Report: Jaguars owner pushing for alma mater to play in Gator Bowl

Could a 5-7 team play in a bowl game this year? If Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan has something to say about the Gator Bowl, it could happen.

Khan, who went to Illinois, is making a hard push for his alma mater to replace Texas A&M in the Gator Bowl, according to The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy.

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan, an Illinois alumni, is pushing hard to get Illinois (5-7) in his hometown Gator Bowl, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 22, 2021

The Illini went 5-7 this season in Bret Bielema’s first season in Champaign. It was somewhat of a surprise after they went 2-6 in 2020 before firing coach Lovie Smith. But Illinois just missed out on that elusive sixth game, meaning it’s not bowl-eligble.

Now, the Illini could look to sneak into the postseason — and Khan appears to be doing his part.

Earlier Wednesday, McMurphy reported Rutgers was the first 5-7 team asked to replace Texas A&M in the Gator Bowl after the Aggies’ COVID-19 outbreak forced them to withdraw. The Scarlet Knights declined, and another team apparently wasn’t expected to accept the invitation, either.

Illinois had an up-and-down 2021 season. The Illini beat Nebraska in their season opener before losing four straight games. They got back on track with a win over Charlotte before getting shut out by Wisconsin.

But Illinois’ biggest win of the year came in nine overtimes against then-No. 7 Penn State — a 20-18 Illini win. They also upset then-No. 20 Minnesota 14-6 before blowing out Northwestern in the regular-season finale.

Whichever team accepts the Oversight Committee’s invitation would take on Wake Forest in the Gator Bowl, which is scheduled for Dec. 31.

Report: Second Big Ten team emerges with interest in playing in Gator Bowl

The search is on to replace Texas A&M in the Gator Bowl. It sounds like one 5-7 team is interested.

Rutgers is “exploring the possibility” of taking the Aggies’ place in the bowl game, according to Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel.

The Scarlet Knights won their first three games of the season before losing four straight. They got back on track with Illinois — which is also reportedly interested in playing in the game — and blowing out Indiana for their fifth win of the year.

But Rutgers isn’t bowl eligible since it didn’t win six games. That said, the Scarlet Knights have the best Academic Progress Rate (APR) of the remaining 5-7 teams at 979. That’s why they’re the first call to replace Texas A&M, according to Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger.

Illinois, to put it in perspective, is just behind Rutgers with a 970 APR. That gives the Scarlet Knights another advantage over the Illini as the Oversight Committee works to replace Texas A&M.

Earlier Wednesday, The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy reported Rutgers wasn’t interested in playing in the game. That adds another ripple to Thamel’s report.

The Gator Bowl is scheduled for Dec. 31. Whichever team accepts the invitation would take on Wake Forest.