Where USA TODAY Sports sees Florida playing its bowl game after Week 5

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The Florida Gators' College Football Playoff aspiration took a hit in Week 5 after the Missouri Tigers issued a 45-17 beatdown at Faurot Field for the first loss of the Jon Sumrall era.

Sumrall and Co. were projected for their first-ever CFP appearance last week after beating Ole Miss; this time around, USA TODAY Sports writer Erick Smith has Florida back in the mix among the regular bowl games in his latest predictions. He now has the Gators facing the SMU Mustangs in the Gator Bowl heading into Week 6.

Florida has split its four prior meetings with SMU. The Mustangs won both games played on a neutral field — a 35-25 victory in 1978 (Orlando) and a 21-14 triumph in 1972 (Tampa) — while the Gators prevailed in Gainesville in 1964, 24-8, and 1975, 40-14.

UF has played in the Gator Bowl nine times dating back to 1952, with seven wins over that span. The last time Florida participated in the in-state event was in 2012 during Will Muschamp's first season on the sidelines, beating Ohio State, 24-17. The last time Florida lost a Gator Bowl game was 1975, when Maryland snuck by Doug Dickey's squad, 17-13.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Where USA TODAY Sports sees Florida playing its bowl game after Week 5

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