MIAMI — The Hurricanes and Gators are discussing whether to move their season-opening football game up a week to Aug. 24, the University of Florida confirmed Thursday..
The teams are agreeable to the move, but it will have to be approved by the NCAA. Talks between both schools, ESPN, Florida Citrus Sports and the College Football 150th Anniversary Organization are ongoing, but a release said a decision is expected shortly.
“This is a unique and rare opportunity that would showcase college football, both stories programs, and the state of Florida,” a joint statement released Thursday said.
The Camping World Kickoff game, which for now is scheduled for Aug. 31, would remain in Orlando, Florida, and it would serve as a marquee, prime-time kickoff to what will be celebrated as the 150th season of college football.
It also would necessitate Florida and Miami to open their training camps early, which also would require NCAA approval.
Arizona is already slated to face host Hawaii on Aug. 24 and there is also a Football Championship Subdivision game scheduled that day.
The 150th anniversary of college football is set to be recognized all around the college game this year — at the FBS and FCS levels, as well as NCAA Divisions II and III and the NAIA. It’s widely believed that the first game was Nov. 6, 1869, when Princeton played Rutgers.
The Gators and Hurricanes first met in 1938. Miami leads the all-time series 29-26.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.