Cheez-It Citrus Bowl Kicks Off New Year’s Eve at 3 p.m. on ABC

Game to Feature SEC vs. Big Ten Matchup at Camping World Stadium in Orlando 

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Orlando’s New Year’s tradition, returns to December 31 this season. The 79th edition of the game, 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.

This postseason will mark the 29th time that the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl will take place in the month of December and the second time it has been held on New Year’s Eve; on Dec. 31, 2016, LSU defeated Louisville and Heisman Trophy-winner Lamar Jackson 29-9 in the 71st game.

In last season’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, held on Jan. 1 of this year, Tennessee defeated Iowa 35-0, marking just the sixth shutout in the bowl’s history. Vols true freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava was named game MVP as Tennessee reclaimed the title of winningest team in Cheez-It Citrus Bowl history, with five wins in six all-time appearances.

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. 28, 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. 8.