The Missouri Tigers are headed to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, and while it might not be a College Football Playoff appearance, there’s still plenty on the line when they square off against the Virginia Cavaliers on December 27.
Missouri wrapped up the regular season with an 8-4 record, marking the sixth straight year the Tigers have been bowl eligible under head coach Eli Drinkwitz. That kind of consistency might not grab national headlines, but it’s a sign of stability and progress for a program looking to take the next step in the SEC hierarchy.
Let’s be honest - this was a solid, if uneven, campaign for Mizzou. Three of their four losses came against playoff-bound opponents in Alabama, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma.
That’s a brutal gauntlet by any standard. The fourth loss came at the hands of a surprising Vanderbilt squad led by Heisman finalist Diego Pavia.
So while the Tigers didn’t notch many marquee wins, they also weren’t getting blown out by nobodies.
Their lone win over a bowl-eligible opponent? Louisiana, back in mid-September.
That’s not exactly a résumé booster, which is why this Gator Bowl matchup against a 10-win Virginia team carries real weight. A win here would be Missouri’s most impressive of the season - and it would come at just the right time.
Virginia enters the bowl game at 10-3 and ranked No. 19 in the final College Football Playoff rankings. The Cavaliers were one win away from a spot in the expanded 12-team playoff, but they fell short in the ACC Championship Game against Duke. That loss stings, no doubt, but it also means Virginia comes into this one with something to prove.
Despite Virginia’s top-20 ranking and Missouri being unranked, oddsmakers have the Tigers as a 6.5-point favorite. That might raise some eyebrows, but it speaks to the broader perception of the SEC’s strength compared to the ACC. In recent years, the SEC has earned its reputation as the toughest conference in college football - and that kind of pedigree matters in these matchups.
Still, Missouri won’t be at full strength. Linebacker Josiah Trotter and tight end Brett Norfleet have both been ruled out due to injury, and those are two significant losses on either side of the ball. Trotter has been a steady presence in the middle of the defense, while Norfleet’s athleticism at tight end added a dimension to the passing game that won’t be easily replaced.
Bowl games, though, often come down to one thing: motivation. And Missouri has plenty to play for.
A win would give the Tigers a third straight bowl victory - something the program has never done before. It would also mark three consecutive seasons with nine or more wins, another first in school history.
That’s the kind of momentum that can carry into recruiting and beyond.
Virginia, for their part, will be just as hungry. After a breakthrough season under head coach Tony Elliott, the Cavaliers are looking to cap off a 10-win campaign with a statement victory. They’ve shown they can hang with quality teams, and they’ll be eager to bounce back from their ACC title game disappointment.
Kickoff is set for Saturday, December 27 at 6:30 p.m. CST on ABC. Two programs with something to prove, a bowl with real stakes, and a chance to end the year on a high note - this one’s got all the ingredients for a compelling postseason clash.