The Missouri Tigers have accepted a bid to play South Carolina in the 2005 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. on December 30. Mizzou (6-5) is headed back to the Independence Bowl for the second time in three years. They lost to Arkansas 27-14 in 2003.

The Tigers will face South Carolina (7-4) for the second time ever. The only other game against the Gamecocks came in the 1979 Hall of Fame Bowl. MU won that game 24-14 despite 136 yards from Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers. South Carolina is coached by Steve Spurrier who is in his first season at South Carolina. In the 1966, MU beat Florida 20-18 in the Sugar Bowl—Spurrier was Florida’s quarterback.