The 1946 Gator Bowl was the first inaugural game and it featured the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the South Carolina Gamecocks, both from the Southern Conference.
Wake Forest had finished 4–0–1 down the stretch, while South Carolina was 2–3–3, but were still invited to play.
Nick Sacrinty scored for Wake Forest on a touchdown run to give them a 6–0 lead in the first quarter.
South Carolina responded with a Bobby Giles touchdown run to have a 7–6 halftime lead.
South Carolina would have a touchdown late on an interception return, but Wake Forest held on to win with the run game being their strong suit, with 378 of their 396 yards being on the run, outgaining the Gamecocks.