OLE MISS AND TEXAS TECH ACCEPT BIDS TO PLAY IN TAXACT TEXAS BOWL
Tickets on Sale for 17th Edition of Houston’s Largest Annual College Football Event
HOUSTON – Ole Miss and Texas Tech have accepted bids to play in the 2022 TaxAct Texas Bowl, the bowl organizing committee announced today. The 2022 TaxAct Texas Bowl will be played at 8 p.m. CT on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at NRG Stadium in Houston. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN with national radio on ESPN Radio and a local radio broadcast available on SportsRadio 610 (KILT-AM). Tickets and suites are now available for purchase www.taxacttexasbowl.com.
“We are excited to announce the 2022 TaxAct Texas Bowl between the Ole Miss Rebels and Texas Tech Red Raiders, two great institutions from the SEC and Big 12, respectively,” remarked TaxAct Texas Bowl Executive Director, David Fletcher. “The Bowl is one of the largest annual events in our community and we’re thrilled to welcome Ole Miss and Texas Tech back to Houston. We look forward to hosting these teams and their fan bases for a festive bowl week of Texas-themed events that will culminate in a primetime showdown at NRG Stadium on December 28.”
Ole Miss will represent the Southeastern Conference, while Texas Tech will represent the Big 12 Conference. The two programs have met six times before, with Ole Miss most recently earning a 47-27 victory against Texas Tech on September 1, 2018, at the Texas Kickoff in Houston. The 2022 TaxAct Texas Bowl will mark Ole Miss’ first appearance in the bowl. Texas Tech will make its third appearance in the TaxAct Texas Bowl and first since December 29, 2015, when the Red Raiders were defeated by No. 22 LSU 56-27.
“Ole Miss and Texas Tech are two programs with tremendous fans and traditions. We look forward to celebrating their outstanding achievements this season at the TaxAct Texas Bowl,” said TaxAct President Curtis Campbell.
Ole Miss (8-4, 4-4 SEC) comes to Houston following a campaign that had an explosive start in 2022. Lane Kiffin’s offensive prowess facilitated a rushing attack that led the SEC and ranked third in the FBS in rushing offense. The Rebels came in second in the SEC and seventh nationally in total offense. True freshman sensation RB Quinshon Judkins led the conference in rushing yards with 1,476. Judkins ranks sixth in the nation for rushing touchdowns (16), and ninth in rushing yards per game (123.0). The Rebels defense has caused problems for opposing offenses as they lead the SEC in team tackles (922) and sack yards with 253 on 33.0 sacks.
“We look forward to making our first appearance in the TaxAct Texas Bowl and continuing our rich bowl tradition,” said Ole Miss Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Keith Carter. “Houston is one of our largest and most passionate alumni bases, and this game presents an excellent opportunity to join the Ole Miss family in the Lone Star state. We are grateful for this national platform, and we expect Rebel Nation to be well represented.”
Texas Tech enters the game 7-5 (5-4 Big 12), winning their last three in a row against Kansas, Iowa State, and Oklahoma to finish fourth in the Big 12. The Red Raiders celebrated early season upsets against No. 25 Houston and No. 22 Texas in Lubbock. Texas Tech leads the Big 12 in passing yards per game, averaging over 327. The offense effectively moved the ball, ranking third in the nation for first downs. The Red Raider defense recorded a conference-high 29.0 sacks this season. Run-stuffing LB Krishon Merriweather finished second in the Big 12 for total tackles with 91. Texas Tech was staunch in the red zone, ranking ninth in the nation in defensive red zone efficiency.
“Texas Tech is honored to accept an invitation to play in the TaxAct Texas Bowl,” said Texas Tech Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt. “We cannot wait to showcase our football program in one of the largest alumni bases of Red Raiders in the state of Texas. We look forward to painting the city of Houston and NRG Stadium scarlet and black for an exciting matchup with Ole Miss.”
“On behalf of our entire program, we are excited for the opportunity to play in one of the premier bowl games this state has to offer in the TaxAct Texas Bowl,” said Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire. “Wherever the Red Raiders go, so does the most passionate fan base in all of college football. We can’t wait to see a sea of Red Raiders take over NRG Stadium as we face a talented Ole Miss team.”
The 2022 edition of the TaxAct Texas Bowl will mark the event’s ninth year of affiliation with the Big 12 and the SEC. The 2021 game featured Kansas State and LSU with the Wildcats emerging victorious 42-20. Kansas State senior QB Skylar Thompson was recognized with MVP honors following a three-touchdown performance.
Entering its 17th year, the TaxAct Texas Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, and managed locally by Lone Star Sports & Entertainment, an event management company founded in 2003 that is closely affiliated with the NFL’s Houston Texans. Since 2016, the TaxAct Texas Bowl has the fifth-highest attendance among all college football bowls, trailing only the Rose, Peach, Fiesta and Orange bowls. The TaxAct Texas Bowl and its sister event, the Texas Kickoff, have combined to create an economic impact of close to $80 million annually for the city of Houston while raising over $2.1 million in financial support and millions more in promotional support for DePelchin Children’s Center, Houston’s oldest children’s charity and the bowl’s official charitable beneficiary.
For more information about the game and affiliated Bowl Week activities, fans can visit www.taxacttexasbowl.com or follow along on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
About TaxAct
TaxAct is a savvy, tax-filing solution that provides filers with affordable DIY tax software to successfully navigate the U.S. tax code. As a pioneer in the industry, TaxAct’s products enable all users – regardless of profession, tax bracket or complexity of their return – to quickly and accurately file their taxes all while discovering new ways to leverage their tax situation and improve their financial well-being. At TaxAct, taxes are our expertise, but we don’t see them as the end goal. Rather, we believe taxes are a stepping-stone to possibility. Possibilities that are unique as every filer. Possibilities that help each hardworking American not only claim the money they deserve but also enable them to make smart money decisions. We deliver the power of possibility through straightforward technology to help filers secure their best tax outcome and elevate their financial lives.
To learn more about TaxAct, a business of Blucora, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCOR), visit www.taxact.com or connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. For more information on Blucora, visit www.blucora.com.
About ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In 2022, the 32-event schedule includes three early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events, and a college softball event, which account for approximately 400 hours of live programming, while reaching nearly 64 million viewers and attracting over 800,000 annual attendees. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans. For more information, visit the official website, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube pages.
Lone Star Sports & Entertainment
Lone Star Sports & Entertainment is an event management company founded in 2003 that is closely affiliated with the NFL’s Houston Texans. Since its founding, LSSE has established itself as the leading sports event promoter in Houston. In addition to producing annual college football events such as the TaxAct Texas Bowl and the Battle of the Piney Woods rivalry between Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin, LSSE has emerged as a premier promoter for international soccer matches, including the Copa de Lone Star, Copa America Centenario, the 2010 MLS All-Star Game featuring Manchester United, the 2006 FC Barcelona U.S. tour, the International Champions Cup, the 2003 and 2008 matches between the United States and Mexico, and the 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2019 and 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cups.
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