NOTE: THIS UPDATES PREVIOUS REPORTS THAT HAD SUGGESTED A GATOR BOWL MATCHUP AGAINST KENTUCKY. LAST MINUTE SHUFFLING BY THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE REPORTEDLY LED TO THE LATE CHANGE.
IU’s memorable eight win season has been rewarded with a warm weather bowl destination. Indiana is headed to Jacksonville, Florida to play in the 2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.
Indiana will face the Tennessee (7-5). The Volunteers finished the season 5-3 in the Southeastern Conference, finishing the 2019 campaign on a five game winning streak.
It’s Official! @Vol_Football vs. @IndianaFootball playing in the 75th TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on January 2nd! pic.twitter.com/E5HQxAzSfI
— TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (@taxslayerbowl) December 8, 2019
This will be the second ever meeting between the programs. Tennessee defeated IU 27-22 in the 1987 Peach Bowl.
Beyond the weather, the Gator Bowl represents an attractive destination for both alums and IU players. According to IU Director of Athletics Fred Glass, IU has 23,000 alums within a 300 mile radius of the game and 26 Florida natives on the roster.
The Gator Bowl will be played in prime time on a Thursday night with no competing bowl games or NFL action.
The game will be held at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville and will kick off on January 2 at 7 p.m. ET.
IU (8-4) will be competing for its third nine win season in program history.
For more including other important dates and travel information, go here.
For Indiana’s complete bowl history, see further below.
#IUFB is @TaxSlayerBowl bound! pic.twitter.com/Kkh3tIacZM
— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) December 8, 2019
INDIANA’S BOWL GAME HISTORY
The Hoosiers will be attempting to win their first bowl game since a 1991 win over Baylor at the Copper Bowl.
Below is Indiana’s complete bowl game history. IU has a 3-8 all-time record in the postseason.
- 1967 – Rose Bowl (loss to Southern California)
- 1979 – Holiday Bowl (win vs. Brigham Young)
- 1986 – All-American Bowl (loss to Florida State)
- 1987 – Peach Bowl (loss to Tennessee)
- 1988 – Liberty Bowl (win vs. South Carolina)
- 1990 – Peach Bowl (loss to Auburn)
- 1991 – Copper Bowl (win vs. Baylor)
- 1993 – Independence Bowl (loss to Virginia Tech)
- 2007 – Insight Bowl (loss to Oklahoma State)
- 2015 – Pinstripe Bowl (loss to Duke)
- 2016 – Foster Farms Bowl (loss to Utah)
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