Central Florida, October 3, 2025
News Summary
Central Florida’s late 2025 sports calendar is lined with an exciting array of college football, professional football, NBA games, and men’s college basketball. With major rivalry matches and multiple home events for local teams, the calendar promises a thrilling time for sports enthusiasts. Key games include Florida vs. Texas and UCF vs. Kansas. The Orlando Magic will kick off their season at home, while NFL teams Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars will also feature prominently in the schedule. The scheduling impacts logistics and travel for the region.
Orlando — Central Florida’s late-2025 sports calendar presents a dense schedule of college football, professional football, NBA preseason and regular-season games, and men’s college basketball, with multiple home dates for Orlando-based teams and several nationally staged fixtures through December 31, 2025. The calendar includes high-profile rivalry games, NFL matchups hosted in Florida, bowl games and tournament stops that will affect travel, venue operations and local event planning.
Lead highlights
The calendar begins with two major college football matchups on October 4, 2025 and spans through New Year’s Eve bowl games on December 31, 2025. Early October features a pair of in-state and regional marquee games: Florida vs. Texas and UCF vs. Kansas. The Orlando Magic open preseason play away before beginning their regular season at home on October 22, 2025. NFL clubs based in the region appear frequently, including home games for both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Jacksonville Jaguars, as well as a Jaguars international fixture.
Key October events
- October 4, 2025:
- Florida vs. Texas (College Football at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL) at 3:30 p.m.
- UCF vs. Kansas (College Football at Acrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL) at 7:30 p.m.
- October 5, 2025:
- Orlando Magic first preseason game vs. Miami Heat in San Juan, PR at 4:05 p.m.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Seattle Seahawks (Lumen Field, Seattle, WA).
- October 6, 2025:
- Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Kansas City Chiefs (EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL) at 8:15 p.m.
- October 11–12, 2025:
- UCF at Cincinnati (College Football at Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH).
- Florida at Texas A&M (College Football in College Station, TX).
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. San Francisco 49ers (Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL) at 1:00 PM.
- Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Seattle Seahawks (EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL) at 1:00 PM.
- October 18–20, 2025:
- UCF vs. West Virginia (College Football – Homecoming at Acrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL).
- Florida vs. Mississippi State (College Football – Homecoming at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL).
- Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Los Angeles Rams at Wembley Stadium, London, UK at 9:30 a.m.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions (Ford Field, Detroit, MI) at 7:00 p.m.
- October 22–31, 2025:
- Orlando Magic season opener vs. Miami Heat (Kia Center, Orlando, FL) at 7:00 p.m. on October 22, 2025.
- Multiple Orlando Magic home dates at Kia Center and road games for the team through the end of October and into November.
November schedule highlights
- November 1, 2025:
- UCF at Baylor (College Football at McLane Stadium, Waco, TX).
- Florida vs. Georgia (College Football at EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL) at 3:30 p.m.
- Orlando Magic at Washington Wizards (Capital One Arena, Washington D.C.) at 7:00 p.m.
- Early- and mid-November include marquee college basketball non-conference events and an NBA Cup appearance by the Orlando Magic at home on November 7, 2025 against the Boston Celtics.
- November 24–28, 2025 hosts the ESPN Events Invitational (Men’s College Basketball at State Farm Field House, Kissimmee, FL) featuring multiple tournament brackets and participating teams.
December and bowl season
Central Florida’s stadiums and arenas host several postseason college football bowl games and late-season matchups:
- Staffdna Cure Bowl (College Football at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL) on December 17, 2025 at 5:00 PM.
- Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl (College Football at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL) on December 19, 2025 at 3:30 p.m.
- Pop-Tarts Bowl (College Football at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL) on December 27, 2025 at 3:30 PM.
- TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (College Football at EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL) on December 27, 2025 at 7:30 PM.
- Reliaquest Bowl (College Football at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL) on December 31, 2025 at 12:00 PM.
- Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (College Football at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL) on December 31, 2025 at 3:00 PM.
Operational and planning notes
The schedule carries implications for traffic, parking, hospitality and venue staffing across Central Florida. Multiple events in the same city on single days — including regular-season NFL and college football games — will require inter-agency coordination for crowd management. Teams traveling internationally and to other U.S. regions (including the Jaguars at Wembley Stadium, London, UK) will affect team logistics and broadcast windows.
Background and context
The list compiles college and professional schedules for Central Florida teams and events that use Central Florida venues, along with several away and neutral-site games affecting regional travel. The scope covers the period from early October through the end of December 2025 and includes college football, NFL regular-season games, NBA preseason and regular-season games, men’s college basketball non-conference tournaments and postseason bowl games. The calendar reflects scheduled dates and venues as announced for late 2025.
FAQ
- When and where is Florida vs. Texas?
- Florida vs. Texas (College Football at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL) at 3:30 p.m.
- When and where is UCF vs. Kansas?
- UCF vs. Kansas (College Football at Acrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL) at 7:30 p.m.
- When and where is the Orlando Magic season opener?
- Orlando Magic season opener vs. Miami Heat (Kia Center, Orlando, FL) at 7:00 p.m.
- When and where is the Jacksonville Jaguars international game?
- Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Los Angeles Rams at Wembley Stadium, London, UK at 9:30 a.m.
- When and where is Florida vs. Georgia?
- Florida vs. Georgia (College Football at EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL) at 3:30 p.m.
- When and where is the Pop-Tarts Bowl?
- Pop-Tarts Bowl (College Football at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL) on December 27, 2025 at 3:30 PM.
Simple chart: Key features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Period covered | October 4, 2025 — December 31, 2025 |
| Main sports | College Football; NFL; NBA; Men’s College Basketball |
| Bowl games listed | 6 |
| Notable neutral/international site | Wembley Stadium, London, UK |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
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Additional Resources
- WESH: Central Florida Sports Calendar 2025
- Click Orlando: High School Football Highlights
- Brown Bears: Women’s Volleyball Schedule
- CBS Sports: Scott Frost’s Commentary on Central Florida
- WFTV: Central Florida Sports Leagues Embrace LGBTQ Community
- Wikipedia: Central Florida
- Google Search: Central Florida Sports
- Google Scholar: Central Florida Sports
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Central Florida
- Google News: Central Florida Sports News
Author: STAFF HERE ORLANDO WRITER
ORLANDO STAFF WRITER The ORLANDO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREOrlando.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Orlando, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival, Megacon Orlando, and Central Florida Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Orlando Economic Partnership and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando, plus leading businesses in leisure and hospitality that power the local economy such as Walt Disney World Resort, AdventHealth, and Universal Orlando. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
