First-round games in the College Football Playoff mean four ranked teams won't make traditional bowls.

Duke and Ole Miss will meet in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, a solid ACC-SEC matchup that pits a pair of nine-win teams in the 80th game at EverBank Stadium.

Does college football bowl season make a difference in Jacksonville? If it does, what does the future look like for the Gator Bowl and other events?

The energy at EverBank Stadium was high on Friday afternoon.

Phil Mafah ran for four touchdowns, including a 3-yarder with 17 seconds to play, and Clemson beat Kentucky 38-35 in a wild Gator Bowl to finish the year on a five-game winning streak.

Sunny skies return. Sunglasses and winter jackets for the Gator Bowl.

Jax is ready: that’s the word from local officials as they gear up for an incredibly busy next couple of days.

Scattered showers to sunny skies and colder temperatures

The University of Kentucky Wildcats (7-5) and the Clemson Tigers (8-4) are going head-to-head this Friday in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium.

While most college football fans in Florida are looking forward to the Orange Bowl, Gator Bowl, or Outback Bowl, there is a new bowl game to look forward to: Fort Lauderdale’s Florida Beach Bowl.

Clemson and Kentucky will meet in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Dec. 29 at EverBank Stadium.

Michael Vick, Larry Fitzgerald and Terrell Suggs are among the college football stars who will be considered for induction to the Hall of Fame for the first time this year.

The Gator Bowl is extending its sponsorship with TaxSlayer through 2027, making it the longest title sponsor in bowl history.

Massive ticket sales and television ratings proved the 2022 Gator Bowl to be one of the top games of the year. Now, Gator Bowl Sports president Greg McGarity says the success of the most recent game could pave the way for more great matchups in the future.

Notre Dame and South Carolina are going head-to-head in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Friday afternoon at TIAA Bank Field. Here's what you need to know if you're headed to the game.

No one should expect Notre Dame and South Carolina to look — or probably play — like they did late in the regular season.

Traditionally, Notre Dame and South Carolina have brought big crowds to bowl games. Will we see the same at the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl this year?

The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl has its matchup and it’s a great one.

Twelve children were signed Tuesday to the 2022 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Dream Team, which is part of a partnership between Gator Bowl Charities and Dreams Come True.

The next 12-14 months could see a major reshaping of the college sports landscape, one that could be tougher on student-athletes but could be better for bowl games, according to Gator Bowl Sports president and CEO Greg McGarity.

After being played after on New Year's Eve last season, the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl will kick off a day earlier this season.

Sam Hartman tossed three touchdown passes, two of them to tight end Brandon Chapman, and No. 20 Wake Forest dominated Rutgers 38-10 in the Gator Bowl.

Friday morning at 11, the 77th edition of the game kicks off at TIAA Bank Field between Wake Forest (10-3) and Rutgers (5-7), the warmup to a full day of college football action that also features the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Wake Forest and Rutgers go head-to-head in the Tax Slayer Gator Bowl on Friday morning.

Many New Year’s Eve celebrations are still a go despite COVID-19 cases surging across the country.

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano is trying to keep as many secrets as he can as the Scarlet Knights prepare to play Wake Forest in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida, on Friday.

The countdown to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl is on.

Organizers behind the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl provided an update Sunday afternoon for people who want a refund for the game.

Rutgers answered the call for a last-second invitation to the bowl game and will play Wake Forest at TIAA Bank Field at 11 a.m. on Dec. 31 in their first postseason contest since 2014.

According to NJ.com, it will be Rutgers (5-7) that replaces the Aggies, but Gator Bowl Sports president Greg McGarity told The Morning Show on Thursday that things are far from settled.

No. 23 Texas A&M won’t play in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against Wake Forest on Dec. 31 because of COVID-19 issues and season-ending injuries.

Texas A&M is out and Rutgers is in next week’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, completing a wild Wednesday for the local bowl game.

Officials at the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl were holding their breath after being told that one of the teams set to play in the New Years' Day bowl game, Texas A&M, is dealing with a COVID outbreak and may not have enough players to compete in the game.

Representatives from both Texas A&M and Wake Forest were in town Thursday to accept the official invitation to play in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl on News Year’s Eve morning. But the real hit of the Gators Bowl’s annual Holiday Party came from two groups of kids.

It’s a battle between top 25 teams in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl will be played on the morning of New Year’s Eve, the bowl game and ESPN announced the time on Thursday.

January 4th is National Trivia Day. We celebrated by inviting Trivia Nation host John Crawford on the show to quiz Mark and Eden as though they were playing on a team at one of the company’s Team Trivia events. Team Trivia events happen nightly at various venues around town. A complete listing can be found on the company’s webiste, www.trivianation.comJohn asked Mark and Eden the following questions. The 6th most populated country has 212 million people, and the 7th most populated country has 206 million people.

Former University of Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity will become the new president and CEO of Gator Bowl Sports this March. Former University of Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity will become the president and CEO of Gator Bowl Sports this March. McGarity, 66, will handle all aspects of the Gator Bowl Sports operations, including the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, the JaxSports Council and the Gator Bowl Charities. The Gator Bowl just completed the first of a six-year affiliation with the ACC/SEC. Catlett spent 29 years as the front man for Gator Bowl Sports and served in various capacities with the JaxSports Council and Gator Bowl Charities.

The slow moving cold front that we started tracking Saturday morning is finally sinking south through the Jacksonville area this morning. This leaves us with grey skies and a few showers to start off with. Once the front clears out our skies will open up around lunch time and it will be sunny, breezy, and cooler for the afternoon. Monday starts off in the chilly low 40s and only warms into the cool low 60s under mostly sunny skies. Tuesday and Wednesday will also be cooler and sunny, starting out around 40° and warming into the mid 60s.

24 North Carolina State 23-21 on Saturday in a chippy TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. “John was definitely looking down on us; Coach Schlarman definitely inspired us all,” said Rose, who was named Kentucky's bowl game MVP. “Those are four really good run defenders against a really good rushing offense,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said. Kentucky: The Wildcats won their third bowl game in as many seasons for the second time in school history. UP NEXTNorth Carolina State: Opens the 2021 season at home against USF on Sept. 2.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl has its matchup. Kentucky will face North Carolina State in the annual bowl game on Jan. 2, 2021 noon at TIAA Bank Field. It marks the first time that the Gator Bowl will have hosted a team with a losing record. Kentucky has lost three of its last five gamesKentucky played in the Gator Bowl in 2016, losing to Georgia Tech (33-18). NC State played in the Gator in 2018, getting pummeled by Texas A&M, 52-13.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The man who has guided the Gator Bowl for nearly three decades has announced his retirement. Rick Catlett has been the Gator Bowl president since 1992, but he will retire after guiding the game for 28 years. For the last 28 years, he’s been the president of the Gator Bowl, which played its 75th game this past season. “I did the 50th game, so getting an opportunity to the 75th game was very important to me,” Catlett said. He’s also planning on doing some consulting work, both for the Gator Bowl in the transition period and with others beyond that.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - In honor of the 75th game next January, the Gator Bowl decided to honor its rich tradition and unveil its all-time team on Monday. The names of some of those to have played in the Gator Bowl are iconic. Among some of the selections on the All-Gator Bowl team: Florida State receiver Fred Biletnikoff, Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning, North Carolina linebacker Lawrence Taylor and Miami safety Ed Reed. The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl will be played on Jan. 2, 2020 at 7 p.m. at TIAA Bank Field. OFFENSEQB Archie Manning, Mississippi, 26th Gator Bowl, vs. AuburnRB Floyd Little, Syracuse, 22nd Gator Bowl vs. TennesseeFB Larry Csonka, Syracuse, 22nd Gator Bowl vs. TennesseeWR Fred Biletnikoff, Florida State, 20th Gator Bowl vs. OklahomaWR Andre Rison, Michigan State, 44th Gator Bowl vs. GeorgiaTE Ken MacAfee, Notre Dame, 32nd Gator Bowl, vs. Penn StateOT Mark May, Pittsburgh, 36th Gator Bowl, vs. South CarolinaOT Greg Skrepenak, Michigan, 46th Gator Bowl, vs. MississippiOG Dean Dingman, Michigan, 46th Gator Bowl, vs. MississippiOG Zeke Smith, Auburn, 11th Gator Bowl, vs. VanderbiltC Maxie Baughan, Georgia Tech, 15th Gator Bowl, vs. ArkansasDEFENSEDB Ed Reed, Miami, 55th Gator Bowl, vs. Georgia TechDB Tony Lilly, Florida, 39th Gator Bowl, vs. IowaDE Hugh Green, Pittsburgh, 36th Gator Bowl, vs. South CarolinaDE Jack Youngblood, Florida, 25th Gator Bowl, vs. TennesseeLB Wilber Marshall, Florida, 39th Gator Bowl, vs. IowaDB Donovin Darius, Syracuse, 51st Gator Bowl, vs. ClemsonDB Mark McLaurin, Mississippi State, 73rd Gator Bowl vs. LouisvilleDT Matt Millen, Penn State, 32nd Gator Bowl, vs. Notre DameDT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska, 64th Gator Bowl, vs. ClemsonLB Ryan Shazier, Ohio State, 67th Gator Bowl, vs. FloridaLB Lawrence Taylor, North Carolina, 35th Gator Bowl, vs. MichiganCopyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.