JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — With Florida working on a $64.5 million renovation to the O’Connell Center, the Gators will open the 2016 to 2017 season in nearby Jacksonville.

The school and the city announced Thursday the Gators will play Belmont on November 11th and Mercer on November 13th. The opener will be a double-header with the Florida women’s team, which will face South Alabama.

The Gators’ non-conference schedule includes three games scheduled in the Advocare Classic in Orlando (November 24th through 28th) and will play Duke in the Jimmy V Classic in New York City (December 6th). They also play at North Florida (December 1st), at Florida State (December 11th) and against Charlotte (December 17th) in Sunrise.

Florida also has St. Bonaventure on the schedule in Lakeland (mid-November) and Arkansas Little-Rock slated as its home opener (December 21st).

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join our Newsletter for the latest news right to your inbox