What to know about the 8 bowl games happening in Florida this winter
Here’s what you need to know about the eight bowl games happening in Florida this winter, from memorable moments to 2024 ticket information.
If you just love football in all its thrill and glory, then you’ll be happy to know that Florida hosts eight NCAA Football Bowl Games each year throughout the state. And with winters being generally mild across the Sunshine State, fans can delight in the thrill of American football while basking in the great Florida weather.
Here’s where you—and the whole family—can enjoy some of the best games across Florida.
1. Pop-Tarts Bowl
The Pop-Tarts Bowl—an annual college football bowl game sponsored by the Pop-Tarts brand and played in Orlando’s Camping World Stadium—was first played in 1990 in Miami Gardens, Florida, before moving to its new home in 2001.
And the fans loved it. With each successive year in Orlando, the bowl saw eight consecutive years of attendance increases. In fact, in 2011, Florida State and Notre Dame played before a sold-out crowd of 68,305!
In last season’s game, Kansas State became the 22nd different winner in the bowl’s history. This year, the 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl will kick off December 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC and will again feature top teams from the Atlantic Coast and Big 12 Conferences at Camping World Stadium.
Find tickets and more information here.
2. Capital One Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl Committee was created 85 years ago—in 1935—with one overriding mission: to generate tourism for South Florida. Since then, the non-profit organization has promoted championship sporting events and other year-round activities to inspire youth, engage the community, and enhance the South Florida economy.
In a game that is full of thrills, true-blue (or orange) fans still remember when, on Oct. 14, 2004, Brock Berlin threw for 308 yards, including 215 after halftime, and directed the winning drive in the thrilling final minute.
Want to enjoy similar thrills? The 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal will take place at the Capital One Orange Bowl Thursday, January 9, 2025 7:30 p.m. ET at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Find tickets and more information here.
3. Reliaquest Bowl
One of the most popular and successful bowl games in the country, the Reliaquest Bowl contributes more than $176 million combined to universities. To date, more than $4 million has been donated to more than 190 charitable organizations through this program. No wonder the Tampa Bay Business Journal recognized it as a “One Tampa Bay Honoree for Corporate Philanthropy.”
In a bowl full of memorable moments, one standout remains when, in 2012, the Bowl went to triple overtime, only the third time in NCAA history a bowl game has gone to that point. That’s when Michigan State University came back from a 0-16 deficit at halftime to defeat Georgia 33-30, blocking a field goal attempt on the final play!
This year, the not-to-be-missed Bowl will take place on December 31, 2024, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
Find tickets and more information here.
4. TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Lore has it that when Maurice Cherry looked out of his window on Main Street, he found Jacksonville so dull and lifeless that an idea popped into his head to bring some fun to the area and do some good at the same time.
The result of his ennui is the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, a game that has showcased many of college football’s biggest names, from Heisman Trophy winners George Rogers and Pat Sullivan to Desmond Howard and Lamar Jackson. Outstanding players include Dan Marino, Larry Csonka, and Peyton Manning.
Recent memorable moments include when, in 2021, A.J. Rose ran for a career-high 148 yards, Chris Rodriguez added 84 yards and two scores, and Kentucky held off No. 24 North Carolina State 23-21.
The next exciting TaxSlayer Gator Bowl will be held on January 2, 2025, at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. The 80th annual game will feature a team from the Southeastern Conference (SEC), including Oklahoma and Texas, as its home team, and will face an opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), which will include California, SMU and Stanford.
Find tickets and more information here.
5. Cheez-It® Citrus Bowl
The Cheez-It Citrus Bowl began as the Tangerine Bowl in 1947, and since 1993, it has hosted top teams from the Big Ten and Southeastern conferences. The game moved to a New Year’s Day date in 1987 and has remained a New Year’s Day tradition (except in years when the holiday falls on a Sunday).
Memorable moments include the 2000 game, when Paul Edinger kicked a 39-yard field goal as time expired, and the Spartans defeated Steve Spurrier’s Gators 37-34! Quarterbacks Bill Burke of Michigan State and Doug Johnson of Florida threw three touchdowns each, the first time in bowl history that both team quarterbacks had thrown for three touchdowns.
This year, the Cheez-It® Citrus Bowl will take place on December 31, 2024, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
Find tickets and more information here.
6. StaffDNA Cure Bowl
The inaugural StaffDNA Cure Bowl in 2015 saw Georgia State and San Jose State face off. The game featured a spotlight on breast cancer survivors and their family members, who were included in the pregame and halftime ceremonies. Dedicated to bringing teams together to find a cure for cancer, the StaffDNA Cure Bowl has since raised over $4.14 million for this worthy cause.
So, although the games played on the field are full of thrills, the real excitement comes from knowing that the StaffDNA Cure Bowl is not only a platform that helps raise funds for individual cancer researchers but also educates college athletes from the participating teams about the importance of cancer research.
This year, the StaffDNA Cure Bowl will be held on December 20, 2024, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
Find tickets and more information here.
7. Boca Raton Bowl
Founded in October of 2013, the Boca Raton Bowl has one overriding mission: to provide a first-class experience to the student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni, and fans of the annual participating institutions.
One thing about the team from “Mouth of the Mouse” (Boca Raton in Spanish): they will host plenty of fun events before the game! For example, Bowl Teams Beach Parties will be held on December 15 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Lake Worth Beach Pier and Benny’s on the Beach.
The Boca Raton Bowl teams will be announced on Dec. 8. The event will take place on December 17 at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton.
Find tickets and more information here.
8. Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
For nearly two decades, the Tampa Bay community has been the home of an unforgettable Bowl Week celebration. Dedicated to making a long-term investment in the Tampa Bay community, the Gasparilla Bowl Gives Back by partnering with local nonprofits to support programs that benefit local youth, the military, and the area’s unique ecosystem. But you may be asking yourself: What, exactly, is a Gasparilla?
Founded in 1904 and inspired by the legend of Pirate Jose Gaspar, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla is an organization dedicated to enriching Tampa and supporting various Tampa-based charities, regularly visiting hospitals, assisted living centers, and schools.
The Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl on December 20 takes place at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
Find tickets and more information here.
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