Rutgers replaces Texas A&M in Gator Bowl

By Sportsnaut

·December 23, 2021

Nov 13, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; The Rutgers Scarlet Knights celebrate a touchdown by running back Aaron Young (4) during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. The Scarlet Knights won 38-3. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Rutgers will replace Texas A&M and take on No. 17 Wake Forest in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 31 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Thursday’s announcement came one day after the 25th-ranked Aggies withdrew due to COVID-19 issues and injuries.

“Better late than never,” the Rutgers football program tweeted. “The Scarlet Knights are going BOWLING.”

Better late than never ??

The Scarlet Knights are going BOWLING ?? ?? pic.twitter.com/cJw3mrqsCu

— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) December 23, 2021

The Scarlet Knights (5-7) will be appearing in their first bowl game since winning the 2014 Quick Lane Bowl. It was the second-longest postseason drought among Power 5 programs behind Kansas (2008 Insight Bowl).

Wake Forest (10-3) is 2-0 all-time against Rutgers, winning matchups in 1997 and 1999.

Generally, a team must win six games to be considered bowl-eligible. But if there are no available six-win teams for an empty bowl slot, the five-win program with the highest Academic Progress Rate (APR) can fill the opening.

–Field Level Media