2025 Gator Bowl
{{short description|Postseason college football bowl game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox NCAA football yearly game
| game_name = Gator Bowl
| subheader = 80th Gator Bowl
| title_sponsor = TaxSlayer
| image =
| caption =
| date_game_played = January 2
| year_game_played = 2025
| football_season = 2024
| stadium = EverBank Stadium
| city = Jacksonville, Florida
| visitor_school = Duke University
| visitor_name_short = Duke
| visitor_nickname = Blue Devils
| visitor_record = 9–3
| visitor_conference = ACC
| visitor_rank_AP =
| visitor_rank_coaches =
| visitor_rank_CFP =
| visitor_coach = Manny Diaz
| visitor_1q = 0
| visitor_2q = 7
| visitor_3q = 0
| visitor_4q = 13
| home_school = University of Mississippi
| home_name_short = Ole Miss
| home_nickname = Rebels
| home_record = 9–3
| home_conference = SEC
| home_rank_AP = 16
| home_rank_coaches = 15
| home_rank_CFP = 14
| home_coach = Lane Kiffin
| home_1q = 14
| home_2q = 10
| home_3q = 14
| home_4q = 14
| MVP = Jaxson Dart (QB, Ole Miss){{cite tweet |user=OleMissOnSI |number=1875045130362871889 |title=LOOK: Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart Wins Gator Bowl MVP Honors |date=January 2, 2025 |accessdate=January 3, 2025}}
| odds = Ole Miss by 14.5
| anthem = Marvin Zapf
| halftime =
| referee = Jeffrey Servinski (Big Ten){{cite web|url=https://www.footballzebras.com/2024/12/2024-25-bowl-officiating-assignments/|title=2024-25 bowl officiating assignments|website=footballzebras.com|first=Ben|last=Austro|date=December 9, 2024|access-date=December 11, 2024}}
| attendance = 31,290
| payout =
| us_network = ESPN
| us_announcers = Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), and Taylor McGregor (sideline)
| ratings =
| intl_network =
| intl_announcers =
| different_previous = 2023
}}
The 2025 Gator Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 2, 2025, at EverBank Stadium located in Jacksonville, Florida. The 80th annual Gator Bowl featured Duke from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Ole Miss from the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The game began at approximately 8:00 p.m. EST and aired on ESPN.{{cite web |last1=Cobb |first1=David |title=2024-25 college football bowl schedule, games, dates, locations, kickoff times, TV channels |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/2024-25-college-football-bowl-schedule-games-dates-locations-kickoff-times-tv-channels/ |website=CBS Sports |access-date=29 June 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Kelley |first1=Kevin |title=College football bowl schedule for 2024-25 season released |url=https://fbschedules.com/college-football-bowl-schedule/ |website=FBSchedules.com |access-date=29 June 2024}} The Gator Bowl was one of the 2024–25 bowl games concluding the 2024 FBS football season. The game was sponsored by financial technology company TaxSlayer and was officially known as the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.
Teams
Consistent with conference tie-ins, the game featured Duke from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Ole Miss from the Southeastern Conference (SEC). This was the first meeting between the programs.{{cite web |url=https://www.winsipedia.com/duke/vs/ole-miss |title=Duke Blue Devils vs. Ole Miss Rebels football series history |website=winsipedia.com |accessdate=January 1, 2025}}
=Duke Blue Devils=
{{main|2024 Duke Blue Devils football team}}
Duke compiled 9–3 regular-season record (5–3 in ACC play). After starting the season with five consecutive wins, the Blue Devils lost three of their next four games, then concluded their schedule with three wins. Duke faced two ranked teams, losing to SMU and Miami (FL).
=Ole Miss Rebels=
{{main|2024 Ole Miss Rebels football team}}
Ole Miss finished their regular season with a 9–3 record (5–3 in SEC play). The Rebels were nationally ranked throughout the season, as high as fifth after starting with four consecutive wins. Ole Miss faced two ranked FBS teams, losing to LSU while defeating Georgia. Ole Miss was placed 14th in the final College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings.
Game summary
{{Americanfootballbox
|titlestyle= background:#2a3439; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #E2223B; text-align:center;
|state=autocollapse
|bg=#fff
|bg2=#eee
|title=2025 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
|date=Thursday, January 2, 2025
|time=8:06 p.m. EST
|road=Duke
|R1=0|R2=7|R3=0|R4=13
|home=No. 14 Ole Miss
|H1=14|H2=10|H3=14|H4=14
|stadium= EverBank Stadium • Jacksonville, Florida
|attendance=31,290
|weather=Clear • Temperature: {{convert|50|F|C}} • Wind: {{convert|3|mph|kph|abbr=on}} northeast
|referee=Jeffrey Servinski
|TV=ESPN
|TVAnnouncers=Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), and Taylor McGregor (sideline)
|reference=[https://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=401677105 Box score]
|scoring=
First quarter
- (8:07) Ole Miss – Antwane Wells Jr. 39 yard pass from Jaxson Dart, Caden Davis kick, (Drive: 4 plays, 68 yards, 1:05; Ole Miss 7–0)
- (2:29) Ole Miss – Ulysses Bentley IV 1 yard run, Caden Davis kick, (Drive: 4 plays, 68 yards, 1:05; Ole Miss 14–0)
Second quarter
- (9:43) Ole Miss – Caden Davis 28 yard field goal, (Drive: 12 plays, 61 yards, 5:06; Ole Miss 17–0)
- (5:54) Duke – Javon Harvey 16 yard pass from Henry Belin IV, Todd Pelino kick, (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:49; Ole Miss 17–7)
- (1:52) Ole Miss – Dae'Quan Wright 21 yard pass from Jaxson Dart, Caden Davis kick, (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:02; Ole Miss 24–7)
Third quarter
- (8:18) Ole Miss – Isaiah Hamilton 50 interception return, Caden Davis kick, (Drive: 7 plays, 15 yards, 3:52; Ole Miss 31–7)
- (1:20) Ole Miss – Ulysses Bentley IV 8 yard run, Caden Davis kick, (Drive: 4 plays, 74 yards, 2:02; Ole Miss 38–7)
Fourth quarter
- (9:56) Ole Miss – Jordan Watkins 1 yard pass from Jaxson Dart, Caden Davis kick, (Drive: 4 plays, 38 yards, 1:41; Ole Miss 45–7)
- (3:43) Duke – Jordan Moore 20 yard pass from Henry Belin IV, Todd Pelino kick, (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 6:13; Ole Miss 45–14)
- (1:27) Ole Miss – Jordan Watkins 69 yard pass from Jaxson Dart, Mike Baker kick, (Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 2:16; Ole Miss 52–14)
- (1:07) Duke – Sahmir Hagans 69 yard kickoff return, Todd Pelino PAT failed, (Drive: 0 plays, 0 yards, 0:20; Ole Miss 52–20)
}}
=Statistics=
{{AmFootballGameStatistics
| Float = left
| Visitor = Duke Blue Devils
| VisitorDisplay = DUKE
| Home = Ole Miss Rebels
| HomeDisplay = MISS
| VisFirsts = 17
| VisPlaysYds = 68–280
| VisRushing = 23–44
| VisPassYds = 236
| VisPassing = 25–45–1
| VisTOP = 30:02
| HomeFirsts = 27
| HomePlaysYds = 70–589
| HomeRushing = 33–151
| HomePassYds = 438
| HomePassing = 28–37–1
| HomeTOP = 29:58
}}
{{AmFootballGameTopPlayers
| Float = right
| Visitor = Duke Blue Devils
| VisitorDisplay = Duke
| Home = Ole Miss Rebels
| HomeDisplay = Ole Miss
| VisPasser = Henry Belin IV
| VisPassStats = 25/44, 236 yards, 2 TD, INT
| VisRusher = Peyton Jones
| VisRushStats = 8 carries, 18 yards
| VisReceiver = Jordan Moore
| VisReceivingStats = 5 receptions, 63 yards, TD
| HomePasser = Jaxson Dart
| HomePassStats = 27/35, 404 yards, 4 TD
| HomeRusher = Ulysses Bentley IV
| HomeRushStats = 14 carries, 70 yards, 2 TD
| HomeReceiver = Jordan Watkins
| HomeReceivingStats = 7 receptions, 180 yards, 2 TD
}}
{{clear}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- Game statistics at [http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/index.html?id=560481 statbroadcast.com]
{{2024 bowl game navbox}}
{{Gator Bowl navbox}}
{{Duke Blue Devils bowl game navbox}}
{{Ole Miss Rebels bowl game navbox}}
Category:Duke Blue Devils football bowl games