What Happened to TaxSlayer Gator Bowl?

The Gator Bowl, one of college football's most enduring postseason traditions, commenced on January 1, 1946, in Jacksonville, Florida. It holds the distinction of being the sixth oldest college bowl game and was the first to be televised nationally. Initially played at Fairfield Stadium, later renamed Gator Bowl Stadium, the event remained at this site until 1993. A significant turning point occurred in 1994 when the game was temporarily moved to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville as the original stadium was demolished to make way for a new venue, Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, which is now known as EverBank Stadium. The game returned to its Jacksonville home in 1996 and has been played there ever since, solidifying its place in the city's sports landscape.

Over its long history, the Gator Bowl has seen various title sponsors. Mazda was the first in 1986, followed by Outback Steakhouse (1992-1994), Toyota (1995-2007), Konica Minolta (2008-2010), and Progressive Insurance (2011). In 2012, TaxSlayer.com took over as the title sponsor, initially rebranding the game as the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl, then simply the TaxSlayer Bowl from 2015 to 2017, before officially becoming the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl in 2018. TaxSlayer extended its sponsorship through 2027, making it the longest-tenured entitlement sponsor in the bowl's history. The game primarily features conference tie-ins with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC), a tradition that continues to the present day.

Recent years have seen the Gator Bowl continue its tradition. The 80th annual game, part of the 2024 FBS season, was played on January 2, 2025, at EverBank Stadium, featuring Ole Miss defeating Duke. Later that year, the 81st Gator Bowl, concluding the 2025 FBS season, took place on December 27, 2025, where Virginia secured a 13-7 victory over Missouri.

A major development impacting the Gator Bowl's immediate future is the extensive renovation of EverBank Stadium, a project undertaken by the City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Jaguars to create a 'Stadium of the Future.' Construction began in February 2025 and is slated for completion in August 2028. This renovation will affect game attendance and location. For the 2026 season, the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl is scheduled for December 30, 2026, at EverBank Stadium, but with a reduced capacity of approximately 42,507. Notably, the 2027 Gator Bowl is planned to be played away from Jacksonville, with Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville being a likely temporary venue. The game is expected to return to the newly renovated EverBank Stadium in December 2028 or January 2029. In July 2026, Gator Bowl Sports received a $270,000 grant for the fiscal year 2026-2027 to support the game and its promotion. ESPN analysts have already begun projecting potential matchups for the 2026 game, indicating its continued relevance in the college football landscape.