Florida-Georgia set to return to Jacksonville in 2028

It’s official: The annual Florida Gators-Georgia Bulldogs football game will return to Jacksonville, Fla., after the series is played at neutral sites in 2026 and ’27.

The schools announced Friday the game known as The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party will return to its traditional home in Jacksonville starting in 2028, with contractual plans to stay through 2031. The teams will meet in Atlanta in 2026 and Tampa in 2026 as the city of Jacksonville and the NFL’s Jaguars rebuild EverBank Stadium.

The teams have played in Jacksonville every season since 1997

“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,” Florida Athletics Director Scott Stricklin said in a release. “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.”

Per a Florida Gators release, “The new agreement will meet the financial and operational needs of the schools, bring tens of thousands of fans and millions in economic development to Jacksonville, and provide the opportunity for the iconic matchup between the Gators and Bulldogs to be profitable for the City of Jacksonville.”

“We are honored to extend the time-honored tradition of the Georgia-Florida rivalry game in Jacksonville for four more years. It is the result of many months of close collaboration with our partners at the University of Florida and the University of Georgia,” Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said in a release from Georgia Sports Communications. “There is shared excitement by all parties for the game to return to Jacksonville in the Stadium of the Future, which will be a world-class stadium that meets NFL standards, starting in 2028. We are grateful that this matchup will continue bringing our communities together to celebrate college football and drive economic impact.”

The Florida Gators and UGA Bulldogs have met annually in Jacksonville for years

This year’s Florida-Georgia game, which is Saturday in Jacksonville, has been played in that city since 1933, with only a few exceptions. There was a wartime interruption in 1943. Later, the 1994 game was played in Gainesville, Fla., and the 1995 game was held in Athens, Ga., while the stadium in Jacksonville was rebuilt ahead of the first season of NFL football there.

In 2027, Tampa will host the game for the first time since 1919.

“The Gators are excited about the opportunity to play Georgia in Tampa in 2027,” Stricklin said. “Tampa Bay is a special Gator community and Raymond James Stadium, which has hosted both CFP National Championships and Super Bowls, will be a fantastic venue for fans of both schools. We are appreciative of the work and effort of Rob Higgins and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission to make this game happen and we are looking forward to building on the many memories the Gators have from playing in Tampa.”

Georgia leads the all-time series 55–44–2.