Hoosier State of Mind
Fansided

Indiana Football: TaxSlayer Gator Bowl named top-15 game in 2019

By Alec Lasley

JACKSONVILLE, FL - JANUARY 02: Marcelino Ball #9 and Reese Taylor #2 of the Indiana Hoosiers react after a defensive stop in the first half of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against the Tennessee Volunteers at TIAA Bank Field on January 2, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - JANUARY 02: Marcelino Ball #9 and Reese Taylor #2 of the Indiana Hoosiers react after a defensive stop in the first half of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against the Tennessee Volunteers at TIAA Bank Field on January 2, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Indiana football played in one of the best games in 2019 according to ESPN, but where did the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl land?

The 2019 season was one to remember for the Indiana football program and the Hoosiers took part in multiple great games throughout the entire season, even playing in one of the best bowl games of the year.

Tom Allen, who led the Hoosiers to its first eight win season in the past 20 years, also took Indiana to one of its most prestigious bowl games in program history. Despite the loss, it seemed to be a turning point in the program’s trajectory as the Hoosiers took the next step in developing a top-notch program.

That bowl game, the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, was named a top-15 game of the entire 2019 college football season by ESPN, as it checked in at No. 14 on the list.

Here is what ESPN writer Bill Connelly had to say about the matchup.

"Indiana already had its first eight-win season since 1993 in the books. All the Hoosiers had to do to lock up a ninth win for the first time since 1967 was close out a wobbly Tennessee in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Up 22-9 with seven minutes let, they forced a punt. Their win probably was 97.7%. They went three-and-out, however. Tennessee drove 82 yards in three minutes to make it 22-16. Then the Vols pulled off one of the most perfect surprise onside kicks you’ll ever see. The result was basically set in stone from there. No #9WIndiana in 2019."

The games were ranked by most entertaining, defining the national title race, classic finishes we won’t forget or a combination of the three scenarios.

After the bowl loss, Indiana now moves to 3-9 all-time in bowl games and have yet to have a bowl victory since 1991. Despite the record, Indiana has lost its last three bowl games by a total of just six points.

The No. 1 game on the list was the College Football Playoff Semifinal matchup between Ohio State and Clemson.

3 Early Signees Who Will Have Instant Impacts. dark. Next

Keep with Hoosier State of Mind in order to get all of your Indiana University sports news, updates and rumors.

Home/Indiana Football