Missouri is headed back to the postseason, earning a spot in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl where the Tigers will face Virginia on December 27 in Jacksonville. The primetime matchup pairs No. 25 Mizzou, now 8–4, against a 10–3 Cavaliers squad that just pushed Duke to overtime in the ACC title game. It will be only the second meeting between the programs and the first since 1973, when the Tigers rolled to a 31–7 win in Columbia.
The Tigers arrive in Florida with one of the nation’s most productive offenses and a top-tier defense. Doak Walker finalist Ahmad Hardy leads the country in rushing at 130 yards per game and is closing in on Missouri’s single-season record. On the other side of the ball, Mizzou ranks 10th nationally in total defense and sits just outside the top 10 in sacks, helping hold opponents under 20 points per game. Fans and season-ticket holders have priority access to bowl tickets, while general admission seats are available through the Gator Bowl website.
This year’s trip marks Missouri’s fourth appearance in the historic bowl and its first since the Tigers beat Alabama in 1968. Mizzou enters with a 17–20 all-time bowl record and is seeking a ninth win for the third straight season. The Tigers are also looking to build on last year’s postseason success after edging Iowa in the Music City Bowl. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. Central on ABC and the Tiger Radio Network.
