GAME 3
January 1, 1948
Maryland vs. Georgia
The first Gator Bowl game to end in a tie!
GAME 10
December 31, 1954
Baylor vs. Auburn
This game was the first coast-to-coast TV broadcast of a bowl game!
GAME 13
December 28, 1957
Tennessee vs. Texas A&M
Legendary coach Bear Bryant’s first appearance in the Gator Bowl!
GAME 15
January 2, 1960
Georgia Tech vs. Arkansas
This game featured two future College Football Hall of Fame coaches in Bobby Dodd and Frank Broyles!
GAME 20
January 2, 1965
Florida State vs. Oklahoma
This was the first appearance for the Florida State Seminoles with a crowd of over 50,000 people!
GAME 22
December 31, 1966
Tennessee vs. Syracuse
The Syracuse Orangemen made their way to Jacksonville featuring running back Floyd Little and future Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin.
GAME 24
December 28, 1968
Missouri vs. Alabama
This game featured Hall of Fame Coaches Dan Devine and Bear Bryant! Mizzou completed 0 passes during there 35-10 win over Alabama.
GAME 25
December 27, 1969
Florida vs. Tennessee
Despite Tennessee winning the SEC title this year, Florida came away with the victory and Tennessee Head Coach Doug Dickey following the 25th game!
GAME 26
January 2, 1971
Auburn vs. Ole Miss
The 26th game featured Archie Manning, Heisman Trophy winner runner-up, who played the game with a broken arm!
GAME 27
December 31, 1971
Georgia vs. North Carolina
Fondly named the Dooley Bowl – game 27 featured two brothers, Head Coach Vince Dooley and Head Coach Bill Dooley, facing off against one another.
GAME 34
December 29, 1978
Clemson vs. Ohio State
1978 brought more than 72,000 fans to Jacksonville and a punch that ended the 35-year coaching career of Woody Hayes.
GAME 37
December 28, 1981
North Carolina vs. Arkansas
The early 80’s brought the first fog bowl, a game that was played in such dense fog players numbers were hardly recognizable!
GAME 40
December 28, 1984
Oklahoma State vs. South Carolina
This game featured iconic player Thurman Thomas as he and the Oklahoma State Sooners defeated the Gamecocks 21-14.
GAME 44
January 1, 1989
Georgia vs. Michigan State
New Year’s Day 1989 marked the conclusion of iconic coach Vince Dooley. The Gator Bowl was also the site of Coach Dooleys final game as a player in 1955!
GAME 48
December 31, 1992
Florida vs. NC State
The Florida Gators make their way back to the Gator Bowl in 1992 with Coach Steve Spurrier being recognized at the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame.
GAME 50
December 30, 1994
Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech
The 50th Gator Bowl featured a new location, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, with the Volunteers coming out victorious behind freshman quarterback Peyton Manning.
GAME 51
January 1, 1996
Syracuse vs. Clemson
Syracuse Orangemen Defeat the Clemson Tigers with MVP McNabb.
GAME 56
January 1, 2001
Clemson vs. Virginia Tech
The game showcased iconic coach Frank Beamer of the Virginia Tech Hookies!
GAME 58
January 1, 2003
NC State vs. Notre Dame
This game showcased the first female Chairman, Susan Hamilton, and the Wolfpack Quarterback Philip Rivers who led his team to a lop-sided 28-6 win!
GAME 61
January 1, 2006
Louisville vs. Virginia Tech
The Virginia Tech Hokies were led by star Quarterback Michael Vick as they brought home a 35, 24 victory after previously losing in Jacksonville.
GAME 64
January 1, 2009
Nebraska vs. Clemson
This decade comes to a close with a strong Nebraska team coached by new head coach Bo Pelini and defensive icon Ndamukong Suh.
GAME 65
January 1, 2010
Florida State vs West Virginia
The dawn of the new decade showcased farewell to Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden as the Seminoles faced off against his former team, West Virginia!
GAME 67
January 2, 2012
Ohio State vs. Florida
Will Muschamp led the Florida Gators to a 24-17 victory over Ohio State during the game known as the “Urban Meyer Bowl”.
GAME 73
December 30, 2017
Louisville vs. Mississippi State
The 73rd game brought Heisman-trophy winner Lamar Jackson and the Louisville Cardinals to face the Mississippi Bulldogs, with the bulldogs claiming the win.
GAME 75
January 2, 2020
Tennessee vs. Indiana
The new decade opens up with an incredible crowd of Hoosiers and Volunteers. Tennessee scored two touchdowns in 30 seconds to take the lead and overall win the game.
GAME 77
December 31, 2021
Wake Forest vs. Rutgers
The 77th game returned a normal crowd size, however due to COVID-19, Texas A&M would never make it to the bowl naming Rutgers as the replacement mere days before kickoff!
GAME 78
December 30, 2022
Notre Dame vs. South Carolina
Before a crowd of 67,383, Notre Dame Defeated South Carolina 45-38 in one of the most memorable games in bowl history, hosting a TV audience of 5.7 million!
GAME 79
December 30, 2023
Clemson vs. Kentucy
Coach Swinney and the Tigers defeated Kentucky 38-35 with both teams combing for 42 points in the fourth quarter.