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Orange Bowl officials announce change in kickoff time following NFL schedule release
By Keith Farner
Published:
Orange Bowl officials are moving up the kickoff time from 8 p.m. to 4 p.m. for the game on Dec. 30 this season to accommodate the NFL’s 8 p.m. game between the Lions and Cowboys.
That came after the NFL opted to move the Monday night game to Saturday night that weekend and will not play a game on Monday night, Jan. 1.
Last year’s game was especially orange as No. 6 Tennessee of the SEC versus No. 7 Clemson of the ACC in the highest-ranked non-playoff Orange Bowl matchup in the CFP era. The Vols prevailed over the Tigers 31-14 behind an MVP performance from Joe Milton III, who threw for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns to help Tennessee cap off an 11-win season.
The game annually pits a matchup of the ACC against the highest ranked non-Playoff, non-champion from the B1G, SEC, or Notre Dame.
The Orange Bowl will be in the mix of the expanded Playoff.
The Orange Bowl will host a Playoff Semifinal on Thursday, January 9, 2025 and a Playoff Quarterfinal on Thursday, January 1, 2026. Miami will also be home to the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, January 19, 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
