80th Edition of Cheez-It Citrus Bowl Set for New Year’s Eve at 3 p.m. ET on ABC

ORLANDO, Florida — The 80th edition of the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl is set for Wednesday, Dec. 31, closing out a yearlong celebration of one of college football’s most historic postseason games. The New Year’s Eve matchup, featuring top teams from the Southeastern and Big Ten Conferences, will kick off at 3 p.m. ET on ABC, serving as a lead-in to that evening’s College Football Playoff quarterfinals.

First played in 1947 as the Tangerine Bowl, the Citrus Bowl is the seventh-oldest bowl game in college football. Throughout the 2025 season, FCS will commemorate the milestone with a series of events and storytelling initiatives celebrating eight decades of rich history, community impact and unforgettable moments.

The 2025 matchup marks the 30th time the Citrus Bowl will be played in December and the third time it will be held on New Year’s Eve. In last season’s game, also played on Dec. 31, No. 20 Illinois defeated No. 15 South Carolina 21-17. Illini running back Josh McCray earned MVP honors with 114 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter, lifting the Illini to their first 10-win season since 2001.

Florida Citrus Sports’ second bowl game, the Pop-Tarts Bowl, features teams from the Atlantic Coast and Big 12 Conferences and will be played on Saturday, Dec. 27, at 3:30 p.m. ET, with coverage also on ABC.

Tickets to both the Pop-Tarts Bowl and the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl are available now exclusively through Florida Citrus Sports and will go on sale to the public after teams are selected on Sunday, Dec. 7.

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