Colorado State, Florida to play in 2018 as part of coach McElwain's buyout

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Colorado State and Florida will play in 2018 as part of coach Jim McElwain's hefty buyout.

The schools will play in Gainesville on Sept. 15, 2018, with the Rams getting $2 million for the game.

The game is part of the $7 million buyout the Gators agreed to pay Colorado State when they hired McElwain in December. Additionally, McElwain is required to pay his former school $2 million. Florida is paying Colorado State $3 million through 2020 in annual installments of $500,000.

''That was all part of the gig,'' McElwain said Thursday. ''I'm excited about it. I know that they've got really good players and they'll come in and beat our tail when that time is.''

Colorado State hired former Georgia assistant Mike Bobo to replace McElwain.