Colorado State will play 2018 football game at Florida

CSU will play its first football game in the Sunshine State in more than 30 years in 2018.

Via an open records request, USA TODAY Sports has obtained a copy of the one-game contract between Colorado State University and Florida, which schedules the schools to play in Gainesville on Sept. 15, 2018. In exchange for playing a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, CSU will receive $2 million.

Kickoff time has not been set.

The game is part of the $7 million buyout Florida agreed to pay CSU when it hired away coach Jim McElwain on Dec. 5, 2014. In addition, McElwain is required to pay CSU $2 million and Florida is paying CSU $3 million through 2020 in annual installments of $500,000.

It will be the first-ever meeting between the Rams and Gators, and 2,000 tickets will be available for CSU fans to purchase.

Florida and the University of Colorado are CSU’s two known opponents in 2018. CSU owes Savannah State one game in 2017 or 2018, and athletic director Joe Parker said in July that it’s unlikely the Rams will host the Tigers in 2017 so they can christen their new stadium against a more prominent opponent.

The 2018 game at Florida will mark the second consecutive year CSU travels to face a Southeastern Conference opponent. The Rams wrap up a two-game contract with Alabama on Sept. 16, 2017, that will pay CSU $1.5 million. CSU previously made $1.5 million in a 31-6 defeat at Alabama in 2013.

Remaining members of McElwain’s final recruiting class at CSU will be redshirt seniors in 2018.

CSU last played a game in Florida on Nov. 23, 1985, falling 24-3 at Miami.

CSU opens the 2015 season at home against Savannah State on Sept. 5 under the direction of first-year coach Mike Bobo.

For insight and analysis on athletics around Northern Colorado and the Mountain West, follow sports columnist Matt L. Stephens at twitter.com/mattstephens and facebook.com/stephensreporting.