Come for the games and stay for even more action with hard-hitting NCAA football in Orlando.
Updated Nov. 25, 2024
Already the Theme Park Capital of the World, Orlando is making a serious play to be recognized as the country’s college football capital by hosting a full season of NCAA football bowl games and other key matchups. Check out this year’s lineup, which also includes University of Central Florida (UCF) Big 12 home games:
As if that wasn’t enough, the NFL Pro Bowl Games return to Orlando on February 2, 2025. Get our guide to the action — and tips for experiencing Orlando like a champion — ahead of this year’s can’t-miss NCAA football season.
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Vacation Like a Champion
Camping World Stadium (Courtesy Florida Citrus Sports)
Championship Adventures
Orlando is the sort of town where anything is possible. Come for the gridiron matchups and take the fun into overtime with endless adventures that start with fresh reasons to visit and continue with other winning ways to play, including:
Orlando’s hotels and resorts are champions when it comes to amazing pools — and most boast heated water in case the weather’s chilly during your stay. You’ll find plenty of extras, too, such as lazy rivers, waterslides, underwater sound systems and sandy beaches. Some even have their own onsite water parks, not to mention award-winning dining, spas, gorgeous golf courses and more.
José Andrés’ JALEO at DISNEY SPRINGS®, Part of WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort
Championship Dining & Nightlife
There’s no better way to celebrate a big win (or dull the pain of a loss) than feasting like royalty, which you can do in style at thousands of restaurants throughout the area. With so many choices, you’re sure to find the perfect meal — especially when you factor in our MICHELIN Guide dining, celebrity chefs and homegrown culinary heroes, and ample farm-to-table freshness.
You can also get your pre-game on in style at one of our many craft breweries or, if you like a side of fancy with your football, our wineries and wine bars. And if you can’t score tickets to the game, you can always catch it in big-screen glory at numerous sports bars and other nightlife venues.
Kayaking at JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
More Ways to Win
Whatever you like to do on vacation, you’ll find it in Orlando. Authentic neighborhoods, wild ecotourism, rich diversity, uplifting arts and culture, electric nightlife, sensational shopping, and much more is waiting for you every time you visit.
In other words, no matter who you’re rooting for in this year’s bowl games, you’re going to win. See which games are coming, make your plans and secure your tickets today.
Orlando’s NCAA football matchups give you the chance to see top college players at Camping World Stadium in downtown Orlando’s West Lakes Market Street District, as well as UCF FBC Mortgage Stadium east of downtown. The latter will also host a full season of UCF Knights Big 12 football — grab those tickets now if you haven’t already, because they go fast.
Part of the International Drive Entertainment District, aka I-Drive, Pointe Orlando is hosting pre-game parties for two upcoming bowl games, including the Pop Tarts® Bowl Pep Rally (Dec. 27, 2024) and the Cheez-It® Citrus Bowl Pep Rally (Dec. 30, 2024). Participating teams’ bands and cheerleaders will perform at both, along with special appearances by the head coaches. Don’t miss your chance to be loud, proud and in a crowd of your fellow fans!
More than a game, the StaffDNA Cure Bowl helps to raise funds for cancer research — $4.14 million since 2015 — putting Orlando at the center of some of the world’s greatest advancements in that field. Much of that money has stayed local, too, with more than $1.6 million going to Dr. Annette Khaled, professor at the UCF College of Medicine’s Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences and head of the medical school’s cancer research division. Held at Camping World Stadium, this game will be televised on ESPN.
Pop-Tarts® Bowl (Courtesy Florida Citrus Sports)
Pop-Tarts® Bowl (Dec. 28, 2024)
Now in its 35th year, the Pop-Tarts® Bowl will feature the top selection from the ACC (inclusive of Notre Dame) outside of the College Football Playoff (CFP) series and the second selection from the Big 12 outside of the CFP series. It’s part of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and will be televised, with details to be announced.
Top teams from the Southeastern Conference and the Big Ten Conference will take the field for the Cheez-It® Citrus Bowl. Airing on ABC, this is the seventh-oldest collegiate bowl game in the country, having started in 1947 as the Tangerine Bowl. It is also part of the NCAA Division 1 FBS football season.
University of Central Florida FBC Mortgage Stadium (Courtesy Greater Orlando Sports Commission)
Hula Bowl (Jan. 11, 2025)
The Hula Bowl returns to Orlando’s UCF FBC Mortgage Stadium, home of one of Florida’s most exciting college football teams: the UCF Knights. Player invitations for this NCAA all-star game, which will be televised on CBS, are determined by the Hula Bowl Selection Committee based on the athletes’ potential to make a professional football team roster. In other words, expect an action-packed preview of future NFL stars.
Still not enough football for you? Don’t forget about the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl Games, returning to Camping World Stadium on Feb. 2, 2025. This year’s edition will feature a multi-day competition with exciting skills challenges and action-packed flag football games. Stay tuned for details — and start planning your football getaway to Orlando.
Stay Connected to Orlando
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Nate Shelton is a native Floridian and longtime Orlandoan who enjoys everything that makes life worth living. (Especially his wife and their cats.) He’s a content senior manager at Visit Orlando.
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