2025 Gator Bowl (January)

Last updated

2025 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
80th Gator Bowl
1234Total
Duke0701320
Ole Miss1410141452
DateJanuary 2, 2025
Season 2024
Stadium EverBank Stadium
Location Jacksonville, Florida
MVP Jaxson Dart (QB, Ole Miss) [1]
Favorite Ole Miss by 14.5
National anthem Marvin Zapf
Referee Jeffrey Servinski (Big Ten) [2]
Attendance31,290
United States TV coverage
Network ESPN
Announcers Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), and Taylor McGregor (sideline)
Gator Bowl
 < 2023 2025 (Dec.) > 

The 2025 Gator Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 2, 2025, at EverBank Stadium located in Jacksonville, Florida. The 80th annual Gator Bowl featured Duke from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Ole Miss from the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The game began at approximately 8:00 p.m. EST and aired on ESPN. [3] [4] The Gator Bowl was one of the 2024–25 bowl games concluding the 2024 FBS football season. The game was sponsored by financial technology company TaxSlayer and was officially known as the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

Contents

Teams

Consistent with conference tie-ins, the game featured Duke from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Ole Miss from the Southeastern Conference (SEC). This was the first meeting between the programs. [5]

Duke Blue Devils

Duke compiled 9–3 regular-season record (5–3 in ACC play). After starting the season with five consecutive wins, the Blue Devils lost three of their next four games, then concluded their schedule with three wins. Duke faced two ranked teams, losing to SMU and Miami (FL).

Ole Miss Rebels

Ole Miss finished their regular season with a 9–3 record (5–3 in SEC play). The Rebels were nationally ranked throughout the season, as high as fifth after starting with four consecutive wins. Ole Miss faced two ranked FBS teams, losing to LSU while defeating Georgia. Ole Miss was placed 14th in the final College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings.

Game summary

2025 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Quarter1234Total
Duke0701320
No. 14 Ole Miss1410141452

at EverBank StadiumJacksonville, Florida

  • Date: Thursday, January 2, 2025
  • Game time: 8:06 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 50 °F (10 °C) • Wind: 3 mph (4.8 km/h) northeast
  • Game attendance: 31,290
  • Referee: Jeffrey Servinski
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), and Taylor McGregor (sideline)
  • Box score
Game information
First quarter

Second quarter

  • (9:43) Ole Miss – Caden Davis 28 yard field goal, (Drive: 12 plays, 61 yards, 5:06; Ole Miss 17–0)
  • (5:54) Duke – Javon Harvey 16 yard pass from Henry Belin IV, Todd Pelino kick, (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:49; Ole Miss 17–7)
  • (1:52) Ole Miss – Dae'Quan Wright 21 yard pass from Jaxson Dart, Caden Davis kick, (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:02; Ole Miss 24–7)

Third quarter

  • (8:18) Ole Miss – Isaiah Hamilton 50 interception return, Caden Davis kick, (Drive: 7 plays, 15 yards, 3:52; Ole Miss 31–7)
  • (1:20) Ole Miss – Ulysses Bentley IV 8 yard run, Caden Davis kick, (Drive: 4 plays, 74 yards, 2:02; Ole Miss 38–7)

Fourth quarter

  • (9:56) Ole Miss – Jordan Watkins 1 yard pass from Jaxson Dart, Caden Davis kick, (Drive: 4 plays, 38 yards, 1:41; Ole Miss 45–7)
  • (3:43) Duke – Jordan Moore 20 yard pass from Henry Belin IV, Todd Pelino kick, (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 6:13; Ole Miss 45–14)
  • (1:27) Ole Miss – Jordan Watkins 69 yard pass from Jaxson Dart, Mike Baker kick, (Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 2:16; Ole Miss 52–14)
  • (1:07) Duke – Sahmir Hagans 69 yard kickoff return, Todd Pelino PAT failed, (Drive: 0 plays, 0 yards, 0:20; Ole Miss 52–20)

Statistics

StatisticsDUKEMISS
First downs1727
Plays–yards68–28070–589
Rushes–yards23–4433–151
Passing yards236438
Passing: compattint25–45–128–37–1
Time of possession30:0229:58
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
DukePassingHenry Belin IV25/44, 236 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingPeyton Jones8 carries, 18 yards
Receiving Jordan Moore 5 receptions, 63 yards, TD
Ole MissPassing Jaxson Dart 27/35, 404 yards, 4 TD
Rushing Ulysses Bentley IV 14 carries, 70 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Jordan Watkins 7 receptions, 180 yards, 2 TD

References

  1. @OleMissOnSI (January 2, 2025). "LOOK: Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart Wins Gator Bowl MVP Honors" (Tweet). Retrieved January 3, 2025 via Twitter.
  2. Austro, Ben (December 9, 2024). "2024-25 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  3. Cobb, David. "2024-25 college football bowl schedule, games, dates, locations, kickoff times, TV channels". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  4. Kelley, Kevin. "College football bowl schedule for 2024-25 season released". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  5. "Duke Blue Devils vs. Ole Miss Rebels football series history". winsipedia.com. Retrieved January 1, 2025.