Rutgers University has been chosen to replace Texas A&M in this year’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.
The replacement came after Texas A&M was forced to withdraw from the game due to COVID-19 cases on the team, as well as injuries.
The Scarlet Knights will travel to Jacksonville to play the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
Rutgers was chosen, despite not qualifying for a bowl game on the field, due to its Academic Progress Report — a measure of the team’s academic improvement and success.
Rutgers posted a video on Twitter saying it was "going bowling," though it didn't specifically mention the Gator Bowl.
Let’s go!!! https://t.co/sNWB7n3WlC
— Rutgers University (@RutgersU) December 23, 2021
Rutgers is led by head coach Greg Schiano, who is taking the Scarlet Knights to a bowl game for the seventh time, winning the last five trips. This will be the program’s first bowl berth since 2014 and its first time at the Gator Bowl, the sixth-oldest bowl in the country.
The 77th annual game is scheduled for 11 a.m. New Year’s Eve at TIAA Bank Field.