The 2005 Gator Bowl was the 60th edition of the annual post‑season college football bowl game, officially titled the 2005 Toyota Gator Bowl for sponsorship purposes. The contest was played on January 1, 2005 at Alltel Stadium (now EverBank Stadium) in Jacksonville, Florida.
Participants
- Florida State Seminoles (Atlantic Coast Conference) – 8–3 record, coached by Bobby Bowden.
- West Virginia Mountaineers (Big East Conference) – 8–3 record, coached by Rich Rodriguez.
Game outcome
- Final score: Florida State 30, West Virginia 18.
- Scoring by quarter (FSU): 10, 3, 10, 7; (WVU): 12, 0, 3, 3.
- Most Valuable Players: Running back Leon Washington (FSU) and wide receiver Kay‑Jay Harris (FSU).
Attendance and broadcast
- Attendance: 70,112 spectators.
- Television: The game was televised in the United States on NBC, with commentary by Tom Hammond and Pat Haden.
Significance
- The game concluded the 2004 NCAA Division I‑FBS football season for both teams.
- It marked Bobby Bowden’s 18th bowl victory, bringing him within one win of Joe Paterno’s record at the time.
- The matchup continued the traditional conference tie‑ins of the Gator Bowl, pairing an ACC representative with a Big East representative.
Overall, the 2005 Gator Bowl is remembered for Florida State’s decisive victory, the strong defensive performance by the Seminoles, and its status as one of the prominent New Year’s Day bowl games in the 2004‑05 college football postseason.