ORLANDO, Fla. – Conference champions Jacksonville State and Ohio will face off in the 10th annual Cure Bowl this Friday, Dec. 20, at Camping World Stadium.
“Our program is extremely excited to be playing in the Cure Bowl,” Ohio interim head coach Brian Smith said at a news conference on Tuesday. “It is one I have not had the opportunity to be a part of yet but have heard a lot about. The thing that makes this bowl special, aside from the great location you get to be at, is what it represents.”
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Called the StaffDNA Cure Bowl this year, the game recognizes those fighting cancer and cancer survivors and raises money for cancer research. Since 2015 (the first Cure Bowl), the bowl has raised more than $4 million.
“As a person who lost lost their mother to cancer, to me, this is very important,” Jax State interim head coach Rod Smith said. “I truly appreciate everything this bowl stands for and what they’re trying to accomplish. I take great pride in having the opportunity to lead these men.”
This is also the only bowl game outside of the College Football Playoff in which two conference champions will play each other. Jax State won the CUSA (Conference USA), and Ohio won the MAC (Mid-American Conference). Both are considered “Group of 5″ schools.
“When you have a chance to play another really successful program, I think it’s a great opportunity for your team,” Ohio’s Brian Smith said. “It’s great for competition, and it’s great for the competition between different conferences.”
News 6 Sports Director Jamie Seh will be the national radio play-by-play caller for the fifth straight year. She was a part of history with the first all-female radio broadcast crew for the 2019 Cure Bowl.
From the state of Alabama, the Jax State Gamecocks (9-4, 7-1 CUSA) won the CUSA title 52-12 over Western Kentucky. This is the second season the program has played on the FBS level and earned a bowl game appearance for the second straight year. Jax State’s rushing game is second in the nation, averaging 267.3 yards per game. Quarterback Tyler Huff has thrown for over 2,100 yards and 13 touchdowns.
“We’re confident in us,” Huff said. “We got everything we need to beat [Ohio], we’re excited to go out there and show that.”
The Ohio Bobcats (10-3, 7-1 MAC) won the MAC title 38-3 over Miami (Ohio), the first MAC title since 1968 and fifth overall. The Bobcats have had three straight 10-win seasons and earned a bowl game bid for five straight seasons. Ohio only allows 97 rushing yards per game, seventh best in the nation. Quarterback and former UCF Knight Parker Navarro has thrown for almost 2,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also has almost 900 rushing yards and a team-high 13 rushing touchdowns.
“We’re all pumped up to get to go and play against [Jax State] and showcase our abilities one last time,” Navarro said.
According to Vegas Insider, Ohio is a 2.5 point favorite.
Two other bowl games will be played at Camping World Stadium. The Pop Tarts Bowl, featuring Miami (FL) and Iowa State, is Saturday, Dec. 28, at 3:30 p.m., and the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, featuring South Carolina and Illinois, is Tuesday, Dec. 31, at 3:00 p.m.