The Florida Gators will finish their 2024 season in Tampa, Florida, taking on the Tulane Green Wave in the Gasparilla Bowl. The Gators are looking to end their season on a four-game winning streak. If Florida wins on Friday, it’ll be the most wins for Florida in a season since 2020.
The Tulane Green Wave has had an excellent season but will be shorthanded in the bowl game. Their star quarterback, Darian Mensah, has entered the Transfer Portal and has already committed to play at Duke next season. Here is the Gasparilla Bowl preview of the Florida Gators versus Tulane Green Wave.
Tulane Green Wave
The Tulane Green Wave will travel to Tampa, Florida, to face the Gators in the Gasparilla Bowl. The Green Wave will be led by their head coach, Jon Sumrall, who’s wrapping up his first season as the head coach for Tulane.
The Tulane offense will be led by their backup quarterback, Ty Thompson. With Mensah leaving the program, the former five-star quarterback will make his first start of the season. Thompson has completed six out of eleven passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns. He has also rushed for 243 yards and six touchdowns.
Redshirt sophomore running back Makhi Hughes is one of the best-returning backs in college football. The First Team All-AAC player had a monster season for the Green Wave. Hughes rushed for 1,372 yards on 257 carries and fifteen touchdowns. He also has 19 receptions for 176 receiving yards and two scores.
The Tulane defense will be challenged by Florida’s balanced attack on offense. The Green Wave defense is led by their redshirt senior linebacker, Tyler Grubbs. The former Louisiana Tech transfer leads Tulane’s defense in tackles with 59 total tackles. Grubbs also has six tackles for loss, three sacks, and two interceptions. Two other Tulane Green Wave players to watch are wide receiver Mario Williams and defensive tackle Patrick Jenkins.
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are coming into this game looking to finish their 2024 season on a high note. The Gators will have most of their starters available for the game, including those who will be entering the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Florida Gators offense will be led by true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway. The Lone Star State native was recently named to the True Freshman All-American Team on PFF. Lagway has completed 59.2% of his passes for 1,610 yards with eleven touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Senior wide receiver Elijhah Badger will play in the final game of his collegiate career before heading to the NFL. Badger is the leading receiver for the Gators. The Arizona State transfer has 39 receptions for 789 yards and a team-high four touchdowns.
The Florida defense has played a “bend, don’t break” defense for the last couple of games of the season, and has worked out very well. Redshirt junior EDGE rusher Tyreak Sapp is one of the stars on Florida’s defense. Sapp has 44 total tackles on the season and leads Florida’s defense in tackles for loss with thirteen and sacks with seven. Two other Gators to watch in the Gasparilla Bowl are running back Montrell Johnson and defense tackle Caleb Banks.
The Tulane Green Wave has had an excellent season but will be shorthanded in the bowl game. Their star quarterback, Darian Mensah, has entered the Transfer Portal and has already committed to play at Duke next season. Here is the Gasparilla Bowl preview of the Florida Gators versus Tulane Green Wave.
Tulane Green Wave
The Tulane Green Wave will travel to Tampa, Florida, to face the Gators in the Gasparilla Bowl. The Green Wave will be led by their head coach, Jon Sumrall, who’s wrapping up his first season as the head coach for Tulane.
The Tulane offense will be led by their backup quarterback, Ty Thompson. With Mensah leaving the program, the former five-star quarterback will make his first start of the season. Thompson has completed six out of eleven passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns. He has also rushed for 243 yards and six touchdowns.
Redshirt sophomore running back Makhi Hughes is one of the best-returning backs in college football. The First Team All-AAC player had a monster season for the Green Wave. Hughes rushed for 1,372 yards on 257 carries and fifteen touchdowns. He also has 19 receptions for 176 receiving yards and two scores.
The Tulane defense will be challenged by Florida’s balanced attack on offense. The Green Wave defense is led by their redshirt senior linebacker, Tyler Grubbs. The former Louisiana Tech transfer leads Tulane’s defense in tackles with 59 total tackles. Grubbs also has six tackles for loss, three sacks, and two interceptions. Two other Tulane Green Wave players to watch are wide receiver Mario Williams and defensive tackle Patrick Jenkins.
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are coming into this game looking to finish their 2024 season on a high note. The Gators will have most of their starters available for the game, including those who will be entering the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Florida Gators offense will be led by true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway. The Lone Star State native was recently named to the True Freshman All-American Team on PFF. Lagway has completed 59.2% of his passes for 1,610 yards with eleven touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Senior wide receiver Elijhah Badger will play in the final game of his collegiate career before heading to the NFL. Badger is the leading receiver for the Gators. The Arizona State transfer has 39 receptions for 789 yards and a team-high four touchdowns.
The Florida defense has played a “bend, don’t break” defense for the last couple of games of the season, and has worked out very well. Redshirt junior EDGE rusher Tyreak Sapp is one of the stars on Florida’s defense. Sapp has 44 total tackles on the season and leads Florida’s defense in tackles for loss with thirteen and sacks with seven. Two other Gators to watch in the Gasparilla Bowl are running back Montrell Johnson and defense tackle Caleb Banks.
