[3] Since the mid-1980s, the Citrus Bowl has drawn many high-ranked teams and is typically played at 1 p.m. EST on New Year's Day and broadcast nationally on ABC.

As of 2019[update], it has the largest payout of all bowls other than those that are part of the College Football Playoff (CFP), at $8.55 million per team.

In this capacity, the Tangerine Bowl sought to match the two best non-major teams in a 17-state Eastern Region stretching from New England to Florida.

That occurrence marks a rare example of a non-New Year's Six bowl game featuring a team later named national champion.

In 2004, the bowl bid to become the fifth BCS game, but was not chosen, primarily due to the stadium's aging condition.

Since the formation of the CFP, the Citrus Bowl has a chance to occasionally host an ACC team, replacing the Big Ten representative.

The Tangerine Bowl Commission hoped that the Orlando High School Athletic Association (OHSAA), which operated the stadium, would waive its rule that prohibited integrated sporting events.

When it refused, the team unanimously voted to skip the bowl because its two black players (halfback Willie Evans and end Mike Wilson) would not have been allowed on the field.

Eight years later, OHSAA's rule had been changed, and Morgan State of Baltimore, under head coach Earl Banks, became the first historically black college to play in (and win) a Tangerine Bowl.

Late in the 1973 season, Tangerine Bowl President Will Gieger and other officials planned to invite the Miami Redskins and the East Carolina Pirates to Orlando for the game.

Despite the home-field advantage, in the game nicknamed the "Transplant Bowl",[21] Miami, who found the cold much more to its liking, defeated the Gators, 16–7.

The one-time moving of the game, and the fears of a permanent relocation, rejuvenated the stalled stadium renovations in Orlando.

The contest began in 2002 with the winner being named during the halftime; the winning school was awarded $20,000 towards their mascot program.

Source:[24] Three players have been recognized in multiple games; Chuck Ealey of Toledo (1969, 1970, 1971), Brad Cousino of Miami (OH) (1973, 1974), and Anthony Thomas of Michigan (1999, 2001).

Note: this section reflects games played since 1968, when the bowl started hosting major college teams.

Lost (14): Boston College, Davidson, Kent State, Louisville, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Southern Miss, Texas Tech, USC, Virginia, Wake Forest, William & Mary Note: this table reflects games played since 1968, when the bowl started hosting major college teams.