OPHS DE Charles coming home; Duke vs. Ole Miss in 80th TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Chairman Andy King and the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Board of Trustees announced today that Duke will play #14 Ole Miss in the 80th TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 2.
On the Duke University defense is former Orange Park High School All-State Defensive end Kendy Charles, who played four years at Liberty University and will finish his college career as a Duke Blue Devil.
Charles, in 37 career games, (21 starts), has compiled 108 tackles, 22.5 TFL, 13.5 sacks, six QB pressures, one PBU, one fumble recovery and one caused the fumble. Charles has registered 3+ tackles on 19 occasions and 5+ tackles 10 times. Charles posted a career-high eight tackles against BYU in 2022 while earning a career-best 3.0 TFL and 3.0 sacks against Old Dominion in 2021.
In his career, Charles has played in four bowl games (2020 Cure, 2021 LendingTree, 2022 RoofClaim.com Boca Raton, and 2023 VRBO Fiesta).
The 80th TaxSlayer Gator Bowl will be the first-ever meeting between these two teams. This will be the first appearance in the Bowl by Duke who finished 9-3 and coming off five consecutive Bowl wins. Over the past three years, Duke has finished 26-12. In its 79-game history, the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl has hosted Ole Miss three times including one of the most iconic games in bowl history. In January 1971, Ole Miss met Auburn in Jacksonville for the 26th Gator Bowl featuring Heisman runner-up and Ole Miss icon Archie Manning in a full-arm cast.
“It’s a tremendous honor to host the 80th annual TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. As the 6th oldest bowl game in the nation, writing the 80th chapter of this iconic game carries a lot of pride for our membership and our community,” said Andy King. “The opportunity to host two top-tier teams in Duke vs Ole Miss as well as their players, coaches, and fans to our city for a great week of activities celebrating both programs’ successful seasons.”
The 80th Annual TaxSlayer Gator Bowl will be played on Thursday, Jan. 2 at 7:30 p.m. on Bill Gay Grounds at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., and will be nationally televised on ESPN.
Tickets and Bowl information are available online at www.taxslayergatorbowl.com.

OHS Rivers; Miami, to face Iowa State in Pop Tarts Bowl

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The Miami Hurricanes football program announced Sunday that it has accepted a bid to the 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Miami will take on Iowa State at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. on Dec. 28. The game will be broadcast at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.
“We are excited to accept an invitation to the 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl,” Vice President/Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich said. “Florida Citrus Sports is an outstanding host and always puts on a terrific show. I know our student-athletes and fans will enjoy their bowl experience in Orlando.”
On the field for Miami will be Oakleaf High School fifth-year redshirt junior player Jalen Rivers, a starting offensive tackle. Rivers, a 6'-5", 325-pound player, is a 2023 All-ACC second-team selection for his position and was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List in July.
In 2024, Miami's offense accumulated 2148 yards rushing and 4311 yards passing with 66TDs behind an offensive line bolstered by Rivers.
Miami, with a 10-2 season record with two losses; to Georgia Tech 28-23, and Syracuse 42-38 sandwiched around a win over Wake Forest 42-14, is set to play in its 46th bowl game in school history. The Hurricanes own a 20-25 record in its previous postseason contests.
The 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl will mark the first-ever meeting between Miami and Iowa State on the gridiron.
The Hurricanes are making their fifth bowl appearance in Orlando since 2009. Most recently, Miami faced Oklahoma State in the 2020 Cheez-It Bowl at Camping World Stadium.

RHS Huff comes back to Florida; Cure Bowl in Orlando

ORLANDO—The Jacksonville State University Gamecocks football team, fresh off its first Conference USA championship game last week, will be heading to Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. for the 10th Annual StaffDNA Cure Bowl, accepting the invitation to play Mid-American Conference champion Ohio on Friday, December 20th at 11 a.m. Central Time.
Leading the Gamecocks at quarterback is former Ridgeview High standout Tyler Huff.
Jax State is making its second appearance in a bowl game in its second season as a member of the FBS.
On Friday, December 6, the Gamecocks clinched its first Conference USA championship in its first year eligible for the game with a win at home over Western Kentucky 52-12. The Gamecocks will enter the contest with a 9-4 record.
The Gamecocks (9-4), beaten by the Hilltoppers just six days earlier, jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the opening quarter and kept their foot on the gas the rest of the night.
Huff accounted for three touchdowns and Tre Stewart continued to etch his name in Jax State's record book with three more rushing TDs, giving him 23 on the year.
Huff's 167 yards on the ground established a CUSA Championship Game record for rushing yards by a quarterback. He was selected as Championship Game Most Valuable Player by the media.
Huff was a dual threat all night, completing 11-of-15 passes for 176 yards with touchdown throws to Sean Brown and Cam Vaughn.
"I'm proud of our players and coaches for earning a spot in a great bowl game in a great venue," said Jax State Football Coach Rich Rodriguez. "We're very excited about the opportunity to showcase Jax State football in front of a national audience at the Cure Bowl."
This is just the second time in the 10-year history of the Cure Bowl that two conference champions will go head-to-head. The Bobcats defeated Miami (Ohio) in the MAC Championship just before the announcement of the game was made and are 10-3 this season.