COLUMBIA, Mo. -The University of Missouri has accepted an invitation for its football team to play in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl, as announced today. The bowl game, which began in 1947 as the Tangerine Bowl, will pit the 10-3 and 16th-ranked (CFP) Tigers against the 25th-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-4) in a January 1, 2015 matchup in Orlando, Fla. Kickoff is set for Noon (central time) with the game broadcast on ABC.

"We're excited and honored to be invited to the prestigious Citrus Bowl." said Head Coach Gary Pinkel. "You always want to go to a great bowl game and one that's very well respected. Certainly this one is. It's going to be a great experience for my players, staff and their families. Everybody wants to go to Disney World. We travel great and I know we'll travel well to this great bowl game also. I reflect back a little bit and we finished No. 5 in the nation a year ago, lost a lot of players and people didn't think we had a very good football team (going into 2014). Before you know it as we go through the grind of the schedule in 2014 we win the SEC East Championship and then play the No. 1 team in the nation in the SEC Championship game. Certainly, there's things we have to do to improve our program, but I'm so very proud of my players, coaches and this football program. This is a great opportunity. I'm real excited for our players and we'll certainly be playing this game for the University of Missouri and the SEC. We got a chance to finish strong and we'll be playing a very good football team. It will be fun getting going."

Mizzou is fresh off earning its second-straight SEC Eastern Division championship, which marked MU's fifth divisional title since 2007 (tied for most in the nation during that stretch, along with Alabama and Florida State). This will mark Mizzou's 10th bowl game appearance under Head Coach Gary Pinkel(112-66 in 14 years at Mizzou, 185-103-1 overall in 24 seasons), including nine in the last 10 years. Mizzou claimed the 2014 Cotton Bowl trophy with a 41-31 win over Oklahoma State to cap a 12-2 season a year ago.

This will be Mizzou's second appearance in the Citrus Bowl, as the Tigers claimed a 19-17 win on Dec. 19, 1981 over Southern Mississippi, when the bowl was named the Tangerine Bowl. Additionally, Head Coach Gary Pinkelwill be making a return trip himself, as he played in the game for Kent State on Dec. 29, 1972, with Tampa taking a 21-18 win.

Football Season ticket holders and Tiger Scholarship Fund donors have an extended priority deadline of tomorrow (Monday) at Noon to place orders for the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl.

Priority requests can be placed through the Mizzou Ticket Office by logging in at www.mutigers.com/myaccount and selecting 'Buy Packages/Tickets' on the home screen. Individuals can then choose the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl and select the number of seats they wish to request. Requests will then be allocated by TSF donor level and priority points prior to the general public sale, which will begin Monday afternoon at 1 p.m.

Public orders for the Citrus Bowl will begin Monday, 1 p.m. online at www.mutigers.com. Fans may also order over the phone by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS (884-PAWS in Columbia), but are strongly encouraged to order on-line to ensure prompt service.

The Mizzou Alumni Association offers official Mizzou Citrus Bowl travel packages. Fans and alumni interested in the tour options are encouraged to visit the bowl travel website at www.mizzousportstours.com. A variety of packages, options, and amenities are available including game tickets while supplies last. Fans may also call 1-888-659-7158 to book or for more information.

For updated Mizzou Football ticket information, continue to visit mutigers.com, or follow Mizzou Athletics on Twitter at @mutigersdotcom.

(Courtesy of Mizzou Athletics)

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