Missouri will play in its 38th bowl game when the Tigers meet Virginia in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 27, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. Kickoff is set for 6:30 with coverage on ABC and the Tiger Radio Network.
Mizzou (8-4) and Virginia (10-3) will meet for only the second time, the first since 1973 when Missouri defeated the Cavaliers 31-7 in Columbia. The Tigers are aiming to become the first team in school history to win nine games in three consecutive seasons.
Missouri is led by Doak Walker Award finalist Ahmad Hardy, who averages 130 yards per game and is close to breaking the school record. Defensively, the Tigers rank 10th nationally in total defense, 11th in sacks, and allow just 19.4 points per game.
Virginia comes off an overtime loss to Duke in the ACC Championship and finished 7-1 in league play, led by running back J’Mari Taylor and quarterback Chandler Morris.
This will be Missouri’s fourth appearance in the Gator Bowl and first since defeating Alabama 35-10 in 1968. The Tigers hold a 17-20 record in program bowl history, including a 27-24 win over Iowa in last season’s Music City Bowl.
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