re: It's game day Mizzu!

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Missouri and Wake Forest will cap their 2022 seasons tonight in the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium.

The two teams in this game had seasons that were something of mirror images of one another. Wake Forest began the season with six wins in its first seven games but fell apart down the stretch. A 48-21 loss to Louisville that saw the Demon Deacons blow a halftime lead with eight -- eight! -- second-half turnovers began a stretch of four losses in their final five games. Meanwhile, Missouri rebounded from a 2-4 start to the season with four wins in its last six games, including wins in its final two games to attain bowl eligibility.

The bowl will mark the first time the teams have ever met on the football field.

This will be Sam Hartman's last game with Wake Forest. Hartman became Wake Forest's all-time leading passer earlier this season What isn't known is whether this will be Hartman's final college game. All he's confirmed is that he'll be leaving Wake Forest, but he could enter the NFL Draft or transfer. Whatever his next stop is, he'll leave Wake as the greatest quarterback in program history.

Missouri will be short-handed — unfortunately, it'll be missing several key defensive players, as they're preparing for the NFL Draft.

Despite all the variety, this bowl game has never featured two Power Five teams facing one another. In fact, only three Power Five programs have ever appeared in the game. The SEC sent Mississippi State in 2016 and Florida last year, while the ACC's NC State played in the 2014 game.

How to Watch

Date: Friday, Dec. 23 | Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN

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