History and location of Aviva Stadium before the Florida State football game
Florida State and Georgia Tech will play in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland on August 24, 2024.
Among the sold-out crowd at the Florida State football team’s opening game in Ireland will be a high-profile guest:
Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis.
DeSantis and his family are expected to attend the No. 10 Seminoles’ game against Georgia Tech in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland, on Saturday, Aug. 24, sources with knowledge of the governor’s plans said Friday.
The organizers of the game announced last week that the game was sold out (capacity 47,000) and that more than 27,000 international fans were expected.
The governor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his trip. A spokesperson sent a thumbs-up emoji when asked if officials would like to share details about the trip.
It is also not known whether DeSantis will combine his visit with a trade mission, as he has done on his foreign trips in recent years.
Last year, for example, DeSantis led an international business development mission to four countries: Israel, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
And it’s not the first time DeSantis has shown up at a major event to cheer on FSU.
Although it was not on his official schedule, DeSantis attended the Seminoles’ opening game against Tennessee at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska last June.
DeSantis also defended FSU last football season, when the Seminoles did not participate in the College Football Playoffs despite finishing the regular season undefeated and winning the ACC championship.
“What we learned today is that you can go undefeated and win your conference championship game, but the College Football Playoff committee will ignore those results,” DeSantis posted. “Congratulations to @FSUFootball on an outstanding season and winning the ACC Championship!”
The Seminoles lost to Georgia at 4 p.m. on December 30 in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium after many of FSU’s regular players opted out of the game.
FSU and coach Mike Norvell are 12.5-point favorites in their noon opener against Georgia Tech on ESPN.
The Seminoles are scheduled to depart for Ireland on Wednesday. After the game, they will stay in Ireland and spend a day sightseeing, including a city tour by bus.
Florida State Football Schedule 2024
- Week 0: vs. Georgia Tech, Saturday, August 24, 12:00 p.m. in Dublin, Ireland
- Week 1: vs. Boston College, Monday, September 2, 7:30 p.m.
- Week 2: Open
- Week 3: vs. Memphis, Saturday, September 14, 12:00 p.m.
- Week 4: vs. California, Saturday, September 21
- Week 5: at SMU, Saturday, September 28
- Week 6: vs. Clemson, Saturday, October 5
- Week 7: Open
- Week 8: at Duke, Friday, October 18, 7 p.m.
- Week 9: in Miami, Saturday, October 26
- Week 10: vs. North Carolina, Saturday, November 2
- Week 11: in Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, November 9
- Week 12: Open
- Week 13: vs. Charleston Southern, Saturday, November 23
- Week 14: vs. Florida, Saturday, November 30
