Jacksonville mayor announces Georgia-Florida rivalry to remain in Jacksonville through 2023, possibly 2025

Curry said that the contract between the two schools is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

“Jacksonville has been the proud home of the Florida-Georgia game since 1933,” Curry said. “And under our new agreement that will continue through 2023, with an option to keep the game an additional two years through 2025.”

Georgia put out a release officially announcing the extension as well.

“We look forward to the continuation of one of the greatest college football traditions in the country – a border states battle between Georgia and Florida,” said UGA J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics, Greg McGarity.“ The extension ensures the historical preservation of the game in Jacksonville which has been part of the national college football landscape since 1933. The City of Jacksonville has once again demonstrated its commitment to this game through significant financial considerations to each school.”

Earlier in the week, Georgia coach Kirby Smart was asked about the series possibly remaining in Jacksonville.

“All I can say is there’s ongoing discussions,” Smart said. “I’ll be dead honest with you. I am focused on our team, making sure our team is trying to improve and get better in every facet of it and that’s my single-minded focus. It’s not single-minded focus on Florida. It’s not single-minded focus on Jacksonville, it’s single-minded focus on us.”

Over the summer, DawgNation’s Brandon Adams spoke with Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity about the possibility of the game moving to a home-and-home series, as there has been a push to move the game from Jacksonville, Fla., to Athens and Gainesville.

“I think any decision of that nature is going to be 50-50, or 60-40 one way or another,” McGarity said. “There’s been feedback from a lot of people on why the game should move, why the game should stay in Jacksonville…I know [UGA coach Kirby Smart’s] been very vocal about the importance in recruiting, and that’s certainly an important element of it, but there are a lot of other elements that go into the decision.”

The two schools will get an additional $3.5 million in guarantees according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Chip Towers. The option to extend the rivalry in Jacksonville must be exercised by May 15, 2022. If the option is exercised, it will pay the two schools an additional $1.5 million.

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