Florida football clinched a bowl berth on Saturday with a 24-17 win over the ninth-ranked Ole Miss Rebels in the Swamp. Now armed with a 6-5 overall record with one game remaining in the regular season — a rivalry matchup at that — the Gators have their eyes on their first winning season in three years.
While a seventh win is still well within the discussion, given that the 2-9 Florida State Seminoles are the final opponent on the schedule, what matters most right now is that the Orange and Blue will be playing in December. So now the question is, where will Billy Napier and Co. play and who will be their opponent?
According to CBS Sports writer Jerry Palm, Florida is projected to face the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Gasparilla Bowl held on Dec. 20. The ACC/SEC vs. pool game based in Tampa, Florida, will begin at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Florida’s history in Gasparilla Bowl
The Gators have played in the in-state event just once before back on Dec. 23, 2021, when the Central Florida Knights sent them to the first of three losing seasons with a 29-17 victory over their Sunshine State brethren.
It was an embarrassing loss for Napier in his debut season, surrendering an early lead and getting outworked in the second half en route to a 6-7 finish to that fall’s campaign. Quarterback Emory Jones finished just 14 of 36 for 171 yards in his final game in Gainesville after announcing his intent to enter the transfer portal.
Next up for Florida
The Gators wrap up the 2024 regular season schedule in Tallahassee for their annual rivalry game against FSU. The game will take place inside Doak Campbell Stadium and will kick off at either 7 or 7:30 p.m. ET; broadcast details have yet to be determined.
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