By The Associated Press=
UCF (8-4, American Athletic) vs. Florida (6-6, SEC), Dec. 23, 7 p.m. ET
LOCATION: Tampa, Florida.
TOP PLAYERS
UCF: DE Big Kat Bryant, all-AAC first-team selection, team leader with six sacks, 14 tackles for loss and eight quarterback hurries.
Florida: QB Emory Jones, led Florida in passing and rushing, 2,563 yards passing, 19 touchdowns; 696 yards rushing, four touchdowns.
NOTABLE
UCF: Knights first-year coach Gus Malzahn has qualified for a bowl game all 10 of his seasons as a college head coach.
Florida: The Gators were a top-10 team in early October before losing five of seven that led to the dismissal of coach Dan Mullen. It took a 24-21 rivalry win over Florida State on the season's final weekend to secure a bowl game.
LAST TIME
Florida 42, UCF 0. (Sept. 9, 2006).
BOWL HISTORY
UCF: Fifth appearance in the Gasparilla Bowl and ninth postseason trip in the past 10 years.
Florida: First appearance in the Gasparilla Bowl, 48th postseason game in program history.
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AP-WF-12-05-21 2300GMT
