JACKSONVILLE, FL—Greg Smith, Chairman of the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl and Jacksonville & NE Florida President of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, announced today that the Ohio State University will play
the University of Florida in the January 2, 2012 TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl.
The last meeting between these two storied programs was in the 2007 BCS National Championship game.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the Big Ten representative and this matchup will mark Ohio State’s second appearance in the Gator Bowl. Their first and only other appearance was in 1978 Gator Bowl. Ohio State has
appeared in 12 different bowl games and the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl will be their 42nd bowl game.
The Florida Gators, the Southeastern Conference representative, will be returning to Jacksonville for the ninth
time since making their first ever Bowl appearance in the January 1, 1953 Gator Bowl. Florida’s last appearance was in the 1992 Gator Bowl against NC State. Their Gator Bowl record stands at 6-2. This will be
the 21st consecutive Bowl appearance for the Florida Gators.
“Ohio State and Florida are truly among the greatest of football traditions in the nation. The Buckeyes and Gators will provide one of the most exciting games of the Bowl season and we are looking forward to welcoming both teams and their fans to Jacksonville for this great January 2, 2012 matchup,” said Chairman Greg Smith.
“We are excited about the opportunity to compete in the Gator Bowl,” Ohio State Director of Athletics Gene Smith said. “We look forward to a wonderful experience for our student-athletes and our fans, and to the great
hospitality Jacksonville offers.”
We are looking forward to playing Ohio State in the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl and playing in front of our great fans in the City of Jacksonville, said Jeremy Foley, Director of Athletics at the University of Florida. The 67th Annual TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl will be played on January 2, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. in Jacksonville, Florida at EverBank Field and will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
Tickets and Bowl information are available online at http://www.gatorbowl.com
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