Tigers Headed to Jacksonville for TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
12/7/2025 3:28:00 PM | Football
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou will play in its 38th bowl game when it meets Virginia in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Saturday, December 27, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
Kickoff between the No. 25 Tigers and No. 20 Cavaliers is set for 6:30 p.m. CT with ABC and Tiger Radio Network providing coverage. The meeting on the gridiron between Mizzou (8-4) and Virginia (10-3) will mark the second meeting between the two schools and the first since 1973 when Mizzou defeated UVA, 31-7, in Columbia.
Mizzou Football season ticket holders and Mizzou Athletics Fund donors will receive an email with a link to purchase tickets in the Mizzou section for the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. General tickets for the Gator Bowl are available at TaxSlayerGatorBowl.com.
"We are excited to have the opportunity to be part of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and look forward to playing an outstanding Virginia team on ABC," Mizzou head coach Eliah Drinkwitz said. "Jacksonville is the perfect bowl game for our team to finish the season against one of the best teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference. I want to challenge our fans and alumni to come and support us in Florida as we try to become the first team in Mizzou history to win nine games in three straight seasons. This is a special team that has worked very hard to put themselves in this position and we look forward to ending the season on a high note."
Mizzou was led by Doak Walker Award finalist Ahmad Hardy whose 130.0 YPG leads the nation and is just 68 yards from breaking the Tigers' school record. Defensively, the Tigers rank 10th in total defense (274.8 YPG) and 11th in sacks (2.92 PG) while allowing just 19.4 PPG.
"There is nothing better than college football on a Saturday in primetime! We are honored to celebrate the 81st playing of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl," said Gator Bowl Chairman Sara Pomposo. "This game carries tremendous pride and reverence for our membership and our community. The opportunity to host two top-tier teams in Virginia and Missouri as well as their players, coaches and fans to our city for a great week of activities celebrating both programs' successful seasons."
Virginia is coming off an overtime loss to Duke in the ACC Championship game. Head coach Tony Elliott's team finished 7-1 in league play and are led by RB J'Mari Taylor and QB Chandler Morris. Taylor led the Cavaliers with 1,062 rushing yards while Morris averaged 236.2 yards of total offense per game.
Mizzou holds a program record of 17-20 in bowl games and is coming off a 27-24 victory over Iowa in the Music City Bowl at the end of last season.
It will mark the Tigers' fourth appearance in the Gator Bowl and first since beating Alabama, 35-10, in the 1968 iteration. Mizzou also appeared in the Gator Bowl following the 1948 and 1949 seasons. MU has a 1-2 record in its three previous Gator Bowl Appearances.
Mizzou's All-Time Bowl Results (17-20)
Christmas Festival - Dec. 25, 1925: Southern California 20, Missouri 7
Orange Bowl - Jan. 1, 1940: Georgia Tech 21, Missouri 7
Sugar Bowl - Jan. 1, 1942: Fordham 2, Missouri 0
Cotton Bowl - Jan. 1, 1946: Texas 40, Missouri 27
Gator Bowl - Jan. 1, 1949: Clemson 24, Missouri 23
Gator Bowl - Jan. 2, 1950: Maryland 20, Missouri 7
Orange Bowl - Jan. 1, 1960: Georgia 14, Missouri 0
Orange Bowl - Jan. 2, 1961: Missouri 21, Navy 14
Bluebonnet Bowl - Dec. 22, 1962: Missouri 14, Georgia Tech 10
Sugar Bowl - Jan. 1, 1966: Missouri 20, Florida 18
Gator Bowl - Dec. 28, 1968: Missouri 35, Alabama 10
Orange Bowl - Jan. 1, 1970: Penn State 10, Missouri 3
Fiesta Bowl - Dec. 23, 1972: Arizona State 49, Missouri 35
Sun Bowl - Dec. 29, 1973: Missouri 34, Auburn 17
Liberty Bowl - Dec. 23, 1978: Missouri 20, LSU 15
Hall of Fame Bowl - Dec. 29, 1979: Missouri 24, South Carolina 14
Liberty Bowl - Dec. 27, 1980: Purdue 28, Missouri 25
Tangerine Bowl - Dec. 19, 1981: Missouri 19, Southern Miss 17
Holiday Bowl - Dec. 23, 1983: Brigham Young 21, Missouri 17
Holiday Bowl - Dec. 29, 1997: Colorado State 35, Missouri 24
Insight.com Bowl - Dec. 26, 1998: Missouri 34, West Virginia 31
Independence Bowl - Dec. 31, 2003: Arkansas 27, Missouri 14
Independence Bowl - Dec. 30, 2005: Missouri 38, South Carolina 31
Sun Bowl - Dec. 29, 2006: Oregon State 39, Missouri 38
Cotton Bowl - Jan. 1, 2008: Missouri 38, Arkansas 7
Alama Bowl - Dec. 29, 2008: Missouri 30, Northwestern 23 [OT]
Texas Bowl - Dec. 31, 2009: Navy 35, Missouri 13
Insight Bowl - Dec. 28, 2010: Iowa 27, Missouri 24
Independence Bowl - Dec. 26, 2011: Missouri 41, North Carolina 24
Cotton Bowl - Jan. 3, 2014: Missouri 41, Oklahoma State 31
Citrus Bowl - Jan. 1, 2015: Missouri 33, Minnesota 17
Texas Bowl - Dec. 27, 2017: Texas 33, Missouri 16
Liberty Bowl - Dec. 31, 2018: Oklahoma State 38, Missouri 33
Music City Bowl - Dec. 30, 2020: Cancelled due to Covid-19 (Missouri vs. Iowa)
Armed Forced Bowl - Dec. 22, 2021: Army West Point 24, Missouri 22
Gasparilla Bowl - Dec. 23, 2022: Wake Forest 27, Missouri 17
Cotton Bowl - Dec. 29, 2023: Missouri 14, Ohio State 3
Music City Bowl - Dec. 31, 2024: Missouri 27, Iowa 24
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