This was the first Gator Bowl to feature the 2nd place teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big East Conference. This was Clemson's first Gator Bowl since 1989, and Syracuse's first since 1966.

Donovan McNabb went 13-of-23 for 309 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Orangemen routed the Tigers in a rain soaked contest. Malcolm Thomas started the scoring for the Orangemen on a 1 yard touchdown run after a drive of 64 yards. McNabb went on a 5 yard run for a touchdown to make it 13-0. Marvin Harrison caught a touchdown pass from McNabb to make it 20-0 as the first quarter ended. After a scoreless second quarter, Thomas ran for his second touchdown to make it 27-0. Harrison caught his second touchdown from McNabb from 56 yards out to make it 34-0 after three quarters. Kaseem Sinceno caught a touchdown pass from McNabb in the fourth to close out the scoring. Clemson was held to less than 200 yards and committed 3 turnovers. Marvin Harrison caught seven receptions for 173 yards and two touchdowns in his final college game. This was Syracuse's sixth straight bowl win.

Both teams ended up playing another bowl game in the calendar year of 1996. The Tigers made three more bowl games before the turn of the century, and the Orange made four before the 1990s ended. The Tigers would return to the Gator Bowl in 2001 and 2009.

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