TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Minnesota and Iowa State are linked by geography and mediocrity.

Located in bordering states, the Golden Gophers and Cyclones both went 6-6 and had to beat teams from the Dakotas to become bowl-eligible.

They also share a desire to close out their seasons on a high note — with a victory in the Insight Bowl on New Year's Eve.

"I've been involved with a lot of bowl games, and I think the bowl game is a reward for your team," Minnesota coach Tim Brewster said. "You can truly only get the reward if you win the football game."

Given their proximity, Minnesota and Iowa State would seem to be natural rivals. Minnesota leads the all-time series 22-2-1, but the schools have met just three times since 1924. Iowa State's victories came in 1897 and 1898.

The Cyclones probably don't schedule Minnesota often because they have an emotional annual game against another Big Ten team — Iowa. The Golden Gophers are also fierce rivals with the Hawkeyes, who drubbed Minnesota and Iowa State by a combined 47-3 this season.

"The fact that we don't play each other year-in and year-out, I think, separates it a little bit," Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads said. "But I think there is a natural rivalry with the border."

Wednesday's bowl results Holiday Bowl: Nebraska 33, Arizona 0 Humanitarian Bowl: Idaho 43, Bowling Green 42

Thursday's bowl lineup Armed Forces Bowl: Houston vs. Air Force, noon, ESPN Sun Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Stanford, 2 p.m., CBS Texas Bowl: Navy vs. Missouri, 3:30 p.m., ESPN Insight Bowl: Minnesota vs. Iowa State, 6 p.m., NFL Network Chick-Fil-A-Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Friday's bowl lineup Outback Bowl: Northwestern vs. Auburn, 11 a.m., ESPN Capital One Bowl: Penn State vs. LSU, 1 p.m., ABC Gator Bowl: Florida State vs. West Virginia, 1 p.m., CBS Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. Oregon, 4:30 p.m., ABC Sugar Bowl: Florida vs. Cincinnati, 8:30 p.m., Fox

Go here for the complete bowl schedule and results