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Florida is back in a bowl game after an absence in 2023. And the Gators, after a 7-5 regular season record, won’t have far to go: they will face Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa on Dec. 20.
The Gators began the season at 4-4, causing Billy Napier’s status with the program to be called into question. But athletic director Scott Stricklin gave Napier a vote of confidence ahead of a 49-17 loss to Texas on Nov. 9. Florida, though, finished the season strong, beating No. 22 LSU and No. 9 Ole Miss in successive weeks before wrapping up with a victory over Florida State.
Tulane went 9-4 in its first season under Jon Sumrall. The Green Wave had a slim chance at a College Football Playoff appearance but lost at home against Memphis before falling in the AAC Championship Game against Army.
Now, the Gators and Green Wave are set to meet on the gridiron for the 22nd time, with the Gators holding a 13-6-2 edge in the series. Their last meeting was in 1984, a 63-21 Florida win.
Kickoff from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ESPN. It marks the Gators’ second appearance in the Gasparilla Bowl: they lost to UCF 29-17 in 2021.
The Gators are heading to Tampa to take on Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl! #GoGators | @GasparillaBowl pic.twitter.com/BbYf9u6Nuh
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) December 8, 2024
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
