Taxslayer Gator Bowl will only be ACC vs SEC matchups through 2025

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It was a sea of red and orange at TIAA Bank Field Thursday night for the Taxslayer Gator Bowl.

Thousands of Hoosier and Volunteer fans making the trek to Jacksonville for the big game from all over the country.

It was the big fan base, the Gator Bowl has been hoping for, with about 61,000 in attendance.

For the past three years, the Gator Bowl has struggled to get even 45,000 fans packed into the stadium. Last year, they only reached a little more than 38,000.

But that all could change next year, since the Gator Bowl will now only be ACC and SEC matchups.

TAXSLAYER GATOR BOWL: Thousands of @Vol_Football fans and @IndianaFootball fans are piling into @TIAABankField for the 75th annual @taxslayerbowl.

PSA: If you haven’t left already, there’s a good chance you won’t make kickoff! @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/96sseeQLVi
— Dani Bozzini (@DaniANjax) January 2, 2020

A move SEC fans don’t mind at all.

"That’s great. Bring them on. It doesn’t make any difference where they come from,” Herb Marshall, a Tennessee fan said.

Another Vols fan, Joshua Spence said, “Regardless if its Gators, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama you know doesn’t matter we’re going to dominate.”

Taxslayer Gator Bowl President Rick Catlett tells Action News Jax, he hopes the change will bring in more fans since the ACC and SEC schools are closer in proximity to Jacksonville.

“I mean I agree because all of the fans are closer together,” Spence added.

So, Thursday’s game will be the last Gator Bowl with a Big Ten team in it for at least the next six years.

Catlett tells Action News Jax ESPN will also continue airing the bowl game for the next six years and TaxSlayer will remain the bowl’s sponsor for the next three.

There definitely was a big sea of orange walking into @TIAABankField tonight..they definitely traveled well!! @taxslayerbowl https://t.co/ektkqSJOIH
— Dani Bozzini (@DaniANjax) January 3, 2020