Texas A&M opts out of TaxSlayer Gator Bowl; speculation centers on Rutgers, Illinois, Northern

Texas A&M opts out of TaxSlayer Gator Bowl; speculation centers on Rutgers, Illinois, Northern Illinois


Illinois and Northern Illinois have emerged as the favorites to replace Texas A&M to play Wake Forest in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Dec. 31 at TIAA Bank Field, after the Aggies had to opt out of the game on Wednesday when they were left with less than 40 healthy players due to an outbreak of positive COVID-19 tests, combined with injuries and players leaving early to prepare for the NFL draft.

Reports late Wednesday on nj.com indicated Rutgers might be poised to accept a bid as the first available 5-7 team, based on the NCAA's latest Academic Progress Rate. Rutgers, California, Texas and Illinois are the 5-7 teams leading the most recent APR numbers.

The NCAA may have more recent APR numbers that they haven't yet released. Plus, earlier reports had Rutgers turning down the chance to come to Jacksonville.

All FBS teams with 6-6 records or better had already received bowl bids.

The nation's sixth-oldest bowl game was jeopardized after Texas A&M made the surprise announcement, five days after football operations and bowl practices were suspended.

Read more: https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/sports/college/2021/12/22/gator-bowl-texas-a-m-out-wake-forest-covid-outbreak-jacksonville-florida/8997385002/
(Daytona Beach News-Journal)