Florida and Georgia release joint statement on future of rivalry

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — There’s not much that the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs will agree on. One thing they have is where the two teams will play their annual rivalry. Since 1933 the Gators and Bulldogs have met in Jacksonville, save for two years while the current stadium was being built. Monday, the two universities released a joint statement regarding the future of that game and its location.

“The annual game between our two universities is an important tradition. At this time, both programs are focused on our current seasons. Typically both schools begin conversations regarding future games in the series as the last contracted game nears. We anticipate following that timeline. When those discussions take place, we will consider a multitude of factors, including tradition, finances, future SEC scheduling models with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma, and what is best for both schools’ football programs overall.”

The current contract with Jacksonville runs through 2023, with options to extend for 2024 and 2025.

Florida AD Scott Stricklin told Gators Online back in July that there were no plans on moving the game.

“Because of the outstanding atmosphere and tradition, along with the financial implications for both schools, I’d be surprised if the Florida-Georgia game isn’t in Jacksonville for the foreseeable future,” Stricklin said.

There is a financial benefit for both schools to remain in Jacksonville. The Gators and Bulldogs split the ticket revenue and they are guaranteed at least $1.25 million in 2022 and 2023. If the option is picked up for the following two years, then each team will be guaranteed $1.5 million. The city of Jacksonville also foots the bill for travel.

Smart leads the charge to move Gators and Dawgs out of Jacksonville

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has been the most outspoken person associated with either school wanting to change the current format. Smart has said on multiple occasions that it is a recruiting disadvantage for both schools to not be able to host recruits for such a big rivalry game. That statement isn’t without merit, but that will change this year. Georgia, as the home team in 2022, is providing tickets to recruits for the game for the first time.

Smart wasn’t as outspoken last week when asked about the game potentially moving.

“There’s really quality benefits to both,” Smart said last week. “… 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, number one money. And number two, 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. 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. But, I promise you, I have not thought about that one second since the start of the season. And I’m not going to think about it for one second, because I got to worry about coaching our team, and I’m not fighting the fight in the public forum. I’m not fighting the fight for anything. I’m worried about our team and us playing well and how we block and tackle of what plays we call it how we play special teams. That’s just not a priority for me, where that game is right now.”