Georgia-Florida Remaining In Jax...But For How Long?

For at least two more seasons, it’s safe to hold onto those long weekend spots and time-honored traditions on the banks of the St. John’s River.

Wednesday’s news that both Georgia and Florida have locked the game in to be played in Jacksonville for 2024 and 2025 by way of a two-year extension means that if there is to come a time when the series may move to on-campus sites or other locations, that occasion is at least a few years away.

If nothing else, it does give a small clue about how the future SEC scheduling will work. If Georgia and Florida were not confident that their series would continue with the new alignment of games when Texas and Oklahoma join the conference, the furor to extend the series now would likely not be as seemingly urgent. The schools have a June 30 deadline to request an extension from the City of Jacksonville, and plans to do that this week solidify the intent to keep the game in Duval County at least for now.

What happens beyond that is anybody’s guess.

If the recent chatter is to be believed, the game could be shifted to another location in 2026 and 2027 when the stadium in Jacksonville is renovated.

One option? Move the games to on-campus sites out of necessity, though it’d be hard not to view those as a trial balloon, as well.

Having this game means more to Georgia people than in Florida when it comes to playing in Jacksonville. For most Florida fans, it’s a quick hope and skip from campus.

For Georgia fans making their way down the Golden Isles Parkway and other paths, it’s part of the fabric of being a Bulldog, and its also one game on the schedule that means a great deal to Dawg fans in South Georgia, too.

But having a neutral site game for now also deprives Georgia of a possible recruiting weekend.

At some point, something has to give with the WLOCP.

Go Dawgs!