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Georgia and Florida will play a pair of one-off games in Atlanta (2026) and Tampa (2027) before returning to Jacksonville in 2028, the schools announced on Friday.
With EverBank Stadium set to undergo renovations following the 2025 NFL season, the future of the annual Florida-Georgia rivalry game was up in the air. Reports surfaced earlier this week that the 2 schools would play games inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2026 and Raymond James Stadium in 2027. A release from the 2 programs on Friday confirmed that decision.
It also announced that the City of Jacksonville had agreed to terms with the University of Georgia and the University of Florida to bring the game back in 2028. The agreement runs through the 2031 season.
Renovations at EverBank Stadium are expected to be completed in time for the 2028 game.
“The annual Georgia-Florida game in Jacksonville is one of the greatest traditions in college sports, and we are excited the game will return to EverBank Stadium in 2028,” Georgia athletic director Josh Brook said in a statement. “We are fortunate to have a pair of exceptional venues in Atlanta and Tampa that will host the game for the next two years as the Georgia-Florida matchup joins a long line of major events to take place in those two cities, which have hosted both the Super Bowl and the College Football Playoff National Championship.
“Our goal, as always, is to create a first-class experience for our student-athletes, staff and fans, and this temporary move, along with the stadium renovations in Jacksonville, will only enhance the storied Georgia-Florida rivalry.”
Added Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin: “The Florida-Georgia Game has enjoyed a longstanding and special relationship with the City of Jacksonville, and we are pleased to continue one of college football’s great traditions there in 2028 once the impressive renovations to EverBank Stadium are complete. For 2026 and 2027, the chance to continue the neutral site history of the series, while also maximizing revenue opportunities that are so critical during this transformative time in college athletics, make playing games in Atlanta and Tampa incredibly attractive. Both cities are special to Gator fans and offer venues that will provide wonderful experiences for both fans and players.”
Fans on both sides had hoped for a home-and-home in the interim. Florida coach Billy Napier said earlier this week that both he and Georgia coach Kirby Smart thought “it’d be awesome” to play a home-and-home series. But Napier acknowledged there are significant differences in the revenue that would be generated from a neutral site game.
Considering Stricklin’s direct mention of “maximizing revenue opportunities” in his statement, the driving force behind the decision is clear.
But so, too, is the future home of the game.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
