Florida Gators' season-ending three-game skid in 2015 ended with the worse defeat of all, a 41-7 collapse during the Citrus Bowl against Michigan.
The Gators are determined to avoid a similar collapse when they face Iowa at 1 p.m. Jan. 2 in the Outback Bowl. The matchup was first reported by ESPN's Brett McMurphy.
The Outback Bowl features a pair of struggling offenses and strong defenses.
Iowa (8-4) is 120th nationally in total offense and 24th in total defense.
With so much focus on the College Football Playoff semifinals Dec. 31, the game will be an afterthought for many college football fans. But the game is critical for the Gators' program.
"It's going to mean a lot," senior linebacker Jarrad Davis. "It's going to show that we have fight. That's how big this challenge is to show that we can continue to fight. When later on in the season things haven't really gone our way. But just to continue to push and continue to fight through down times, that's going to show what we're made of.
"I don't think people realize what exactly we have in us. It's another opportunity for us to showcase it."
UF (8-4) will enter the bowl game on a two-game losing streak following Saturday's 54-16 loss to Alabama. Last season, the Gators lost to Florida State and Alabama in consecutive weeks
Coach Jim McElwain believes his team will be prepared and show up during the postseason.
"I was really disappointed, obviously, in the effort last year, but this is a different team," McElwain said. "We've got some guys that are in for a lot more than just themselves."
The Jan. 1 loss to Michigan undid many of the good vibes created during a turnaround season under McElwain, who led UF to the SEC East title and was named the league's coach of the year.
While beating Iowa will not make for a smooth offseason for McElwain, a loss could make for a miserable one.
Fans see a program with more questions than answers and not enough successes on the recruiting trail. Three straight losses to end the season again will turn up the heat to a boiling point for the second-year coach.
"Very, very important," left tackle David Sharpe called the bowl game. "Everybody has to still come and play hard. A lot of guys are going to be disappointed, but will got to win the ball game for coach and all these seniors and the guys that's leaving."
The Outback Bowl will be UF's 24th bowl game in the state during 43 bowl appearances.
The Gators last appeared in the Outback Bowl in 2011, Urban Meyer's final game at UF and Joe Paterno's final game at Penn State. The Gators defeated the Nittany Lions 34-27.
The Gators are 2-2 in four appearances in the game.
