Florida accepts invitation to Outback Bowl on Jan. 1

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Last year, a trip to the Outback Bowl was something to tolerate for Florida. This season, it's a reason to celebrate.
The 16th-ranked Gators (8-4) accepted an invitation to the New Year's Day game in Tampa on Wednesday. Their opponent, likely No. 11 Purdue (9-3) or No. 12 Iowa (9-3), will be determined this weekend.
"I'm happy to hear that we will be getting another chance to play in front of our Gator fans in the state of Florida," coach Ron Zook said.
Although the quote was typical of the feel-good pablum coaches put out when bowl season rolls around, Zook's musings really can be construed as genuine.
The Gators were 3-3 in mid-October, coming off tough home losses to Tennessee and Mississippi. Back then, some thought they wouldn't even make a bowl game. And as recently as Saturday, after their 38-34 loss to Florida State, they looked pegged for the Peach Bowl, which is a notch down from the Outback ($2.65 million payout compared to $2.1 million).
But Outback Bowl officials, so happy with the turnout at last year's game -- Florida's 38-30 loss to Michigan -- were happy to have the Gators back. And the Gators were happy to accept. For Zook, it marks a return to the field where he made possibly the worst coaching decision of his young career.