Florida-Georgia rivalry game could move locations

The Florida–Georgia rivalry game has been played yearly in Jacksonville since 1933, with only two exceptions.

In 1994 and 1995, TIAA Bank Field was unavailable due to renovations to the stadium, ahead of the Jaguars’ first season. For those two years, Florida-Georgia games were played at campus sites while the stadium was being renovated.

The rivalry game could once again be moved to campus sites for a couple of years in the not-too-distant future, according to a report from The Athletic.

Florida Athletics Director Scott Stricklin told The Athletic that it is his understanding that the stadium in Jacksonville could be unavailable in 2026 and 2027. A renovations project could be coming to TIAA Bank Field, which is expected to take at least two years.

Jacksonville Mayor Lennry Curry said that the 2025-2026 seasons could also be an option.

“Best-case scenario, I expect that the renovation will take two years,” Curry said on 1010XL radio Wednesday morning. “Maybe it’s a ‘25-26 renovation, that’d be a good goal. And then both schools would, in those two years, get their home game. And then the goal is to have already negotiated a deal that they’re back in Jax at the new stadium in ‘27 and beyond.”

While it’s possible that the Florida-Georgia game could move out of Jacksonville, it’s also possible that the Jaguars could move to Gainesville, Florida for a couple of seasons.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium could be an option for the Jaguars during the two years they are unable to play at TIAA Bank Field. One potential issue is the field withstanding so much action taking place on it, but Stricklin told The Athletic that it’s possible the move could occur.

“It would be worth a conversation. There are a lot of Jags fans in Gainesville given the close proximity to Jacksonville,” Stricklin said.

Kirby Smart shares thoughts on location of Florida-Georgia game

Georgia coach Kirby Smart was asked for his opinion on where the game should be played prior to last year’s showdown in Jacksonville.

Smart revealed that he doesn’t have a strong opinion one way or the other on if it should stay in Jacksonville or become a home-and-home series. He sees benefits to both options.

“There’s really quality benefits to both. … I enjoy the pageantry of going down there and playing. I enjoyed playing there as a player, I enjoy tradition. … When it comes down to it, there’s a very, very basic element of everything comes back to — No. 1 money and No. 2 recruiting and getting good players. I firmly believe that we’ll be able to sign better players by having it as a home-and-home because we’ll have more opportunities to get them to campus,” Smart said. “But I also think there’s a financial factor that factors into that, with having the game there, and being able to make more money for the university, possibly, there. You have to weigh both those and make really good decisions.”