The Hoosiers and Volunteers will face off on January 2 at 7:00 pm in Jacksonville for the 2019 Gator Bowl.
How They Got Here: Indiana Hoosiers (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten)
Given Indiana football’s historical standard, this was a highly improbable season. The Hoosiers sit at an impressive 8-4, even cracking the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1994 (!). After two consecutive 5-7 seasons, Tom Allen and his team broke through and took care of business when needed. Michael Penix Jr., their electric freshman QB, was lost for the season after just six games. But, Hoosier fans witnessed veteran Peyton Ramsey take his game to another level in his third season of play. The offense took a big jump from last season, thanks in part to the hiring of offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer. DeBoer plans to leave Indiana after just one season to take the head coaching job at Fresno State, but will be coaching in the Gator Bowl.
The Hoosiers’ four losses came at the hands of typical Big Ten East powerhouses Michigan, Michigan State (in a down year for Sparty), Ohio State, and Penn State. Though they lost to Penn State, that was the game Indiana proved their worth, nearly stealing a huge win in University Park. Fans of the program have to be excited for the future, as this team is mainly comprised of underclassmen.
How They Got Here: Tennessee Volunteers (7-5, 5-3 SEC)
Though Tennessee has a far more storied football history than Indiana, they too have failed to reach bowl eligibility for the past two seasons. It looked like this team was in trouble again after two initial losses to Georgia State and BYU. The Vols then got back on track and finished on a five-win streak to achieve bowl eligibility. In another parallel to their Gator Bowl opponent, Tennessee’s other three losses came to resident conference elites Florida, Georgia, and Alabama (all top-15 teams).
The Vols obtained a winning record despite some chaos at the quarterback position, starting four different players throughout the season. However, they have their guy for this game in Jarrett Guarantano, who suffered a midseason hand injury but was able to return for the team’s final two regular season games. This matchup will be a good test for second-year head coach Jeremy Pruitt. Pruitt has been recruiting well, but will want to keep producing wins for a university with high standards.
Players To Watch
Indiana: Whop Philyor
After two seasons somewhat limited by injuries, Whop Philyor has had a sensational junior season for Indiana. Philyor ranked in the Big Ten’s top 5 for receptions and receiving yards, surpassing the 1,000 yard mark in the regular reason finale. You’ll want to keep your eyes on his matchup with a tough Tennessee secondary led by Nigel Warrior.
Tennessee: Running Backs
The Vols have ran out a carousel of running backs this year, and with good reason, as they have three players that have each been very effective out of the backfield. Ty Chandler, Tim Jordan, and Eric Gray are all technically listed as starters for this game, but the freshman Gray has the hot hand coming off a 246-yard performance in the final regular season game. IU’s defensive line will have its hands full.
Gambling: Tennessee -2, O/U 52
Expect this to be a close game. Indiana is fresh off a huge rivalry win and Tennessee closed out the season hot. Both teams will be ready to play their best football and gain some momentum going into next year. I’m taking the Hoosiers +2 and the over in what should be a great matchup in the 2019 Gator Bowl.
You can view the rest of our 2019 bowl previews here.
