The 2025 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl features the 10-3 Virginia Cavaliers and the 8-4 Missouri Tigers. Here is the 2025 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl preview.
Virginia won 10 games to make their first bowl game since 2019. They defeated five bowl-eligible teams this season: Coastal Carolina, Louisville, Washington State, California and Duke. All three of their losses were to teams that made bowl games: NC State, Wake Forest and Duke.
The Cavaliers score 32.2 points per game, ranking 32nd in the country. They pass for 242.3 yards (ranked 54th) and rush for 184 yards (tied 38th) per game.
Chandler Morris has bounced around the college football world during his college career and has played tremendously for the Cavaliers. He has passed for 2,802 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions on 64.6 percent completion. Five players have over 200 receiving yards on the season. Trell Harris leads the team with 59 catches for 847 yards and five touchdowns. Jahmal Edrine and Cam Ross have been productive as well, with 526 and 518 receiving yards, respectively.
J’Mari Taylor transferred in from NCCU and immediately became a good running back at the FBS level. He has rushed for 1,062 yards and 14 touchdowns. Three other players have over 200 rushing yards for the Cavaliers: Harrison Waylee, Morris (from the quarterback position) and Xavier Brown.
On defense, the Cavaliers allow 20.54 points per game, ranking 31st in the country. They give up 110.5 rushing yards (ranked 23rd) and 202.8 passing yards (ranked 44th) per game. Devin Neal leads the team in tackles from the safety position with 77. Daniel Rickert has the team-high with 6.5 sacks. Emmanuel Karnley has shown some ball skills with seven passes defended this season.
The Tigers won eight games to make their fifth-straight bowl game. They defeated one bowl-eligible team this season: Louisiana. All four of their losses were to bowl-eligible teams: Alabama, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M and Oklahoma.
Missouri scores 32.2 points per game, ranking 31st in the nation. They pass for 195.2 yards (ranked 101st) and rush for 234.1 yards (ranked eighth) per game. Beau Pribula started the season at quarterback, but he is now in the transfer portal. Matt Zollers is a freshman who played when Pribula was injured this season. He passed for 402 yards, four touchdowns and one interception on 53 percent completion. Five pass-catchers have over 250 receiving yards on the season for the Tigers. Kevin Coleman Jr. has been the standout with 63 catches for 715 yards and one touchdown. Donovan Olugbode, Marquis Johnson and Joshua Manning, have been solid as well with 352, 340 and 318 receiving yards apiece, but the latter two are in the transfer portal.
Ahmad Hardy has been a star at running back for the Tigers after transferring in from UL Monroe. He rushed for 1,560 yards and 16 touchdowns. Jamal Roberts and Marquise Davis have been solid backups with 697 and 200 rushing yards, respectively.
The Tigers’ defense concedes 19.42 points per game, ranking 22nd in the country. They allow 103.3 rushing yards (ranked 17th) and 171.4 passing yards (ranked 11th) per game. Josiah Trotter has led the Tigers in tackles with 84. Georgia transfer Damon Wilson II has been the best at getting after the passer with nine sacks. Toriano Pride has made plays on the ball with four passes defended and two interceptions.
Even with Pribula transferring, Missouri has a great pass rush and defense, which should help them get the win. Virginia can keep it within a touchdown because of Morris and Taylor, but winning might be too tall of a task.
Missouri Tigers 27 Virginia Cavaliers 21
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