Update December 8, 4:30 p.m.: It’s now official with the announcement of the Belk Bowl participants. Indiana will be facing the University of Tennessee Volunteers after a last minute change in plan for the Music City Bowl selection.

Indiana finally knows its bowl game destiny after the conclusion of the conference championship slate on Saturday, and the release of the updated College Football Playoff rankings. With signs all pointing to Kentucky leading up to the day, the Hoosiers will face a different SEC opponent shortly after the new year.

It’s Official! @Vol_Football vs. @IndianaFootball playing in the 75th TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on January 2nd! pic.twitter.com/E5HQxAzSfI — TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (@taxslayerbowl) December 8, 2019

Indiana will be facing Tennessee in the 75th TaxSlayer Gator Bowl hosted on Thursday, January 2, 2020. The game will take place at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida.

Drama on Selection Sunday

Update: I know who team 1 will be… waiting for confirmation on team 2. pic.twitter.com/CmcE2ScHiv — TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (@taxslayerbowl) December 8, 2019

I am told Tennessee ended up winning the argument



Kentucky and Virginia Tech in the Belk on New Years Eve — Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 8, 2019

Instead of the revitalization of the “Bourbon Barrel” game between Indiana-Kentucky, the final last minute call gave Tennessee the final selection (7-5, 5-3) in the Gator Bowl. The decision came due to Tennessee wanting to play away from Nashville, and because of the pecking order of team’s, Kentucky was bumped instead to the “lower” Belk Bowl. The Music City Bowl instead got the selection of Louisville and Mississippi State.

The Hoosiers are currently 0-1 against the Volunteers in the history of the series, with the last and only match up between the two taking place in the 1987 Peach Bowl that ended in a 27-22 victory for the Volunteers. That game took place on January 2, 1988, exactly 32 years prior to the two teams’ upcoming Gator Bowl matchup.

With the huge number of ties between Indiana and the state of Florida, the option to play in the Sunshine State gives an opportunity for parents and families of 26 players to attend — all within driving distance from home. This will be the first time Indiana has played in a Florida bowl game in program history.

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Ticket Information

Still applies here, Indiana fans will be located behind the Visitors' bench, which is on the East Side.



Those sections are located at the top of the SeatGeek seating chart (Sections 430-443 and below). #iufb #SEC will be on the opposite side.



🎟️: https://t.co/oUYYT6miz5 pic.twitter.com/Tswt40lhlj — IndianaHQ (@IndianaHQ) December 8, 2019

Event 2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Time and Date Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020 (7:00 p.m. ET) Location TIAA Bank Field (Jacksonville, Fla.) Tickets SeatGeek SEC Fans Home Team (West Side) Indiana Fans Away Team (East Side) Television ESPN

Gator Bowl T-Shirts

Click here to get your own official Indiana bowl gear!

Agenda of Events leading to the 2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

Tuesday, Dec. 31 2019

VyStar New Year’s Eve Run (Tuesday, December 31)

2:00 PM

Downtown Jacksonville

Register here – https://www.1stplacesports.com/races/vystar/

New Year’s Eve Fireworks by the City of Jacksonville (Tuesday, December 31)

Midnight

Downtown Jacksonville

Details here: https://specialevents.coj.net/Special-Events/New-Year-s-Eve.aspx#ShowMore

Official Gator Bowl IU Pep Rally (Wednesday, January 1)

5:00 PM

Jax Beach Seawalk Pavilion at Deck the Chairs

FREE — open to the public

Big Red Warm Up (Thursday, January 2)

2:30 – 5:30 PM

River City Brewing Company

835 Museum Circle, Jacksonville, FL

Registration link TBA

Hoosier Hangout (Thursday, January 2)

7:00 PM

Brewz – 2695 Post St. Jacksonville, FL

Can’t make it to the game? Join other Hoosier fans for a watch party downtown.

TaxSlayer Tailgate Party (Thursday, January 2)

3:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M – Daily’s Place Flex Field

FREE – Open to the Public

A tailgate party will be available for various interactive games and other pre-game activities.

Game Day Pep Rallies (Thursday, January 2)

Daily’s Place Amphitheater

4:15 PM – Indiana Pep Rally

4:45 PM – SEC Pep Rally

FREE with Game Ticket.

Band pep rally with the respective teams participating in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl.

Pre-Game Concert featuring Yacht Rock Revue (Thursday, January 2)

Daily’s Place Amphitheater

5:00 – 6:30 PM

FREE with Game Ticket.

Touchdown Party (Thursday, January 2)

TIAA Bank Field – Sky Patio

5:00 – 6:30 PM

$50 per Ticket

Increase your pre-game experience with a touchdown party at the Sky Patio. Ticket includes complimentary food and 4 drink vouchers good for beer, wine, soda, or water.

Indiana Hoosiers Bowl Game History

The Hoosiers are going to be competing in just their 12th bowl game in program history and they would be seeking only their fourth bowl victory. After the resignation of head coach Kevin Wilson, Tom Allen took the Hoosiers to the 2016 Foster Farms Bowl game as his first game as the new Indiana head coach. Allen now becomes just the second coach to take Indiana to multiple bowl games, behind the legendary Bill Mallory who took the Hoosiers to a program record six bowl games between 1986 and 1993.

1967: Rose Bowl (3-14 Loss against USC) coached by John Pont

Rose Bowl (3-14 Loss against USC) coached by John Pont 1979: Holiday Bowl (38-37 Win over BYU) coached by Lee Corso

Holiday Bowl (38-37 Win over BYU) coached by Lee Corso 1986: All-American Bowl (13-27 Loss against Florida State) coached by Bill Mallory

All-American Bowl (13-27 Loss against Florida State) coached by Bill Mallory 1987: Peach Bowl (22-27 Loss against Tennessee) coached by Bill Mallory

Peach Bowl (22-27 Loss against Tennessee) coached by Bill Mallory 1988: Liberty Bowl (34-10 Win over South Carolina) coached by Bill Mallory

Liberty Bowl (34-10 Win over South Carolina) coached by Bill Mallory 1990: Peach Bowl (23-27 Loss against Auburn) coached by Bill Mallory

Peach Bowl (23-27 Loss against Auburn) coached by Bill Mallory 1991: Copper Bowl (24-0 Win over Baylor) coached by Bill Mallory

Copper Bowl (24-0 Win over Baylor) coached by Bill Mallory 1993: Independence Bowl (20-45 Loss against Virginia Tech) coached by Bill Mallory

Independence Bowl (20-45 Loss against Virginia Tech) coached by Bill Mallory 2007: Insight Bowl (33-49 Loss against Oklahoma State) coached by Bill Lynch

Insight Bowl (33-49 Loss against Oklahoma State) coached by Bill Lynch 2015: Pinstripe Bowl (41-44 OT Loss against Duke) coached by Kevin Wilson

Pinstripe Bowl (41-44 OT Loss against Duke) coached by Kevin Wilson 2016: Foster Farms Bowl (24-26 Loss against Utah) coached by Tom Allen after the resignation of Kevin Wilson

Foster Farms Bowl (24-26 Loss against Utah) coached by Tom Allen after the resignation of Kevin Wilson 2020: Gator Bowl (versus Tennessee) coached by Tom Allen

Featured Photo: IndianaHQ