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So, uh, change of plans.
After Brett McMurphy reported that Tennessee would play Louisville in the Music City Bowl, things apparently reversed course during the afternoon. Mississippi State has been placed in the Music City Bowl instead, while Tennessee has shifted to the Gator Bowl.
So the Vols will now play in Jacksonville in the Gator Bowl against Indiana.
Sources: The 75th @taxslayerbowl will match @Vol_Football vs. @IndianaFootball on Jan. 2 at 7 p.m., at TIAA Bank Field. Projections on Sunday that put @UKFootball vs. Hoosiers were wrong. Gator Bowl worked long and hard to get the Vols, who are 4-2 in the game.
— Garry Smits (@gsmitter) December 8, 2019
After some last-minute changes, flip-flops & maneuvering, here are final SEC bowls:
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 8, 2019
Belk: Kentucky vs. Virginia Tech
Music City: Mississippi State vs. Louisville
Gator: Tennessee vs. Indiana
Here’s the official announcement.
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
The Gator Bowl will be played on January 2nd at 6 p.m. ET.
A possible explanation was offered by Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio.
Bottom line:
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 8, 2019
SEC had agreement where Tennessee was in Music City and Kentucky I’m Gator
Tennessee changed its mind this afternoon and made Gator the preference . Because they had same record and Beat UK head to head, deference was given to them by SEC
Indiana went 8-4 this season, finishing 4th in the Big Ten East. They’ll also go bowling for the first time since the 2016 season. Tennessee has played Indiana just one time back in 1988. That was a 27-22 win for the Volunteers.
Tennessee last appeared in the Gator Bowl following the 2014 season, smashing the Iowa Hawkeyes 45-28.