The Gators and Hurricanes will open the 2019 season in a neutral-site game in Orlando.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida-Miami rivalry has a new date.
The Gators and Hurricanes have agreed to a deal to kick off the 2019 season, marking their first meeting since 2013. The Camping World Kickoff is scheduled for college football's opening weekend at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, which as part of a new naming rights deal, will be known as Camping World Stadium starting Wednesday.Ticket information including pricing and location will be announced at a later date from the Gator Ticket Office.
"We are pleased to have partnered with Florida Citrus Sports and ESPN Events to kick off the 2019 season against Miami,'' Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley said. "Orlando is a great Gator city and we look forward to playing in front of our fans from all over the state of Florida and beyond."
The Gators and Hurricanes have a long history dating back to their first meeting in 1938 in Gainesville. Miami leads the all-time series 29-26 and won the last meeting three years ago at home.
While the series was played annually until 1987, the Camping World Kickoff is only the second time the schools will play in Orlando. The Gators defeated the Hurricanes 19-10 at what was then known as the Tangerine Bowl in 1976, Florida taking the lead in the fourth quarter on a blocked punt by Jeff Kanter for a safety.
The Florida-Miami neutral-site game is part of the Camping World Kickoff series that also includes season openers in 2016 and 2018 in Orlando.
"I am thrilled that a Florida and Miami matchup is on the schedule,'' said Marcus Lemons, chairman and CEO of Camping World and host of "The Profit" on CNBC. "This is the type of high-quality matchup that will drive fans to Camping World Stadium. This matchup will be thrown down at the 50-yard line."
The 2019 clash will be the seventh neutral-site game in the rivalry's history. The schools have met in Jacksonville (1958-59), Orlando (1976), Tampa (1984), New Orleans (Sugar Bowl) and Atlanta (Peach Bowl) previously, splitting the six games.
The 1984 game at Tampa Stadium was ESPN's first live regular-season college football night game, which Miami won 32-20 behind quarterback Bernie Kosar.
"We always want to provide the fans with the ultimate experience, and the Gators meeting the Hurricanes in the heart of Florida certainly delivers that,'' said Pete Derzis, senior vice president for ESPN Events.
