The annual Florida-Georgia rivalry football game will be held in Jacksonville for the next two seasons after an agreement between the two schools to exercise the contract option through 2024-2025 Wednesday.
Florida and Georgia’s football programs had agreed to a contract in 2019 to play the game at TIAA Bank Field through 2023 with an option to stay in Jacksonville through 2025. Both schools had to agree to the extension and notify the City of Jacksonville before June 30, 2023.
"The city of Jacksonville has been a historic host for one of the great rivalry games in all of college football," Florida Athletics Director Scott Stricklin said. "We are excited to have the game in Jacksonville for another two seasons."
The neutral-site format came into question after reports the Jacksonville Jaguars, the host team of TIAA Bank Field, would be exploring options to play in other venues for two seasons as the home stadium underwent renovations.
The extension gives the Jacksonville staple security for the next two seasons, but it is unclear if the game will remain at a neutral site in 2026.
"We look forward to discussions that I'm sure will continue over the next couple of years exploring all the options for 2026 and beyond," UGA Director of Athletics Josh Brooks said.
The Florida-Georgia game is a tradition between both schools that has been played in Jacksonville since 1993. The teams played a home-and-home series for the 1994 and 1995 seasons when TIAA Bank Field was under construction.
"We are excited to welcome back the thousands of ‘Dawgs and Gators to Jacksonville in 2023 and 2025," Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said. "I want to thank the University of Florida and the University of Georgia for their continued faith and investment in our city."
The Gators and the Bulldogs are scheduled to meet in Jacksonville for the 2023 season matchup Oct. 28.
Contact Alyssa Britton-Harr at abritton-harr@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter @abrittonharr.
Alyssa Britton-Harr is a second-year journalism major and a sports reporter for The Alligator. In her free time, she enjoys cheering on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and spending time with her friends.
