Gator Bowl

Last updated
Gator Bowl
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl logo.svg
Stadium EverBank Stadium
Location Jacksonville, Florida
Previous stadiums Gator Bowl Stadium (1946–1993)
Temporary venue Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida (1994)
Operated1946–present
Championship affiliation Bowl Coalition (19921994)
Conference tie-ins SEC, Big Ten, ACC
Previous conference tie-ins
Payout US$5.35 million (2019 season) [1]
Sponsors
Former names
  • Gator Bowl (1946–1985)
  • Mazda Gator Bowl (1986–1991)
  • Outback Gator Bowl (1992–1994)
  • Toyota Gator Bowl (1995–2007)
  • Konica Minolta Gator Bowl (2008–2010)
  • Progressive Gator Bowl (2011)
  • TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl (2012–2013)
  • TaxSlayer Bowl (2014–2017)
2022 matchup
Notre Dame vs. South Carolina
(Notre Dame 45–38)
2023 matchup
Clemson vs. Kentucky (Clemson 38–35)

The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game held in Jacksonville, Florida, usually contested on or around New Year's Day. It has been held continuously since 1946, making it the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first televised nationally. [2] The game was originally played at Gator Bowl Stadium through the December 1993 game. The December 1994 game was played at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville after the namesake stadium was demolished to make way for a replacement venue, Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. That venue, now known as EverBank Stadium, has been home to the Gator Bowl since the January 1996 game.

Contents

The game is operated by Gator Bowl Sports and has been sponsored by TaxSlayer.com since 2012, and starting with the 2018 edition is officially known as the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. [3] From 2015 to 2017, it was officially referred to as simply the TaxSlayer Bowl. Previous sponsors include Progressive Insurance (2011), Konica Minolta (2008–2010), Toyota (1995–2007), Outback Steakhouse (1992–1994), and Mazda (1986–1991).

History

According to writer Anthony C. DiMarco, Charles Hilty Sr. first conceived of the event. Hilty, together with Ray McCarthy, Maurice Cherry, and W. C. Ivey, put up $10,000 to underwrite the first game, which was held at Jacksonville's football stadium, Fairfield Stadium, on January 1, 1946.

The first two years of the event did not sell out the small capacity stadium, drawing only 7,362 to the 1946 game when the Wake Forest Demon Deacons defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks, 26–14. The stadium was expanded in 1948 and renamed the Gator Bowl Stadium in honor of the event. However, it was not until the 1949 matchup between the Clemson Tigers and the Missouri Tigers that the future of the Gator Bowl was assured: the 1948 attendance of 16,666 for a 20–20 tie between Maryland and Georgia was nearly doubled with 32,939 watching Clemson squeak by Missouri, 24–23, on a late field goal by Jack Miller.

By the 1970s, the attendance regularly reached 60,000–70,000. [4]

Hotel Roosevelt fire in 1963

The Gator Bowl is one of Jacksonville's annual sports highlights. However, the event was once associated with a tragedy. In the early morning of December 29, 1963, the Hotel Roosevelt in downtown Jacksonville caught fire after a post-Gator Bowl party in the ballroom. [5] It was later determined that the party was not the cause of the fire, and that the timing was a coincidence. The fire resulted in 22 deaths. [6]

Woody Hayes incident in 1978

In the 1978 game between Ohio State and Clemson, Ohio State coach Woody Hayes lost his temper after a late game interception by Clemson nose guard Charlie Bauman, who stepped in front of the receiver on a pass from quarterback Art Schlichter. Bauman ran the ball out of bounds on the Ohio State sideline where Hayes struck Bauman with his right forearm. The play sealed the Tigers' 17–15 win over the Buckeyes, while Hayes was fired the next day before leaving Jacksonville. [7]

Bowden's Last Stand in 2010

In the 2010 game between Florida State and West Virginia, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden (who previously coached at West Virginia) coached the final game of his career. Bowden had been the head coach at Florida State since 1976 and had won two national championships, 13 ACC championships, and had a 14-year streak of top five finishes during that time. A record crowd of over 84,000 people [8] witnessed Bowden being carried off the field [9] after a 33–21 Florida State victory.

TaxSlayer sponsorship

The 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl featuring the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Georgia Bulldogs 2016 Taxslayer Bowl.jpg
The 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl featuring the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Georgia Bulldogs

In 2014, Gator Bowl Sports announced the bowl would be renamed the TaxSlayer Bowl following a new six-year deal with tax preparation company TaxSlayer.com. As a result of the deal, the bowl increased its payout and moved to a new time slot on January 2 for 2015 and 2016. [10] A new logo was released on April 3, 2014. For the December 2018 contest, "Gator" was reinstated in the name for the first time since 2015, with the bowl being called the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

Venues

The 1946 and 1947 games were played in Fairfield Stadium, which had a seating capacity of 7,600. The stadium was expanded to 16,000 seats in 1948, and the structure was renamed the Gator Bowl. Prior to the 1949 game, the seating capacity was expanded to 36,058, at which it remained until 1957. [11] That stadium hosted the game through 1993, when it was almost completely demolished for the construction of Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on the same site. During construction, the December 1994 game was played at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. The January 1996 game, and all subsequent games to date, have been held at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, currently known as EverBank Stadium.

Organization

The game and associated activities are overseen by Gator Bowl Sports. Founded as the Gator Bowl Association in 1945, the organization expanded in 2013 to branch into other sports and events and increase its charity wing. [12]

The association comprises 225 Gator Bowl Committee members, 84 Chairman's Club members and sponsors, more than 700 volunteers, plus over a dozen paid staff members. In addition to the Gator Bowl, the GBA has also coordinated other events. It hosted the ACC Championship Game from 2005 to 2007 and the River City Showdown, a neutral site game between the Florida State Seminoles and another team, in 2007 and 2008. [13]

Cover of the 1973 Gator Bowl game program 1973 Gator Bowl Game Program.jpg
Cover of the 1973 Gator Bowl game program

In the early years of the bowl, from 1946–1952, it featured a team from the Southern Conference against an at-large opponent. Beginning with the 1953 game, it switched to generally featuring a Southeastern Conference (SEC) team against an at-large opponent. From 1953 to the 1975 game, at least one SEC team appeared in 20 out of the 24 games, and in three of those games both teams were from the SEC. The games from 1976 to 1995 usually, but not always, involved a team from the southeastern United States against a team from another part of the country. Teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) played in ten of these 20 games.

From 1996–2006, the Gator Bowl traditionally hosted the second-place ACC team against the second-place Big East Conference team. With the 2007 game, the ACC runner-up became contractually tied to play in the Chick-fil-A Bowl and the Gator Bowl began hosting the third-place ACC team versus a team from either the Big East (still the conference's #2 team unless they qualified for the Bowl Championship Series), the Big 12 Conference, or the unaffiliated Notre Dame Fighting Irish (who would take the Big East's spot in this game). The contract, which ran for four years, was held in conjunction with the Sun Bowl, with the Gator Bowl receiving first choice of teams, and required both bowls to take Big East teams twice and Big 12 teams twice. Since the previous two Gator Bowls featured the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Nebraska Cornhuskers, both Big 12 teams, a Big East team or Notre Dame would play in the 2010 Gator Bowl per the terms of the contract (West Virginia lost to Florida State in this game).

The conference alignment changed again in 2010, as the Big East and Notre Dame moved their hybrid arrangement to the Champs Sports Bowl for 2010, while the Gator Bowl declined to renew its contract with the Big 12. The Gator Bowl would feature the SEC and the Big Ten Conference starting with the 2010 season, joining the Capital One Bowl and the Outback Bowl as the third Big Ten-SEC bowl matchup on New Year's Day. [14] Starting in 2015, the bowl returned to a hybrid arrangement for a six-year period, with SEC teams playing ACC teams for three years and Big Ten teams the other three years; the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are also eligible during ACC years. [10]

Through 74 playings (the 2018 edition), 38 have been contested with both teams ranked (per the AP Poll), most recently the 2006 edition. The highest ranked team to appear was No. 3 Pittsburgh in the 1980 edition.

Title sponsors

Mazda was the first title sponsor, beginning in 1986 and lasting for five years. Outback Steakhouse sponsored the Gator Bowl for three years beginning in 1992, prior to obtaining their own Outback Bowl held in Tampa, Florida. From 1996–2006, the title sponsor was Toyota. Konica Minolta then became the sponsor from 2007 to 2010. [15] On December 14, 2010, the Gator Bowl Association announced that Progressive Insurance would become the title sponsor for the 2011 Gator Bowl. [16] On September 1, 2011, GBA announced a multi-year title sponsorship deal with TaxSlayer.com.

Game results

All rankings are taken from the AP Poll prior to the game being played. Italics denote a tie game.

Clemson v Pitt, 1977 edition Clemson steve fuller vs pitt 1977.jpg
Clemson v Pitt, 1977 edition
Date playedBowl nameWinning teamLosing teamAttnd.
January 1, 1946 Gator Bowl #19 Wake Forest 26  South Carolina 14  7,362
January 1, 1947 Gator Bowl #14 Oklahoma 34#18 NC State 1310,134
January 1, 1948 Gator Bowl [n 1] Georgia 20 Maryland 2016,666
January 1, 1949 Gator Bowl #11 Clemson 24 Missouri 2335,273
January 2, 1950 Gator Bowl #14 Maryland 20#20 Missouri 718,409
January 1, 1951 Gator Bowl #12 Wyoming 20#18 Washington & Lee 726,354
January 1, 1952 Gator Bowl Miami (Florida) 14#19 Clemson 037,208
January 1, 1953 Gator Bowl #15 Florida 14#12 Tulsa 1330,015
January 1, 1954 Gator Bowl #12 Texas Tech 35#17 Auburn 1328,641
December 31, 1954 Gator Bowl #13 Auburn 33#18 Baylor 1334,408
December 31, 1955 Gator Bowl #8 Vanderbilt 25 Auburn 1332,174
December 29, 1956 Gator Bowl #4 Georgia Tech 21#13 Pittsburgh 1437,683
December 28, 1957 Gator Bowl #13 Tennessee 3#9 Texas A&M 041,160
December 27, 1958 Gator Bowl #11 Ole Miss 7#14 Florida 341,312
January 2, 1960 Gator Bowl #9 Arkansas 14 Georgia Tech 745,104
December 31, 1960 Gator Bowl #18 Florida 13#12 Baylor 1250,122
December 30, 1961 Gator Bowl #17 Penn State 30#13 Georgia Tech 1550,202
December 29, 1962 Gator Bowl Florida 17#9 Penn State 750,026
December 28, 1963 Gator Bowl North Carolina 35 Air Force 050,018
January 2, 1965 Gator Bowl Florida State 36 Oklahoma 1950,408
December 31, 1965 Gator Bowl Georgia Tech 31#10 Texas Tech 2160,127
December 31, 1966 Gator Bowl Tennessee 18 Syracuse 1260,312
December 30, 1967 Gator Bowl #10 Penn State 17 Florida State 1768,019
December 28, 1968 Gator Bowl #16 Missouri 35#12 Alabama 1068,011
December 27, 1969 Gator Bowl #15 Florida 14#11 Tennessee 1372,248
January 2, 1971 Gator Bowl #10 Auburn 35 Ole Miss 2871,136
December 31, 1971 Gator Bowl #6 Georgia 7 North Carolina 371,208
December 30, 1972 Gator Bowl #6 Auburn 24#13 Colorado 371,114
December 29, 1973 Gator Bowl #11 Texas Tech 28#20 Tennessee 1962,109
December 30, 1974 Gator Bowl #6 Auburn 27#11 Texas 363,811
December 29, 1975 Gator Bowl #17 Maryland 13#13 Florida 064,012
December 27, 1976 Gator Bowl #15 Notre Dame 20#20 Penn State 967,827
December 30, 1977 Gator Bowl #10 Pittsburgh 34#11 Clemson 372,289
December 29, 1978 Gator Bowl #7 Clemson 17#20 Ohio State 1572,011
December 28, 1979 Gator Bowl North Carolina 17#14 Michigan 1570,407
December 29, 1980 Gator Bowl #3 Pittsburgh 37#18 South Carolina 972,297
December 28, 1981 Gator Bowl #11 North Carolina 31 Arkansas 2771,009
December 30, 1982 Gator Bowl Florida State 31#10 West Virginia 1280,913
December 30, 1983 Gator Bowl #11 Florida 14#10 Iowa 681,293
December 28, 1984 Gator Bowl #9 Oklahoma State 21#7 South Carolina 1482,138
December 30, 1985 Gator Bowl #18 Florida State 34#19 Oklahoma State 2379,417
December 27, 1986 Gator Bowl Clemson 27#20 Stanford 2180,104
December 31, 1987 Gator Bowl #7 LSU 30#9 South Carolina 1382,119
January 1, 1989 Gator Bowl #19 Georgia 34 Michigan State 2776,236
December 30, 1989 Gator Bowl #14 Clemson 27#17 West Virginia 782,911
January 1, 1991 Gator Bowl #12 Michigan 35#15 Ole Miss 368,297
December 29, 1991 Gator Bowl #20 Oklahoma 48#19 Virginia 1462,003
December 31, 1992 Gator Bowl #14 Florida 27#12 NC State 1071,233
December 31, 1993 Gator Bowl #18 Alabama 24#12 North Carolina 1067,205
December 30, 1994 Gator Bowl [n 2] Tennessee 45#17 Virginia Tech 2362,200
January 1, 1996 Gator Bowl [n 3] Syracuse 41#23 Clemson 045,202
January 1, 1997 Gator Bowl #12 North Carolina 20#25 West Virginia 1352,103
January 1, 1998 Gator Bowl #7 North Carolina 42 Virginia Tech 354,116
January 1, 1999 Gator Bowl #12 Georgia Tech 35#17 Notre Dame 2870,791
January 1, 2000 Gator Bowl #23 Miami (Florida) 28#17 Georgia Tech 1343,416
January 1, 2001 Gator Bowl #6 Virginia Tech 41#16 Clemson 2068,741
January 1, 2002 Gator Bowl #24 Florida State 30#15 Virginia Tech 1772,202
January 1, 2003 Gator Bowl #17 NC State 28#11 Notre Dame 673,491
January 1, 2004 Gator Bowl #23 Maryland 41#20 West Virginia 778,891
January 1, 2005 Gator Bowl #17 Florida State 30 West Virginia 1870,112
January 2, 2006 Gator Bowl #12 Virginia Tech 35#15 Louisville 2463,780
January 1, 2007 Gator Bowl #13 West Virginia 38 Georgia Tech 3567,714
January 1, 2008 Gator Bowl Texas Tech 31#21 Virginia 2860,243
January 1, 2009 Gator Bowl Nebraska 26 Clemson 2167,232
January 1, 2010 Gator Bowl Florida State 33#18 West Virginia 2184,129
January 1, 2011 Gator Bowl #21 Mississippi State 52 Michigan 1468,325
January 2, 2012 Gator Bowl Florida 24 Ohio State 1761,312
January 1, 2013 Gator Bowl #21 Northwestern 34 Mississippi State 2048,612
January 1, 2014 Gator Bowl Nebraska 24#22 Georgia 1960,712
January 2, 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl Tennessee 45 Iowa 2856,310
January 2, 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl Georgia 24 Penn State 1758,212
December 31, 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl Georgia Tech 33 Kentucky 1843,102
December 30, 2017 TaxSlayer Bowl #24 Mississippi State 31 Louisville 2741,310
December 31, 2018 Gator Bowl #21 Texas A&M 52 NC State 1338,206
January 2, 2020 Gator Bowl Tennessee 23 Indiana 2261,789
January 2, 2021 Gator Bowl Kentucky 23#24 NC State 2110,422
December 31, 2021 Gator Bowl #20 Wake Forest 38 Rutgers 1028,508
December 30, 2022 Gator Bowl #19 Notre Dame 45#20 South Carolina 3867,383  
December 29, 2023 Gator Bowl Clemson 38 Kentucky 3540,132

Tennessee's win the January 2020 edition was vacated by the NCAA in July 2023. [17]

Source: [18]

  1. Venue was renamed Gator Bowl in 1948.
  2. The December 1994 game was held at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville due to renovations.
  3. The January 1996 game was the first to be held at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

MVPs

From 1946 through 1952, a single MVP was named. From 1953 through 2021, MVPs were named for each team; in several instances, co-MVPs were named. Since the 2022 edition, the bowl has again named a single MVP.

Most Valuable Players
Date PlayedMVPTeamPosition Ref
January 1, 1946Nick SacrintyWake ForestQB  [19]
January 1, 1947 Joe Golding OklahomaHB  [19]
January 1, 1948 Lu Gambino MarylandHB  [19]
January 1, 1949 Bobby Gage ClemsonHB  [19]
January 2, 1950 Bob Ward MarylandG  [20]
January 1, 1951 Eddie Talboom WyomingHB  [20]
January 1, 1952 Jim Dooley Miami (Florida)HB  [20]
Date PlayedMVPTeamPositionMVPTeamPositionRef
January 1, 1953John HallFloridaRB Marv Matuszak TulsaT [20]
January 1, 1954Bobby CavazosTexas TechRB Vince Dooley AuburnQB [20]
December 31, 1954 Joe Childress AuburnFBBilly HooperBaylorQB [20]
December 31, 1955Don OrrVanderbiltQBJoe ChildressAuburnFB [20]
December 29, 1956Wade MitchellGeorgia TechQBCorny SalvaterraPittsburghQB [20]
December 28, 1957Bobby GordonTennesseeTB John David Crow Texas A&MHB [20]
December 27, 1958 Bobby Franklin Ole MissQBDave HudsonFloridaE [20]
January 2, 1960 Jim Mooty ArkansasHB Maxie Baughan Georgia TechLB [21]
December 31, 1960Larry LibertoreFloridaQB Bobby Ply BaylorQB [21]
December 30, 1961 Galen Hall Penn StateQB Joe Auer Georgia TechHB [21]
December 29, 1962Tom ShannonFloridaQB Dave Robinson Penn StateE [21]
December 28, 1963 Ken Willard North CarolinaRBDavid SicksAir ForceC [21]
January 2, 1965 Steve Tensi
Fred Biletnikoff
Florida StateQB
SE
Carl McAdams OklahomaLB [21]
December 31, 1965Lenny SnowGeorgia TechTB Donny Anderson Texas TechRB [21]
December 31, 1966 Dewey Warren TennesseeQB Floyd Little SyracuseHB [21]
December 30, 1967 Kim Hammond Florida StateQB Tom Sherman Penn StateQB [21]
December 28, 1968Terry McMillanMissouriQBMike HallAlabamaLB [21]
December 27, 1969Mike KelleyFloridaLBCurt WatsonTennesseeFB [21]
January 2, 1971 Pat Sullivan AuburnQB Archie Manning Ole MissQB [22]
December 31, 1971Jimmy PoulosGeorgiaTB James Webster North CarolinaLB [22]
December 30, 1972Wade WhatleyAuburnQBMark CooneyColoradoLB [22]
December 29, 1973 Joe Barnes Texas TechQB Haskel Stanback TennesseeTB [22]
December 30, 1974Phil GargisAuburnQB Earl Campbell TexasRB [22]
December 29, 1975Steve AtkinsMarylandTB Sammy Green FloridaLB [22]
December 27, 1976 Al Hunter Notre DameHB Jimmy Cefalo Penn StateWR [22]
December 30, 1977 Matt Cavanaugh PittsburghQB Jerry Butler ClemsonSE [22]
December 29, 1978 Steve Fuller ClemsonQB Art Schlichter Ohio StateQB [22]
December 28, 1979Matt Kupec [n 1]
Amos Lawrence
North CarolinaQB
RB
John Wangler
Anthony Carter
MichiganQB
WR
[23] [22]
December 29, 1980Rick TrocanoPittsburghQB George Rogers South CarolinaRB [24]
December 28, 1981 Kelvin Bryant
Ethan Horton
North CarolinaTB
TB
Gary Anderson ArkansasRB [24]
December 30, 1982 Greg Allen Florida StateTB Paul Woodside West VirginiaK [24]
December 30, 1983 Tony Lilly FloridaS Owen Gill IowaFB [24]
December 28, 1984 Thurman Thomas Oklahoma StateRBMike HoldSouth CarolinaQB [24]
December 30, 1985 Chip Ferguson Florida StateQB Thurman Thomas Oklahoma StateRB [24]
December 27, 1986Rodney WilliamsClemsonQB Brad Muster StanfordRB [24]
December 31, 1987 Wendell Davis LSUSE Harold Green South CarolinaRB [24]
January 1, 1989Wayne JohnsonGeorgiaQB Andre Rison Michigan StateWR [24]
December 30, 1989 Levon Kirkland ClemsonLB Mike Fox West VirginiaDT [24]
January 1, 1991 Offensive Line [n 2] MichiganN/ATyrone AshleyOle MissDB [25]
December 29, 1991 Cale Gundy OklahomaQB Tyrone Davis VirginiaDB [25]
December 31, 1992 Errict Rhett FloridaRB Reggie Lawrence North Carolina StateWR [25]
December 31, 1993Brian BurgdorfAlabamaQBCorey HollidayNorth CarolinaWR [25]
December 30, 1994 James Stewart TennesseeTBMaurice DeShazoVirginia TechQB [25]
January 1, 1996 Donovan McNabb SyracuseQBPeter FordClemsonCB [25]
January 1, 1997Oscar DavenportNorth CarolinaQB David Saunders West VirginiaWR [25]
January 1, 1998Chris KeldorfNorth CarolinaQB Nick Sorensen Virginia TechQB [25]
January 1, 1999 Dez White
Joe Hamilton
Georgia TechWR
QB
Autry Denson Notre DameRB [25]
January 1, 2000 Nate Webster Miami (Florida)LBJoe HamiltonGeorgia TechQB [26]
January 1, 2001 Michael Vick Virginia TechQB Rod Gardner ClemsonWR [26]
January 1, 2002 Javon Walker Florida StateWR André Davis Virginia TechWR [26]
January 1, 2003 Philip Rivers North Carolina StateQBCedric HillardNotre DameNG [26]
January 1, 2004 Scott McBrien MarylandQBBrian KingWest VirginiaDB [26]
January 1, 2005 Leon Washington Florida StateRB Kay-Jay Harris West VirginiaRB [26]
January 2, 2006 Cedric Humes Virginia TechRB Hunter Cantwell LouisvilleQB [26]
January 1, 2007 Pat White West VirginiaQB Calvin Johnson Georgia TechWR [26]
January 1, 2008 Graham Harrell Texas TechQB Chris Long [n 3] VirginiaDE [26]
January 1, 2009Joe GanzNebraskaQB DaQuan Bowers ClemsonDE [26]
January 1, 2010 EJ Manuel Florida StateQB Noel Devine West VirginiaHB [27]
January 1, 2011 Chris Relf Mississippi StateQB Denard Robinson MichiganQB [27]
January 2, 2012 Andre Debose FloridaWR Etienne Sabino Ohio StateLB [27]
January 1, 2013Jared CarpenterNorthwesternSNickoe WhitleyMississippi StateDB [27]
January 1, 2014 Quincy Enunwa NebraskaWR Todd Gurley GeorgiaTB [27]
January 2, 2015 Joshua Dobbs TennesseeQB Josey Jewell IowaLB [27]
January 2, 2016Terry GodwinGeorgiaWR Trace McSorley Penn StateQB [27]
December 31, 2016Dedrick MillsGeorgia TechRBStephen Johnson IIKentuckyQB [27]
December 30, 2017Mark McLaurinMississippi StateS Lamar Jackson LouisvilleQB [27]
December 31, 2018 Trayveon Williams Texas A&MRB Ryan Finley NC StateQB [27]
January 2, 2020 Eric Gray TennesseeRB Peyton Ramsey IndianaQB [28]
January 2, 2021Asim Rose Jr.KentuckyRB Zonovan Knight NC StateRB [28]
December 31, 2021 Sam Hartman Wake ForestQBJohnny LanganRutgersQB [28]
December 30, 2022 Tyler Buchner Notre DameQB  [29]
December 29, 2023 Phil Mafah ClemsonRB 
  1. The bowl's official site omits Kupec as co-MVP for North Carolina in the 1979 game.
  2. Michigan's offensive linemen in the January 1991 game were Tom Dohring, Matt Elliott, Steve Everitt, Dean Dingman, and Greg Skrepenak.
  3. Other sources list Mikell Simpson, who rushed for 170 yards, as the Virginia MVP for the 2008 game.

Most appearances

Updated through the December 2023 edition (79 games, 158 appearances).

Teams with multiple appearances

Tennessee's record excludes their January 2020 win, which was vacated by the NCAA in July 2023.

Teams with a single appearance

Won (4): LSU, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Wyoming
Lost (9): Air Force, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan State, Rutgers, Stanford, Texas, Tulsa, Washington & Lee

Appearances by conference

Updated through the December 2023 edition (79 games, 158 appearances).

ConferenceRecordAppearances by season
GamesWLTWin pct.WonLostTiedVacated
SEC 4527161.6251952*, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1969, 1970*, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1983, 1987, 1988*, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2010*, 2011*, 2014*, 2015*, 2017, 2018, 2020*1953*, 1955, 1958, 1959*, 1961, 1968, 1969, 1970*, 1973, 1975, 1990, 2012*, 2013*, 2016, 2022, 20231947*2019*
ACC 3319140.5761963, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1986, 1989, 1996*, 1997*, 1998*, 2001*, 2002*, 2003*, 2004*, 2005*, 2009*, 2016, 2021, 20231971, 1977, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995*, 1999*, 2000*, 2006*, 2007*, 2008*, 2017, 2018, 2020*  
Independents 2410122.4581951*, 1961, 1964*, 1965, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1985, 20221956, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1976, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1998*, 2002*1967, 1967 
Big East 12480.3331995*, 1999*, 2000*, 2006*1994, 1996*, 1997*, 2001*, 2003*, 2004*, 2005*, 2009*  
Big Ten 133100.2311990, 2012*, 2013*1978, 1979, 1983, 1988*, 2010*, 2011*, 2014*, 2015*, 2019*, 2021  
Big Eight 9450.4441946*, 1968, 1984, 19911948*, 1949*, 1964*, 1972, 1985  
SoCon 8341.4381945*, 1948*, 1949*1945*, 1946*, 1950*, 1951*1947* 
SWC 8260.2501959*, 19731954, 1957, 1960, 1965, 1974, 1981  
Big 12 22001.0002007*, 2008*  
Border 11001.0001953*  
Skyline 11001.0001950*  
MVC 1010.0001952*  
Pac-10 1010.0001986  

The SEC's win–loss–tie totals and winning percentage exclude Tennessee's win following the 2019 season (played in January 2020), which was vacated by the NCAA in July 2023.

As of 2023:

Gator Bowl Hall of Fame

The Gator Bowl created a Hall of Fame in 1989; new members were announced annually through 2013, with a total of 82 inductees at that time. After 2013, additions have occurred intermittently.

YearInducteesRef.
1989 Dan Devine, Ray Graves, Ralph Jordan, Floyd Little, Archie Manning, Bobby Dodd [31]
1990 Vince Dooley, Bobby Gage, Frank Howard, Pat Sullivan, Bob Woodruff, George R. Olsen
1991 Wally Butts, Bill Peterson, Ron Sellers, Ken Willard
1992 Maxie Baughan, Lu Gambino, Don Faurot, Johnny Vaught
1993 DeWitt Weaver, Tom Shannon, Joe Childress
1994 Doug Dickey, Rip Engle, Larry Libertore Jr.
1995 Fred Biletnikoff, Frank Broyles, Nicholas Sacrinty, Richard Stratton, Steve Tensi
1996 Dave Robinson, Wade Mitchell, Jim Dooley, Dick Crum
1997Judge John "Papa" Hall, Gene Stallings, Kim Hammond, John F. Lanahan
1998 Ross Browner, James Stewart, Danny Ford
1999Jack Bush, Walter C. Dunbar, Jay Solomon
2000 Joe Paterno, Terry McMillan, Bob Bradley
2001 John David Crow, Don Nehlen, Carlisle Jones
2002W. W. "Bill" Gay, Jackie Sherrill, Hugh Green
2003Donny Anderson, Rodney Hampton, Ash Verlander
2004Chip Ferguson, Bill Nimnicht Jr., Steve Spurrier, Greg Allen
2005 Desmond Howard, Peter Kirill Sr., Peahead Walker
2006Dave Braine, Carl Cannon
2007 Don Davis, George Rogers, Bear Bryant [32]
2008 Errict Rhett, Wendell Davis [33]
2009Wilford C. Lyon, Jr, Gary Pajcic, Bob Golic [34]
2010 Bobby Bowden, Mike Tranghese [35]
2011 Pat Jones, Anthony Carter, Bill Nimnicht Sr. [36]
2012 Corky Rogers, Donald Orr [37]
2013 Donovin Darius [38]
2016 Frank Beamer, Tom Shouvlin [39]
2017 Leon Washington, Ronald L. Bailey [40] [41]

75th Anniversary All Gator Bowl Team

In September 2019, bowl organizers announced an All Gator Bowl Team, in commemoration of the 75th anniversary game, played in January 2020. [42]

OffenseDefense
PlayerPos.TeamGamePlayerPos.TeamGame
Archie Manning QBMississippiNo. 26 Ed Reed DBMiamiNo. 55
Floyd Little RBSyracuseNo. 22 Tony Lilly DBFloridaNo. 39
Larry Csonka FBSyracuseNo. 22 Hugh Green DEPittsburghNo. 36
Fred Biletnikoff WRFlorida StateNo. 20 Jack Youngblood DEFloridaNo. 25
Andre Rison WRMichigan StateNo. 44 Wilber Marshall LBFloridaNo. 39
Ken MacAfee TENotre DameNo. 32 Donovin Darius DBSyracuseNo. 51
Mark May TPittsburghNo. 36Mark McLaurinDBMississippi StateNo. 73
Greg Skrepenak TMichiganNo. 46 Matt Millen DTPenn StateNo. 32
Dean Dingman GMichiganNo. 46 Ndamukong Suh DTNebraskaNo. 64
Zeke Smith GAuburnNo. 11 Ryan Shazier LBOhio StateNo. 67
Maxie Baughan CGeorgia TechNo. 15 Lawrence Taylor LBNorth CarolinaNo. 35

Game records

TeamRecord, Team vs. OpponentYear
Most points scored (one team)52, shared by:
Mississippi State vs. Michigan
Texas A&M vs. NC State
 
2011
2018
Most points scored (losing team)38, South Carolina vs. Notre Dame2022
Most points scored (both teams)83, Notre Dame (45) vs. South Carolina (38)2022
Fewest points allowed0, most recently:
Syracuse vs. Clemson
 
1996
Largest margin of victory41, Syracuse (41) vs. Clemson (0)1996
Total yards
Rushing yards423, Auburn vs. BaylorDec. 1954
Passing yards407, Texas Tech vs. Virginia2008
First downs
Fewest yards allowed
Fewest rushing yards allowed45, Missouri vs. Alabama1968
Fewest passing yards allowed0, Alabama vs. Missouri1968
IndividualRecord, Player, Team vs. OpponentYear
All-purpose yards
Touchdowns (overall)4, shared by:
Fred Biletnikoff, Florida State vs. Oklahoma
James Stewart, Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech

Phil Mafah, Clemson vs. Kentucky

Jan. 1965

Dec. 1994 2023

Rushing yards236, Trayveon Williams, [43] Texas A&M vs. NC State2018
Rushing touchdowns4, Phil Mafah, Clemson vs. Kentucky2023
Passing yards407, Graham Harrell, Texas Tech vs. Virginia2008
Passing touchdowns5, Steve Tensi, Florida State vs. OklahomaJan. 1965
Receiving yards252, Andre Rison, Michigan State vs. GeorgiaJan. 1989
Receiving touchdowns4, Fred Biletnikoff, Florida State vs. OklahomaJan. 1965
Tackles
Sacks
Interceptions4, Jim Dooley, Miami (FL) vs. Clemson1952
Long PlaysRecord, Player, Team vs. OpponentYear
Touchdown run96, Mikell Simpson, Virginia vs. Texas Tech2008
Touchdown pass99, Quincy Enunwa from Tommy Armstrong Jr., Nebraska vs Georgia2014
Kickoff return99, Andre Debose, Florida vs Ohio State2012
Punt return
Interception return100, O'Donnell Fortune, South Carolina vs. Notre Dame2022
Fumble return
Punt76, Bobby Joe Green, Florida vs. Ole Miss1958
Field goal51, Brian Lee, Ole Miss vs. MichiganJan. 1991
MiscellaneousRecord, TeamsYear
Bowl Attendance84,129, Florida State vs. West Virginia2010

Source: [44] [45]

Media coverage

The longtime broadcaster of the game was ABC, which showed the game in prime time from 1974 through 1985. Turner Sports bought the rights to the game after the 1991 match-up and TBS became the home of the Gator Bowl for the next four years, moving back to a late December date. The game returned to New Year's Day after NBC bought the rights to the Gator Bowl in 1996. CBS Sports took over the television contract in 2007 and held the rights for four years. ESPN purchased the rights to the game following its 2010 playing and the 2011 Gator Bowl aired on ESPN2; with the acquisition of the Gator Bowl the ESPN family of networks became the home of every New Year's Day bowl game (the network already had the rights to the Outback, Capital One, and Rose bowls and acquired the rights to the TicketCity Bowl and the remainder of the BCS games).

Media coverage detail

Television

DateNetwork Play-by-play announcers Color commentators Sideline reporters
December 29, 2023 ESPN Wes Durham Tim Hasselbeck Taylor Tannebaum
December 30, 2022 Taylor Zarzour Matt Stinchcomb Alyssa Lang
December 31, 2021
January 2, 2021 Anish Shroff Tom Luginbill Lerecia Harris
January 2, 2020 Tom Hart Tim Hasselbeck Katie George
December 31, 2018 Adam Amin Rod Gilmore Quint Kessenich
December 30, 2017 Tom Hart Jordan Rodgers Cole Cubelic
December 31, 2016 Mark Jones Rod Gilmore Quint Kessenich
January 2, 2016 Allen Bestwick Dan Hawkins Tiffany Greene
January 2, 2015 Mark Jones Rod Gilmore Jessica Mendoza
January 1, 2014 ESPN2 Mike Patrick Ed Cunningham Jeannine Edwards
January 2, 2013 Bob Wischusen Danny Kanell Allison Williams
January 2, 2012 Mike Patrick Ed Cunningham Jeannine Edwards
January 1, 2011 Craig James Todd Harris
January 1, 2010 CBS Verne Lundquist Gary Danielson Tracy Wolfson
January 1, 2009 Craig Bolerjack Dan Fouts and Steve Beuerlein
January 1, 2008 Verne Lundquist Gary Danielson Tracy Wolfson
January 1, 2007
January 2, 2006NBC Tom Hammond Pat Haden Lewis Johnson
January 1, 2005
January 1, 2004
January 1, 2003 Mike Breen
January 1, 2002 Tom Hammond
January 1, 2001 Matt Vasgersian
January 1, 2000 Tom Hammond James Lofton Craig Sager
January 1, 1999 Pat Haden
January 1, 1998 Charlie Jones Bob Trumpy
January 1, 1997 Don Criqui
January 1, 1996 Tom Hammond
December 30, 1994TBS Gary Bender Pat Haden Craig Sager
December 31, 1993
December 31, 1992
December 29, 1991 Bob Neal Tim Foley
January 1, 1991 ESPN Ron Franklin Gary Danielson Jerry Punch
December 30, 1989 Kevin Kiley Chris Fowler
January 1, 1989 Mike Patrick Joe Theismann
December 31, 1987CBS Verne Lundquist Dick Vermeil John Dockery
December 27, 1986 Pat Haden
December 30, 1985ABC Al Michaels Lee Grosscup Al Trautwig
December 28, 1984 Lynn Swann
December 30, 1983 Frank Broyles Tim Brant
December 30, 1982 Lee Grosscup Anne Simon
December 28, 1981 Ara Parseghian Steve Davis
December 29, 1980
December 28, 1979 Keith Jackson Frank Broyles Dave Diles
December 29, 1978 Ara Parseghian
December 30, 1977 Frank Broyles
December 27, 1976 Ara Parseghian
December 29, 1975
December 30, 1974
December 29, 1973
December 30, 1972 Bill Flemming Lee Grosscup
December 31, 1971CBS
January 2, 1971NBC
December 27, 1969
December 28, 1968ABC
December 30, 1967 Keith Jackson Bud Wilkinson
December 31, 1966 Chris Schenkel Bill Flemming
December 31, 1965 Johnny Lujack
January 2, 1965 Curt Gowdy Paul Christman
December 28, 1963CBS Lindsey Nelson Terry Brennan Jim Simpson
December 29, 1962 Jim Gibbons Jack Drees Johnny Lujack
December 30, 1961 Ray Scott
December 31, 1960 George Connor
January 2, 1960 Frank Gifford
December 27, 1958 Jim Gibbons
December 27, 1957 Elroy Hirsch
December 28, 1956 Chris Schenkel Johnny Lujack
December 31, 1955 Russ Hodges Dick Stratton
December 31, 1954 Bill Grove Dick Stratton
January 1, 1951Mutual
January 1, 1949NBC

Radio

DateNetworkPlay-by-playColor commentator(s) Sideline Reporter(s)
December 29, 2023 Touchdown Radio Frank Frangie Gino Torretta
December 30, 2022 Shane Matthews
December 31, 2021J. P. Shadrick Lamar Thomas
January 2, 2021 Gino Torretta
January 2, 2020
December 31, 2018
December 30, 2017 Brady Ackerman
December 31, 2016 Taylor Zarzour Gino Torretta J. P. Shadrick
January 2, 2016 ESPN Radio Eamon McAnaney John Congemi Ian Fitzsimmons
January 2, 2015 Adam Amin Dawn Davenport
January 1, 2014 Touchdown Radio Frank Frangie K. C. Jones
January 2, 2013 Gino Torretta
January 1, 2012
January 1, 2011
January 1, 2010 Westwood One John Tautges Tony Boselli
January 1, 2009 Touchdown Radio Frank Frangie Gino Torretta and Mike Dempsey
January 1, 2008
January 1, 2007 Mike Morgan Gino Torretta
January 1, 2005 Nevada Sports Network Alex Shelton Dexter Carter
January 1, 2002 Westwood One Tony Roberts Allen Pinkett
January 1, 1999 Pacific West Radio Sports Larry Kahn Mike Lamb
January 1, 1998 Westwood One
Pacific West Radio Sports
Tony Roberts
Larry Kahn
Tony Paguna and Paul Hornung
Mike Lamb and John Robinson
January 1, 1997
January 1, 1996
December 30, 1994
December 31, 1993Gator Bowl Radio
December 31, 1992
December 29, 1991PIA Mick Hubert Jim Yarbrough
January 1, 1991
December 30, 1989 Jim Phillips Mike Epley
January 1, 1989Gator Bowl Radio Paul Kennedy Steve Spurrier
December 31, 1987NBCTom Davis Dave Rowe
December 27, 1986 Bob Murphy Fran Curci
December 30, 1985 Howard Schellenberger
December 28, 1984 Bob Murphy
December 30, 1983Mutual Wayne Larrivee Fran Curci
December 30, 1982 Al Wester
December 28, 1981 Tony Roberts
December 29, 1980
December 28, 1979 Al Wester Pat Sheridan
December 29, 1978
December 30, 1977 Rick Weaver
December 27, 1976 Lindsey Nelson Tony Roberts
December 29, 1975
December 30, 1974Gator Bowl Radio John Ferguson Larry Munson
December 29, 1973 Bruce Miller
December 30, 1972
December 31, 1971
January 2, 1971
December 27, 1969
December 28, 1968 Ed Thilinieus John Sauer
December 30, 1967 Bob Lynch
December 31, 1966 John Sauer
December 31, 1965 Walt Dunbar
January 2, 1965 Bob Fulton
December 28, 1963 Walt Dunbar
December 29, 1962 Bill Munday
December 30, 1961 Bill Snyder
December 31, 1960
January 2, 1960
December 27, 1958
December 27, 1957 CBS Jim Gibbons Elroy Hirsch
December 28, 1956 Herman Hickman
December 31, 1955 Red Barber John Derr
December 31, 1954Mutual Bob Wolff Art Gleeson
January 1, 1953 Gene Kirby
January 1, 1952
January 1, 1951 Al Heffer Bob Wolff
January 1, 1950
January 1, 1949NBC Ted Husing Walter Kennedy
January 1, 1948 WINK Bob Wolff Ray Morgan

Local radio

DateFlagship stationPlay-by-playColor commentator(s)Sideline reporter(s)
January 2, 2012 WBNS-FM (Ohio State)
WRUF-AM (Florida)
Paul Keels
Mick Hubert
Jim Lachey
Lee McGriff
Marty Bannister
Brady Ackerman

Notes

  1. As of January 2021, there are conference records listed on the bowl's website, [30] but they have not been updated for all editions that have been played and they do not reflect conference affiliations at the time each game was played.

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