The Florida Gators (10-3, 7-1 SEC) have accepted an invitation to play in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl in Orlando on January 1, 2016. The Gators will square off in a 2008 rematch of the Capitol One Bowl with the Michigan Wolverines (9-3 6-2 Big 10). That game was the final one for legendary Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr.
The Gators are making its 42nd bowl appearance all-time (21-20 overall record) and will be playing in a January bowl game for the 26th time. The Gators have played in four previous bowl games in Orlando with a 2-2 record in the previous four appearances.
The seventh oldest bowl game in the country, the Citrus Bowl began as the Tangerine Bowl in 1947. The game was moved to New Year’s Day in 1987 and has remained a fixture on January 1 since then.
Michigan has had a resurgence very similar to Florida under first year head coach Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh returned to his alma mater after a coaching stint with the San Francisco 49ers and in just one year, turned Michigan around and made them contenders in the B1G.
Harbaugh and Florida head coach Jim McElwain are both being considered for Coach of the Year.