The 81st Annual TaxSlayer Gator Bowl was an exciting matchup between the Virginia Cavaliers and the Missouri Tigers. In a defensive showdown that came down to the final play, both teams kept the scoring low, but Virginia ultimately edged out Missouri with a 13 to 7 victory.
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl 2025 recap
The 2025 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl hosted the Virginia Cavaliers and the Missouri Tigers after impressive seasons. Missouri scored first, but Virginia answered with a field goal before halftime. Missouri threatened late, but Virginia’s defense broke up a final end-zone pass to seal the win. Virginia quarterback, Chandler Morris, earned the title of MVP after completing 25 of 38 passes for 198 yards and going perfect on third downs.
Where was the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl?
The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl was at Bill Gay Grounds (EverBank Stadium) in Jacksonville, Florida. This iconic stadium, home to the Jacksonville Jaguars, is in the heart of downtown Jacksonville, near the St. Johns River. The venue offers an atmospheric setting that is perfect for college football fans.
History of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
TaxSlayer’s partnership with the Gator Bowl began in 2011. The first TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl was held in Jacksonville, Florida on Jan. 2, 2012. The partnership was extended in 2015, with TaxSlayer negotiating long-term conference and television agreements and gaining exclusive naming rights to the bowl.
It was called the TaxSlayer Bowl for several years. But in honor of the Gator Bowl’s rich history, TaxSlayer added “Gator” back into the name in 2018. Today, it is known nationwide as the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.
The game features a Southeastern Conference anchor team that faces a Big Ten Conference or Atlantic Coast Conference opponent. It is televised on ESPN every year.
Below are the game results for all of the TaxSlayer-sponsored bowl games.
| Date Played | Winning Team | Losing Team | Score |
| Jan. 2, 2012 | Florida | Ohio State | 24 – 17 |
| Jan. 1, 2013 | Northwestern | Mississippi State | 34 – 20 |
| Jan. 1, 2014 | Nebraska | Georgia | 24 – 19 |
| Jan. 2, 2015 | Tennessee | Iowa | 45 – 28 |
| Jan. 2, 2016 | Georgia | Penn State | 24 – 17 |
| Dec. 31, 2016 | Georgia Tech | Kentucky | 33 – 18 |
| Dec. 30, 2017 | Mississippi State | Louisville | 31 – 27 |
| Dec. 31, 2018 | Texas A&M | NC State | 52 – 13 |
| Jan. 2, 2020 | Tennessee | Indiana | 23 – 22 |
| Jan. 2, 2021 | Kentucky | NC State | 23 – 21 |
| Dec. 31, 2021 | Wake Forest | Rutgers | 38 – 10 |
| Dec. 30, 2022 | Notre Dame | South Carolina | 45 – 38 |
| Dec. 29, 2023 | Clemson | Kentucky | 38 – 35 |
| Jan. 2, 2025 | Ole Miss | Duke | 52 – 20 |
| Dec. 27, 2025 | Virginia | Missouri | 13 – 7 |
See more TaxSlayer Gator Bowl information at taxslayergatorbowl.com.
