UCF Knights to face Florida Gators at Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. — The stage is set for a matchup between the Florida Gators and UCF Knights on the football field.

For the first time ever, the two schools are going to go head-to-head, in a bowl game.

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Most fans would rather see this matchup in the regular season when the stakes are a little higher, but Florida and UCF will finally meet in the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa.

This should be one of the most compelling regional matchups of the entire bowl season.

On the Knights side, this will be the first bowl game with Gus Malzahn in charge and a chance to beat an SEC school in a bowl game for the third time.

READ: Florida Gators hire Billy Napier as head football coach

For the Gators, this will be the first game under new head coach Billy Napier, who was introduced in Gainesville on Sunday afternoon.

Napier is taking over a team that had to beat Florida State last week to get to a bowl game.

If the Gators lose to UCF, it will be their third losing season in the last nine years, so they do have some motivation for this game.

WATCH: Deputies: Former UCF football player shot, killed by father in Jacksonville

The Gasparilla Bowl will be played at Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 23.

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