UCF, Gators, FSU open 2023 season in prime time

UCF, Florida and Florida State open the 2023 football season under the lights in front of nationally televised audiences.

UCF begins its inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference on Aug. 31 by hosting Kent State at FBC Mortgage Stadium with the game scheduled for 7 p.m. on FS1. It’s the first of two straight games on the network with the following week’s road contest at Boise State also at 7. The Knights return home to host Villanova on Sept. 16 at 6:30 with the game broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

Florida travels to Salt Lake City to take on Utah in the back half of a home-and-home series. The Gators won 29-26 in Gainesville last season. The game is scheduled for Aug. 31 with an 8 p.m. kickoff on ESPN. The Gators return home for three consecutive games, the first against McNeese State (Sept. 9, 7:30) before opening SEC play against Tennessee (Sept. 16 at 7) followed by another non-conference game against Charlotte (Sept. 23, 7).

Florida State opens its season in Orlando with the Seminoles hosting LSU at Camping World Stadium on Sept. 3 at 7:30 on ABC. It’s a rematch of last season’s opener between the programs when FSU blocked an extra point at the end to preserve a 24-23 win at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Seminoles return home to host Southern Miss (Sept. 9, 8:30) before traveling to Massachusetts to face Boston College (Sept. 16, noon).

2023 schedules

UCF

Aug. 31: Kent State (FS1), 7 p.m.

Sept. 9: at Boise State (FS1); 7

Sept. 16: Villanova (Big 12 Now on ESPN+), 6:30

UF

Aug. 31: at Utah (ESPN), 8

Sept. 9: McNeese State (ESPNU), 7:30

Sept. 16: Tennessee (SEC Network), 7

Sept. 23: Charlotte (ESPN), 7

Oct. 28: Georgia (Jacksonville) (CBS), 3:30

FSU

Sept. 3: LSU (Orlando) (ABC), 7:30

Sept. 9: Southern Miss (ACC Network), 8:30

Sept. 16: at Boston College (ABC), noon