The 2023 game is the fourth in a multi-year agreement between Florida Citrus Sports and ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, to host a major neutral-site college football game in Camping World Stadium during the opening weekend of the college football season.
The Tigers and Seminoles have not met on the gridiron since 1991, and Florida State holds a 7-2 all-time lead in the series, which began in 1968. Prior to squaring off in Orlando, the teams will also meet in a 2022 kickoff game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
LSU is 2-3 in five previous bowl appearances in Orlando, a run that includes Citrus Bowl victories over Louisville (2017) and Wake Forest (1979). Following the 1979 game, former LSU head coach Charlie McClendon became Florida Citrus Sports’ executive director, a title he held for two years.
Florida State is 9-0-2 in 11 previous contests in Orlando, a run that includes neutral-site victories over Memphis, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, Duke and Wake Forest between 1990 and 1996.
The Seminoles’ first visit to Central Florida came in 1952, a 6-6 tie with defending Tangerine Bowl champion Stetson. Florida State’s first Orlando bowl appearance came in a victory over Texas Tech in the 1977 Tangerine Bowl, and Florida State tied Georgia 17-17 in 1984 in their only other appearance in what is now known as the Vrbo Citrus Bowl. The ‘Noles also won the 2008 and 2011 Champs Sports Bowls over Wisconsin and Notre Dame, respectively.