Christmas and Hanukkah are over. It’s time to go bowling. We were treated to three games on Friday, and now the couch is calling for an action-packed Saturday. We have seven games on Saturday, December 27th. Last Word on College Football has all of your previews, recaps, and analysis of everything you need to get ready for bowl season. So grab your jorts, we’re headed to Jacksonville for your 2025 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl matchup between the SEC (Missouri) and the ACC (Virginia).
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Prediction
2025 Game Details
Matchup: Missouri (SEC) vs. Virginia (ACC)
History: Missouri leads the series 1-0.
Last Meeting: The Tigers defeated the Caveliers 31-7 in Columbia in 1973.
Date and Time: Saturday, Dec. 28th | 7:00 PM EST
Location: Everbank Stadium | Jacksonville, Florida
Television: ABC
Spread: MIZ – 4
2025 Season Recap
Missouri has found consistency in Head Coach Eliah Drinkwitz. Since taking over in 2020, he has led the Tigers to five consecutive bowl game appearances and back-to-back double-digit win seasons in 2023 and 2024. The Tigers took a small step back in 2025, finishing 8-4 on the season, 4-4 in conference play. The Tigers were a tough out in 2025, though, giving Alabama, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt all they could handle in narrow one-score losses. That is, with injuries wreaking havoc on their quarterback room and having to play three quarterbacks throughout the year. The Tigers will surely prove to be a thorn in the Cavaliers’ side.
Virginia had a storybook season in 2025. Although the season failed to end with an ACC conference championship or a spot in the College Football Playoff, the Hoos did have a 10-win season for the first time since 1989 (cue the Taylor Swift music). Tony Elliott has done a good job of navigating a difficult transition and adversity in Charlottesville. The Hoos will be looking to end their season on a positive note in Jacksonville.
What to expect from Missouri
The 2025 Missouri Tigers football season was defined by a resilient and adaptive offense that successfully navigated a difficult quarterback situation. Following the departure of veteran Brady Cook, Sam Horn and Penn State transfer Beau Pribula competed in camp for the opening spot. Horn got the nod but was injured opening night against Central Arkansas. Despite his season being over, Horn remained a fixture on the sidelines in a full leg brace and crutches, serving as a “player-coach” and mentor.
Pribula then took the reins and excelled for the Tigers. Pribula’s dual-threat ability saw him throw for nearly 2,000 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding a significant threat as a runner. He also had to deal with an ankle injury, allowing highly touted true freshman Matt Zollers to get his feet wet. Pribula has hit the transfer portal, and Zollers will be expected to take the majority of the snaps in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.
While the quarterbacks got plenty of attention, Missouri hangs its hat on the run game. Louisiana-Monroe transfer Ahmad Hardy emerged as a national star, spearheading an attack that averaged over 230 rushing yards per game and saw him finish second in the country with 1,650 yards and 16 touchdowns. Hardy is expected to finish his time with Missouri in the Gator Bowl.
Missouri’s defense proved to be the backbone of the team’s success in 2025. The Tigers finished the regular season as a top-25 unit nationally. Under the direction of Corey Batoon, the “Death Row” defense excelled at suffocating opposing rushing attacks, holding teams to just over 100 yards on the ground per game and allowing fewer than 20 points on average.
What to expect from Virginia
The Transfer Portal can ruin a team or help bring about its success. Virginia dove headfirst into the Portal in the offseason and reaped the benefits throughout the 2025 season. Elliott and his staff put together a top-25 transfer class and a newfound aggressive NIL strategy to revitalize the roster.
On offense, Elliott transformed the Hoos’ skill positions in the Portal. North Texas transfer quarterback Chandler Morris provided the veteran leadership and “gritty” playmaking ability the unit had lacked. Morris finished 2025 throwing for over 3,100 yards and 16 touchdowns. Morris had a complement of Portal friends to help lead the Cavalier turnaround. North Carolina Central transfer running back J’Mari Taylor became Virginia’s first rushing threat in years. Taylor averaged more than 4.8 yards a carry and tallied over 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns. The additions of Cam Ross (JMU) and Jahmal Edrinethat (Purdue) bolstered the receiving corps. Virginia had a top-35 scoring offense and averaged over 32 points per game.
Elliott used the Portal and NIL to bolster the defensive side of the ball. Safety Devin Neal, a Louisville transfer, led the team in tackles and was an All-ACC performer. The defensive line was bolstered by the arrival of Mitchell Melton (Ohio State) and Hunter Osborne (Alabama) from big-name schools. The duo helped improve a pass rush that had struggled in previous years. The revamped defense helped Virginia hold opponents to just 20.5 points per game.
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Prediction
The SEC and ACC like to look at these bowls for bragging rights. That is, unless, of course, the SEC has a losing record, and then these bowls don’t count. Greg Sankey and the rest of the SEC can rely upon Drink and the Tigers to help their record.
Missouri 24
Virginia 17
Main Image: TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
