2020’s Game History

The 75th Anniversary of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl game welcomed the Indiana Hoosiers to face the Tennessee Volunteers in Jacksonville. A low scoring first quarter was followed by a strong 3rd quarter performance from Indiana. Tennessee scored 14 points in the final quarter of the game for comeback victory over Indiana 23-22.

MVP: Eric Gray (Tennessee); Peyton Ramsey (Indiana)

Coaches: Jeremy Pruitt (Tennessee); Tom Allen (Indiana)

Attendance: 61,789

Chairman: Rich Thompson

Network: ESPN

Indiana – 22           Tennessee – 23

TENN- B. Cimaglia 23 Yd Field Goal; TENN- B. Cimaglia 32 Yd Field Goal; IND- L. Justus 24 Yd Field Goal; IND- P. Ramsey 1 Yd Run (Logan Justus Kick); IND- J. Johnson 63 Yd Run (PAT Failed); TENN- B. Cimaglia 43 Yd Field Goal; IND- L. Justus 49 Yd Field Goal; IND- L. Justus 30 Yd Field Goal; TENN- Q. Crouch 1 Yd Run (B. Cimaglia Kick); TENN- E. Gray 16 Yd Rush (B. Cimaglia Kick)

Rushing: IND – Peyton Ramsey 17-80, 1 TD; Sampson James 11-34; Ronnie Walker 1-2; Ahrod Lloyd 1-2; Whop Philyor 1-0; TENN – E. Gray 14-87 1 TD; T. Chandler 12-38; B Maurer 1-8; J. Jennings 1-5; T Jordan 2-4; Q. Crouch 1-1, 1 TD

Passing: IND – Peyton Ramsey 20/34, 227 Yds, 0TD, 1 INT; TENN – J. Guarantano 18/31, 221 Yds, 0TD, 2 INT, 1 Sack; B. Maurer 1/3, 17 Yds, 0 TD, 0 INT

Receiving: IND – P. Hendershot 6-67; N. Westbrook 4-48; T. Fryfogle 3-63; M. Marshall 2-25; M. Bjorson 2-12; R. Walker 2-11; W. Philyor 1-1; TENN – J. Palmer 6-68; T. Chandler 3-24; R. Keyton 2-60; E. Gray 2-34; J. Jennings 2-27; M. Callaway 1-19; T. Byrd 1-5; Wood-Anderson 1-2

Punting: IND – H. Whitehead 4-185, 56 long; TENN – P. Brooks 4-151, 43 long

The 76th TaxSlayer Gator Bowl featured the North Carolina State Wolfpack and the Kentucky Wildcats. NC State making a return from their most recent appearance at the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl in 2018 and Kentucky returning after their 2016 appearance. A.J. Rose ran for a career-high 148 yards, Chris Rodriguez added 84 yards and two scores and Kentucky held off No. 24 North Carolina State 23-21 in a chippy TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

MVP: Asim Rose, Jr (Kentucky), Zonovan Knight (NC State)

Coaches: Mark Stoops (Kentucky), Dave Doeren (NC State)

Attendance: 10,422 (Capped attendance due to COVID-19)

Chairman: John Duce

Network: ESPN

 NC State – 21           Kentucky – 23

UK- M. Ruffolo 25 Yd Field Goal; UK- C. Rodriguez 4 Yd Run (M. Ruffolo kick); UK- M. Ruffolo 26 Yd Field Goal; NC ST- C. Riley 9 Yd Pass from B. Hockman (C. Dunn kick); UK- M. Ruffolo 20 Yd Field Goal; UK- C. Rodriguez 26 Yd Run (M. Ruffolo kick); NC ST- Z. Knight 13 Yd Run (C. Dunn kick); NC ST- J. Houston 2 Yd Run (C. Dunn kick)

Rushing: NC ST- Z. Knight 12-52, 1 TD; J. Houston 5-14, 1 TD; R. Person 6-8; B. Hockman 3-(-24); KY- A. Rose 12-148; C. Rodriquez 17-84, 2 TD; K. Smoke 9-45; T. Wilson 6-14; J. Ali 1-(-7)

Passing: NC ST- B. Hockman 27/40, 268 Yds, 1TD, 3 INT; KY- T. Wilson 12/20, 99 Yds, 0TD, 0 INT

Receiving: NC ST- E. Emezie 5/44; J. Houston 5/26; T. Thomas 3/46; C. Riley 3/38; D. Carter 3/35; P. Rooks 2/41; K. Lesane 2/25; T. Pennix 2/6; R. Person 1/5; D. Autenrieth 1/2; KY- J. Ali 4/18; I. Epps 3/23; K. Upshaw 2/25; A. Dailey 1/17; B. Oliver 1/8; J. Rigg 1/8

Punting: NC ST- T. Gill 3-141, 51 long; KY- M. Duffy 5-202, 51 long

The 78th TaxSlayer Gator Bowl sealed it’s fate as a memorable game prior to the game even kicking off. When the 2021-22 bowl pairings were announced, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons were heading to Jacksonville to face off against the Texas A&M Aggies. Due to a COVID-19 player shortage, Texas A&M was forced to bow out of the game… insert Rutgers. Rutgers led the remaining NCAA teams that had not qualified for a bowl game in Academic Progress Rate (APR) and accepted their invite to come to Jacksonville as a replacement team for the 2021 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

Wake Forest, coming off of an appearance in the ACC Championship game rolled to a 38-10 victory over Rutgers.

MVP: Sam Hartman (Wake Forest), Johnny Langan (Rutgers)

Coaches: Dave Clawson (Wake Forest), Greg Schiano (Rutgers)

Attendance: 

Chairman: John Duce

Network: ESPN

Rutgers – 10             Wake Forest – 38

WF- B. Chapman 4 Yd Pass from S. Hartman (N. Sciba Kick); RUT- A. Young 12 Yd Run (V. Ambrosio kick); WF- A.T. Perry 29 Yd Pass from S. Hartman (N. Sciba kick); RUT- V. Ambrosio 28 Yd Field Goal; WF- N. Sciba 37 Yd Field Goal; WF- N. Sciba 29 Yd Field Goal; WF- N. Sciba 23 Yd Field Goal; WF- B. Chapman 1 Yd Pass from S. Hartman (S. Hartman Pass to A.T. Perry for Two-Point Conversion); WF- J. Ellison 27 Yd Run (N. Sciba kick)

Rushing: WF- Justice Ellison 9-59, 1 TD ; Christian Turner 10-43; Christian Beal-Smith 8-23; Sam Hartman 6-21; Quinton Cooley 4-2; RUT- Gavin Wimsatt 4-39; Aaron Young 7-33, 1 TD; Johnny Langan 6-20; Noah Vedrel 10-17; Jamier Wright-Collins 2-2

Passing: WF- Sam Hartman 23/39, 304 Yds, 3 TD, 0 INT; RUT- Noah Vedrel 8/13, 87 Yds, 0 TD, 1 INT; Gavin Wimsatt 7/16, 30 Yds, 0 TD, 1 INT; Isaiah Washington 1/1, 27 Yds, 0 TD, 0 INT; Johnny Langan 2/2, 221 Yds, 0 TD, 0 INT; Evan Simon 0/1, 0 Yds, 0 TD, 0 INT

Receiving: WF- A.T. Perry 10-127; Taylor Morin 4-58; Donald Stewart 2-43; Ke’Shawn Williams 2-38; Blake Whiteheart 2-35; Brandon Chapman 2-5; Justice Ellison 1-(-2); RUT- Johnny Langan 6-57; Jovani Haskins 2-32; Joshua Youngblood 2-25; Isaiah Washington 2-20; Matt Alaimo 1-17; Shameen Jones 1-5; Jamier Wright-Collins 3-5; Christian Dremel 1-4

Punting: WF- Ivan Mora 2-98, 52 long; RUT- Adam Korsak 2-84, 44 long