jerry Kill-Tracy Claeys era, Minnesota lost 34-31 to Texas Tech in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in 2012, lost 21-17 to Syracuse in the Texas Bowl in 2013, and fell 33-17 to Missouri in the Citrus Bowl last season.