By: Colin Lacy

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

One of the best rivalries in all of college football has been the Georgia-Florida game (or Florida-Georgia game depending on the side of the fence that you fall on).

Since 1933, the only time that the matchup between the two SEC rivals hasn’t taken place in Jacksonville came in 1994 and 1995 when Jacksonville Municipal Stadium was being built.

The 2026 rendition of the game will take place in Atlanta at Mercedes Benz Stadium with the renovations coming to Everbank Stadium over the next two years.

The 2027 meeting will take place in Tampa at the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.

2026 not only has a new home, but the rivalry is being tagged with a new name of the “Invesco QQQ Atlanta Gridiron Classic: University of Georgia vs University of Florida”. The full name may not roll off the tongue quite like Florida-Georgia or Georgia-Florida, but like most around college football, the money allows for things to change.

For the game to be moved for just the 3^rd and 4^th time since 1933, it must mean meaningful changes are coming to Duval County…and it surely does.

The Jaguars and City of Jacksonville are teaming up to revitalize Everbank Stadium into a state-of-the-art facility that focuses on fan experience and also sustainability and environmental friendliness.

The project is not just a plus for the main tenant of the Jaguars, but also the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, Georgia-Florida game, along with concerts and soccer matches. Construction is scheduled to finish in August of 2028. During this time, the Jaguars will “keep as many games as possible in Jacksonville” but also play two in London.

So, while the venue and the name officially changes, organizers of the game have tried to keep the rest the way that the game has been for generations.

What was once called “the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,” has been known for the signature stadium split. Each team splits everything (club seating, suites, general seating, etc.) in half inside the venue.

That will remain the same with the north side of the stadium (far side of the stadium if watching on TV) will be occupied with orange and blue Gator faithful, while the nearside (South side) will be flooded with red and black Dawg fans.

The game will also continue the tradition of inducting a class of the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame prior to the game.

The City of Jacksonville Office of Sports and Entertainment will continue to host the induction ceremony and luncheon in Atlanta at the College Football Hall of Fame Friday afternoon before the game.

The 2026 class includes Andre Hastings and Brandon Boykin from Georgia along with Emmitt Smith and Maurkice Pouncey for Florida. These four will make the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame 130 inductees deep since it was created in 1996.

One of the few aspects that won’t be on display for the next two years is RV city, but the organizers have tried to carry as many traditions that fans have built their experiences around up I-75 to Atlanta.

No matter where the game is played, no matter what stadium it’s in, the Georgia-Florida game will always be special. It will always have great meaning, and this year shapes up to be one of the best in recent memory with the resurgence on the field that Florida has shown this season under first year Head Coach John Sumrall.

While there’s nothing like having the matchup in Jacksonville, for the interim, Atlanta is a fabulous location and will provide the potential to have an SEC Championship feel to add to the pageantry around this matchup.