The SEC and Big Ten clash in the 2015 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl, as the Minnesota Gophers (25) take on the Missouri Tigers (16).
For the second straight season, Missouri took the SEC East and finished as the losers in the conference title game, but this time to Alabama instead of Auburn. But Missouri has blown past all the expectations set out for them since joining the SEC in 2013, having won 22 games the last two seasons and their second straight New Year's bowl game.
CLICK HERE to listen to the game live via TuneIn and HERE for WatchESPN's live feed via the Skycam. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Orlando, Fla.
Since Gary Pinkel took over the Tigers in 2001, Missouri has won 10 or more games in a season five times, but this could be the first time in school history the team wins at least 11 in back-to-back seasons. "
Certainly, there's things we have to do to improve... but I'm so very proud of my players, coaches and this football program. This is a great opportunity," Pinkel said in a pregame press conference, according to ESPN. "We got a chance to finish strong and we'll be playing a very good football team."
Minnesota, on the other hand, is continuing their annual improvement, winning nine games a season after winning eight. Comparatively, they only won nine games in the previous two season combined. Minnesota is also playing in a New Year's bowl game for the first time in 53 years.
The steady improvement earned Minnesota coach Jerry Kill Big Ten Coach of the Year Honors.
"Bowl games are all good, but we've certainly gotten rewarded by going to the Citrus Bowl. I think we all know you want to play in January. We haven't done that in a long time," Kill said in a pregame press conference. "I think everybody's excited. This is another step forward, and we need to take advantage of that step."
