Jun 23, 2016

Gators and ‘Canes To Meet In Orlando For 2019 Camping World Kickoff

The Florida Gators will play the Miami Hurricanes in the 2019 Camping World Kickoff game. The neutral-site, season-opening match-up was officially confirmed today after months of speculation.

The 2019 matchup is the third announced Camping World Kickoff in a multi-year agreement between Camping World, Florida Citrus Sports (FCSports) and ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, to host major neutral-site regular-season games in Camping World Stadium. The stadium is already home to the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl, Russell Athletic Bowl and Florida Blue Florida Classic games, as well as previously-announced Camping World Kickoff games in 2016 (Florida State/Ole Miss) and 2018 (Louisville/Alabama).

“Florida Citrus Sports is proud to announce yet another big-time college football game for Orlando,” said FCSports Chief Executive Officer Steve Hogan. “We’re excited to pair two in-state teams for a match-up with tremendous appeal locally and nationally at the top of the 2019 season.”

History between the Florida schools is rich. Florida and Miami first met in 1938 and the Hurricanes lead the all-time series, 29-26. In the 55 meetings, more than half (26) have been decided by a touchdown or less. The 2019 game will be the seventh neutral-site meeting in the series with those matchups being split 3-3.

ESPN’s first live regular-season college football night game telecast on September 1, 1984, featured Florida vs. Miami at “the Big Sombrero,” Tampa Stadium. The thriller that saw Bernie Kosar lead the ‘Canes over freshman QB Kerwin Bell’s Gators, 32-20 followed that afternoon’s first live regular-season game on ESPN pitting BYU at Pitt. The 2019 Camping World Kickoff game will take place almost 35 years to the day from that historic contest.

Tickets will go on sale in 2019, with Florida Citrus Sports members getting priority access as they do for the annual bowl games and for the 2016 (Florida State-Ole Miss) and 2018 (Alabama-Louisville) Camping World Kickoff games. For membership information, call 407.423.2476 or click here.

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