Orange Bowl switched from Jan. 1 to Dec. 30 for primetime

This season’s Orange Bowl is moving to Dec. 30, with a prime-time kickoff, after originally being scheduled to be played the afternoon of New Year’s Day.

The Orange Bowl has traditionally been played at night, but the earlier kickoff was initially planned when it became part of the six-bowl rotation that hosts the College Football Playoff. The Orange Bowl will not be hosting a national semifinal this season. Had it stayed on Jan. 1, the Orange Bowl would have been competing against other traditional New Year’s Day games and kicked off around 1 p.m. EST.

The switch gives it an exclusive television window on Monday night, two days after the CFP semifinals are played on Dec. 28.

The Orange Bowl is the first college bowl game to be played at night, a tradition that started in 1965.