The 2025 Gator Bowl features the 9-3 Duke Blue Devils against the 9-3 Ole Miss Rebels. Here is the 2025 Gator Bowl Preview.
Duke won nine games to make a bowl game in Manny Diaz’s first season as coach. They defeated four bowl-eligible teams this season: UConn, UNC, NC State and Virginia Tech. All three of their losses were to teams that made bowl games.
The Blue Devils score 28.3 points per game, ranking 67th in the country. The pass for 245 yards (ranked 43rd) and rush for 96.5 yards per game (ranked 126th).
Starting quarterback Maalik Murphy is in the transfer portal after a great season. Backup Grayson Loftis is also in the portal, so Henr Belin IV will start. He completed one pass for seven yards this year. Four players have at least 200 receiving yards on the season for Duke. Jordan Moore and Eli Pancol lead the team with 798 and 741 receiving yards respectively.
Two running backs have done most of the work out of the backfield for the Blue Devils. Star Thomas leads the way with 871 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Peyton Jones has chipped in with 299 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
On defense, the Blue Devils allow 22.2 points per game, ranking 41st in the country. They concede 194.8 passing yards and 149.5 rushing yards per game. Ozzie Nicholas leads the team with 89 total tackles. Wesley Williams paces the team with eight sacks. Chandler Rivers has made plays on the ball in the secondary with eight passes defended and three interceptions.
Ole Miss won nine games this season to qualify for a bowl game. They defeated five bowl-eligible teams this season: Georgia Southern, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Georgia. One of their losses, to Kentucky, was to a team that didn’t make a bowl game.
The Rebels score 37.5 points per game, ranking 11th in the country. They pass for 343.6 yards (ranked sixth) and rush for 177.8 yards per game (ranked 45th).
Jaxson Dart had a great season at quarterback for Ole Miss. He passed for 3,875 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions on 68.6 percent completion. Six players have at least 300 receiving yards on the season. Tre Harris leads the team with 60 receptions for 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns. He dealt with injuries this season and may not play.
Four players have at least 200 rushing yards on the season. Henry Parrish was banged up at the end of the season, but finished with 678 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. The second-leading rusher is Dart from the quarterback position with 452 yards and three touchdowns. Ulysses Bentley and Matt Jones had 349 and 226 rushing yards a piece.
Defnsively, the Rebels allow 13.9 points per game, ranking 4th in the country. They give up 230.2 passing yards and 83.5 rushing yards per game. Leading tackler Chris Paul is opting out, so the active leader will be TJ Dottery with 75. Princley Umanmielen and Suntarine Perkins are tied for the team lead with 10.5 sacks. Trey Amos has been impressive in the secondary with 13 passes defended and three interceptions.
With Murphy transferring out for Duke, the Blue Devils will find it hard to move the ball on the Ole Mis defense. The Rebels should be able to move the ball through the air well-enough to win big.
Ole Miss Rebels 42 Duke Blue Devils 14
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