University of Missouri
8-5 , 4-4
Virginia
11-3 , 7-1
Football Falls to Virginia 13-7 in TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
12/27/2025 10:28:00 PM | Football
Ahmad Hardy sets Tigers' single-season rushing record in Jacksonville.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The No. 25 Missouri Tigers scored a touchdown on the opening possession of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium, but No. 20 Virginia pitched a shutout the rest of the way Saturday, surviving two late efforts by Mizzou and rallied for a 13-7 victory.
The Tigers (8-5) forced a Virginia three-and-out with less than two minutes to play and took over at their own 18-yard line. Matt Zollers, the first true freshman to start a bowl game for Mizzou, moved the Tigers into position for a game-winning score with some clutch throws, including a 24-yard pass to fellow frosh Donovan Olugbode that moved the Tigers to the UVa 21-yard line.
On third down, Zollers' head hit the turf while he was throwing the ball away, leading the officials to send him off the field as a precautionary measure for the game's final snap. Backup quarterback Brett Brown came on and tossed a pass into the end zone for Daniel Blood that he nearly caught before the ball was dislodged by safety Devin Neal and the Wahoos survived for the win.
On their previous possession, the Tigers had the ball at midfield when on a fourth and 2 at the Virginia 41, Zollers came up one yard short on a run to the right.
Despite the loss, consensus all-America running back Ahmad Hardy became Mizzou's single-season rushing leader. He ran 15 times for 89 yards and finished the season with 1,649 yards, topping the MU record of 1,627 set by Cody Schrader two years ago.
Hardy ripped off a 43-yard run on MU's opening series of the game to set up backfield mate Jamal Roberts for a 5-yard touchdown run. But after that, Virginia's ball control offense kept the Tigers in check.
The Cavs converted 13 of 23 third downs and 2 of 4 fourth downs to run up a 38:34-to-21:26 advantage in time of possession and ran 79 plays to MU's 55.
Virginia got on the board early in the second quarter on a 42-yard field goal by Will Bettridge. Later in the quarter, he missed a 44-yarder.
Missouri had a golden opportunity late in the first half when UVa's Cam Ross muffed a Connor Weselman punt that was recovered by Tavorus Jones at the Virginia 25-yard line. But the Tigers gained only one yard on three plays and Oliver Robbins missed a 42-yard field goal.
Virginia took the second-half kickoff and methodically moved down the field, putting together a 19-play drive that ate up 10:07 and ended with Harrison Waylee running two yards for a touchdown that gave the Wahoos their first lead at 10-7.
On Mizzou's next possession, a third-down pass by Zollers was tipped and intercepted by UVa's Emmanuel Karnley, which led to a 39-yard Bettridge field goal that increased Virginia's lead to 13-7.
Virginia's Chandler Morris completed 25 of 38 passes for 198 yards, and Waylee led the rushing attack with 28 carries for 65 yards, as the Cavaliers outgained the Tigers 308-260. Zollers was 12 of 22 for 101 yards.
Linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez led Missouri's defensive effort making 15 tackles, most by a Tiger this season, and broke up a pass.
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Team Stats
UVA 0, MIZ 7
MIZ - Roberts,Jamal 5 yd run (Robbins,Oliver kick), 7 plays, 74 yards, TOP 03:00
UVA 3, MIZ 7
UVA - Bettridge,Will 42 yd field goal 12 plays, 42 yards, TOP 05:50
UVA 10, MIZ 7
UVA - Waylee,Harrison 2 yd run (Bettridge,Will kick), 19 plays, 75 yards, TOP 10:07
UVA 13, MIZ 7
UVA - Bettridge,Will 39 yd field goal 7 plays, 14 yards, TOP 03:03
