Gator Bowl: Latest News, Notes and Analysis for Buckeyes vs. Gators

The TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl is just hours away, and for Ohio State, this will be their last bowl game until, at the earliest, December 2013.

The final game of the pre-Urban Meyer era pits OSU against Meyer's old team, the Florida Gators.

With kickoff just around the corner, there have been a few minor developments leading up to this game.

Here are the latest stories surrounding the two teams in the Gator Bowl.

Rod Smith Doesn't Travel with Team

Ohio State RB Rod Smith, who was the No. 2 option behind Carlos Hyde with Jordan Hall and Dan Herron under suspension to start the year, did not make the trip to Jacksonville with the team for unknown reasons.

The big back from Fort Wayne, Ind. has not had a carry since the Sept. 24 game against Colorado.

He is fourth in the depth chart, but he'll move up with the graduation of Herron.

Smith rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns this season for OSU, but he has had a fumbling issue to start his career.

Shazier to Start in Spite of Injury

Freshman sensation Ryan Shazier is expected to start in the Gator Bowl tomorrow despite tearing an MCL in the loss to Michigan in the end of November.

The young stud from Plantation has been a tremendous playmaker at linebacker, a position that has been very disappointing on the whole this year.

He has been a great playmaker both on defense and special teams with his incredible speed and his aggressive style of play despite being slightly undersized.

For weeks up until his injury, he was among the best players on a Buckeye defense full of experienced players.

Could Field Conditions Be a Problem?

The field at EverBank Field in Jacksonville should be a more legitimate concern than most people are probably realizing.

The hometown Jaguars hosted the Indianapolis Colts on the same field Sunday, meaning there was a short turnaround to get the stadium ready for the Gator Bowl.

And there has to be a concern about the condition of the field, because most grass fields are torn up after just one game.

It won't be worse than the 2010 Capital One Bowl between LSU and Penn State for sure, but don't be surprised if the field conditions are subpar for kickoff on Monday.

Meyer Won't Be at the Game

Ohio State head coach (as of Jan. 3) Urban Meyer told reporters that he had no intention of attending the Gator Bowl due to the obvious distraction he will likely be.

His presence, though, is undoubtedly as big as any one player on the game itself.

On one hand, there will be plenty of OSU underclassmen looking to impress their new boss before he institutes his first winter workouts.

On the other hand, former Florida players who played under Meyer might feel betrayed and will play with more anger towards Ohio State and their old coach.

Whatever impact his presence has, the one thing that we might not see at the game is the newest coach of the Buckeyes.

OT Patchan out for Gators, Nixon to Start

The Florida offensive line took a major hit as starting offensive tackle Matt Patchan was ruled out of the Gator Bowl due to an upper back injury sustained in pre-bowl practice.

Former starter Xavier Nixon, who was benched due to inconsistent play, will get the start at right tackle.

Nixon will have his hands full dealing with stud DE John Simon, who will be moved all around the Buckeye defensive front to create mismatches and problems for an inconsistent Florida front five.

Patchan started the last seven games up front for the Gators, but Nixon has been a starter for most of the past two seasons up front.

Hopefully for the Gators, there won't be too much of a drop-off because with their inconsistent offense, they can't afford a letdown from Nixon.

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