Florida won’t have to travel far this postseason with the Gators accepting an invitation to play Ohio State in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville on Jan. 2, 2012. The Gators’ 21st consecutive bowl appearance will kickoff at 1 p.m. and be broadcasted on ESPN2.
The Gators (6-6) have played in the Gator Bowl nine times and will be facing Big 10 representative Ohio State (6-6) for the second time in school history. Florida blasted the Buckeyes 41-14 to win the BCS National Championship in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 8, 2007. The Gators are 6-2 in the Gator Bowl and 19-19 in bowl games. They haven’t played in the Gators Bowl since a 27-10 win against North Carolina State in 1992. Ohio State’s only Gator Bowl appearance was a 17-15 loss against Clemson in 1978.
With former Florida coach Urban Meyer recently being named the Buckeyes’ next coach, the game becomes an even more intriguing matchup than a typical bowl game that features a pair of .500 teams. It reportedly factored into the Gator Bowl committee’s reason for inviting the two programs. Florida was the bowl’s obvious choice from the Southeastern Conference, and it considered Penn State as well as Ohio State before Meyer’s hiring made the Buckeyes the best fit to fill seats and increase exposure. Another factor was the fact Florida beat Penn State in last year’s Outback Bowl, which was Meyer’s last time on the sideline in blue and orange.
Ohio State lost its last three games of the regular season while Florida has lost six of its last eight games. The programs have combined for 10 national championships.
Tickets for Florida boosters and fans can be ordered through the Gator Ticket Office on Monday, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Fans can order at the Gator Ticket Office on the westside of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, online at http://www/gatorzone.com/tickets or by calling 800-344-2867, ext. 6800. The ticket office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for the Gator Bowl are $65 for stadium seats and $125 for club seats. Tickets will be mailed durign the week of Dec. 12. The deadline for ordering bowl tickets is at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9.