Florida-Georgia Matchup to Remain in Jacksonville in 2024 and 2025

Florida and Georgia's annual neutral site matchup in Jacksonville (Fla.) since 1933 is officially set to remain through 2025 as the option for a two-year contract extension was picked up on Wednesday afternoon.

The announcement comes just a month before the deadline to extend the deal, which All Gators' first reported in Oct. 2022.

See you in Jacksonville in 2024 and 2025! 🐊

🔗: https://t.co/iQctGYtEB2 pic.twitter.com/uR0MfZ7pA9
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) May 24, 2023

However, the uncertainty surrounding the matchup and its future is far from over, as negotiations for extensive renovations to the stadium and surrounding areas are in the works. While nothing is agreed upon yet, current Jacksonville mayor Lenny Curry floated the idea of potential relocation for the Jaguars during the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

Although the game is now certain to be held in Jacksonville in 2025, consequently, matchups between the two SEC East foes in 2026 and beyond could be in flux.

Gators head coach Billy Napier commented on the potential relocation of the matchup and more on the series when his offseason speaking tour made its' way full circle to Gainesville on Monday.

"Well, I think a lot of these things are hypothetical to some degree," Napier noted during the sessions media availability. "You know, I think there's some history here when the venue's not available, we play home-and-home, but that's to be determined."

The precedent was set during the 1994 and 1995 seasons as Jacksonville prepared the now-TIAA Bank Stadium for the Jaguars' inaugural season in 1995, just the third and fourth time in series history the game moved away from a neutral site.

However, the rivalry's history in Duval has garnered uncertainty beyond the city's ambitious renovative plans for the Jaguars stadium.

In recent years, Georgia — led by head coach Kirby Smart — has begun to question the practicality of the venue as it pertains to recruiting, suggesting home-and-home better suits both parties as it grants one more opportunity to host prospective talent for a game that evokes high emotion from both sidelines and fan bases.

"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," Smart said in October. "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."

Napier, seemingly, objects to Smart's point.

"In-season official visits, how effective are those during the season, given Early Signing Day, the magnitude of the game, the time that's required that weekend?"

The 38 official visitors scheduled to attend Florida in the first three weekends of June — leaving just 17 more spots open for the remainder of the 2024 cycle — indicate his reluctance to play host to players during the fall.

Instead, Napier views the tradition behind the contest highly, including its permanent location since 1933. He also highlighted the economic standpoint decision-makers must consider when deliberating on a potential move away from Jacksonville.

"One thing I can tell you is it's a phenomenal rivalry, you know, certainly got a ton of respect for the game, the history that's behind where it's located, where we play at," he said. "So, the underlying issue here is the economics, right? It's very beneficial for both teams to play the game there. So, you know, we've got some things to work through, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there."

Perhaps, the 2026 season could serve as a modern test run for a long-term move to Gainesville and Athens for the first time in series history.

In that case, if successful, the matchup's yearly trip to the 904 may cease to exist, although an occasional neutral site contest in the newly revamped venue could emerge as an option down the line.

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