TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida A&M University (FAMU) and The University of Central Florida (UCF)) have announced an agreement to open the 2019 football campaign at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando.

The agreement will bring the two Sunshine State schools together for the first time since 1987.

FAMU won that previous encounter, 19-14 in Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, when the Rattlers were members of NCAA Division I-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision or FCS) and the Knights were part of NCAA Division Two.

In the decades since that last meeting, UCF has since transitioned to NCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision).

FAMU Athletics Director Dr. John Eason was elated at the agreement, as well as the opportunity to face UCF on the gridiron.

“We are very pleased to announce this game against UCF for the 2019 season,” Dr. Eason said. “It will afford us a chance for our loyal fans in the Central and South Florida areas to see our team play early in the season against a high caliber opponent, as well as appearing twice in one year in the Orlando market, which should greatly benefit our institution in terms of recruiting, and to increase exposure of the FAMU brand in the region,” Eason concluded.

The last time FAMU played in Orlando to begin and end the season was 2013. The Rattlers faced the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State in the MEAC-SWAC Challenge presented by Disney in the opening game of the season, ending it with the annual Florida Blue Florida Classic against the Wildcats of B-CU.

Since 1997, FAMU has played its intrastate rival, Bethune-Cookman University in Orlando in the Florida Blue Florida Classic each November at Camping World Stadium.