Fans from Missouri and Virginia are packing Jacksonville with excitement ahead of the Gator Bowl, kicking off the celebration with pep rallies at the beach.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The countdown is on ahead of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, where Missouri and Virginia will face off Saturday night at EverBank Stadium.

Thousands of fans have already arrived in Jacksonville, filling downtown hotels, restaurants and beaches as they prepare to cheer on their teams. The city expects roughly 30,000 people to attend the game.

At a pep rally Friday night at Jacksonville Beach, fans from both sides showed their spirit with competing chants of “M-I-Z-Z-O-U!” and “U-V-A!” setting the tone for one of the city’s biggest sporting events of the year.

For many families, this year’s bowl game carries special meaning. One Virginia fan said she couldn’t be prouder to see her son take the field for the Cavaliers.

“I’m super excited,” she said. “This is a great opportunity for him. It’s his last year on the football field, and what a way to end it at the Gator Bowl.”

Her son, Cam Ross, is a wide receiver and return specialist for the University of Virginia. His relatives said they plan to make their presence known in the stands.

“He’s gonna rock it tomorrow,” one family member said. “Give Cam the ball. We’re gonna turn it up. We’re always the loudest in the building.”

On the other side of the rivalry, Missouri fans made the trip from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to see defensive tackle Chris McClellan finish his senior season.

“Family above everything,” said Ella Robinson, McClellan’s grandmother. “He’s been playing since he was five years old, so this moment is incredible.”

As fans prepare for kickoff, not everyone is eager to navigate the game-day traffic.

“Too much going on down there,” one local joked. “I’d probably get run over with my cane.”

Still, many fans say the crowds only add to the fun.

“This is our third bowl game,” another fan said. “It’s great to have the kids and family come along, it’s what makes it special.”

At the beach rally, loyalties were easy to spot. Some fans yelled “Go Cavaliers!” while others were confident “Mizzou’s gonna win.”

But one 9-year-old in the crowd had a different perspective.

“You don’t have all this time with your family,” the young girl said. “It’s special, it’s meaningful, like memories.”

Parking lots at EverBank Stadium open at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Tailgating begins at 3:30, gates open at 5:30, and kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tickets are still available through Ticketmaster.