Mississippi State Accepts Bid to 2013 Gator Bowl

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI/MSU Athletics) –– Following an eight-win regular season, Mississippi State’s football team has been invited to the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl in Jacksonville.

(AP Photo/Stephen Morton)
Head Coach Dan Mullen and the Bulldogs celebrate after winning the 2011 Gator Bowl. Mississippi State will be returning to Jacksonville on New Year’s Day 2013.

The Bulldogs will face Northwestern in the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the gridiron.

Mississippi State will be playing in its third consecutive postseason bowl for only the second time in school history (1998-2000), and the Bulldogs have won five straight bowl games dating back to 1999.

“We’re excited to return to the Gator Bowl for another New Year’s Day experience,” head coach Dan Mullen said. “This is a reward for our players after all their hard work this season and I know our coaches, players and fans will again have a great time in Jacksonville.”

Mississippi State defeated Michigan 52-14 in the 2011 Gator Bowl, the first traditional New Year’s Day bowl appearance by a Bulldog team in more than a decade. This year’s berth in the Gator Bowl will be the fifth traditional New Year’s bowl in school history.

“Rick Catlett and his team at the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl do a wonderful job and we’re excited to return to Jacksonville for the Gator Bowl,” director of athletics Scott Stricklin said. “Bulldog fans have shown how enthusiastic and supportive they are of our team with record ticket sales each of the last two years, and I know they will take over Jacksonville for New Year’s Eve and EverBank Field on New Year’s Day.”

The 2013 TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl will kick off at 11 a.m. Central Time (noon ET) and will be televised by ESPN2.