The triple-option has been on the verge of extinction at the FBS level of college football, but Minnesota will get an up-close look at the offense when it battles Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl.

Georgia Tech is one of the few teams to still operate the offense in major college football, and runs it pretty effectively. That scheme presents plenty of issues for the Golden Gophers defense, which will have to implement an entirely different defensive approach to the Dec. 26 showdown.

Head coach P.J. Fleck said preparing for the triple-option is always difficult, but even more when you haven’t seen it all season.

“It’s always difficult when you don’t face the triple-option,” Fleck said. “The good thing is you have four weeks.

“What option football does is it basically — it’s a great equalizer in the sports — it takes your athleticism and it uses it against you…Everything starts at the line of scrimmage based on your key. Once that happens, then you have to react to the second part.”

Thanks to Georgia Tech’s offense, the Yellow Jackets led the nation in rushing, averaging 334.9 yards per game this fall. Four players accumulated over 500 yards on the ground this season.

Preparing for the offense might be difficult, but Fleck says it’s great practice for the future. Next fall, the Gophers host Georgia Southern on Sept. 14, another team that runs the triple-option.

“We play Georgia Southern next year, so it’s great work and great practice,” Fleck said.

Minnesota finished the year winning two of its final three games to end with a 6-6 record to qualify for bowl eligibility.

Minnesota and Georgia Tech go head-to-head in the Quick Lane Bowl on Dec. 26.