Florida’s new College Football Kickoff Game will have its inaugural game this Labor Day when Florida State takes on Ole Miss. In 2017, Alabama will play Louisville. The 2018 game has yet to be announced.
The 2019 game? That seems to be coming together. And as expected, it should be a big one.
With the first real official confirmation that this game is coming together, Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley told Robbie Andreu of The Gainesville Sun said there is a very good chance the Gators will renew their rivalry with the Hurricanes at the Orlando Citrus Bowl in 2019.
“We’re still looking on that game in Orlando with Miami. There’s a very good chance it will happen, but that’s not final yet,” Foley said. “As far as renewing the rivalry, playing them every year, that’s not on the agenda.”
Considering Florida State just packed in somewhere near 40,000 fans in the Orlando Citrus Bowl, surely Florida and Miami want to put their flag down in Orlando and stake some territory. The Gators did help sell out the Citrus Bowl for the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1.
Florida has a good draw in The City Beautiful like Florida State. The Gators just have to go out and prove it.
This proposed game for the Kickoff Classic is certainly a big one for the city and should get plenty of interest. That one will sell out quickly once it is officially announced and tickets go on sale. That will all be a few years from now.
The dream of Florida and Miami starting an annual neutral site series? That is certainly a long, long way away. But Florida coach Jim McIlwaine seems confident that the Gators and Hurricanes will become more regular opponents.
The Florida Citrus Sports continues to make big waves with these game announcements.
