Florida Citrus Sports plans to bring future Week 0 games to Orlando

August 28, 2026 - 03:38

Florida Citrus Sports, the group best known for running the Cheez-It Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl, is setting its sights on something much bigger. CEO Steve Hogan confirmed the organization is actively working to bring future Week 0 college football games to Orlando, with the goal of turning the city into a regular early-season destination.

Week 0, the unofficial opening weekend of the college football calendar, usually features a handful of marquee matchups that kick off the season before the full slate of games. Hogan said the organization has already held conversations with conference officials and athletic directors about hosting those games at Camping World Stadium. The idea is to pair the games with Orlando's existing tourism infrastructure, giving traveling fans a reason to make a long weekend out of it.

Beyond just filling the calendar, Hogan made it clear that Florida Citrus Sports is aiming higher. He mentioned the possibility of attracting iconic contests like Army-Navy, which has traditionally been played in Philadelphia but has moved around in recent years. He also floated the idea of hosting a future College Football Playoff game, though he acknowledged that would require more stadium upgrades and a competitive bid process.

The stadium has already hosted neutral-site games, including the annual Florida Classic between Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M, plus several bowl games. Hogan believes the market is ready for more, especially with the expanded 12-team playoff starting next season, which could free up more early-season dates for high-profile non-conference matchups.

No formal agreements have been announced yet, but Hogan said the response from potential partners has been positive. He expects to have something concrete within the next year. For now, the message is simple: Orlando wants to be more than just a bowl town.