Kirby Smart shifts blame for Georgia-Florida rivalry setback

It appears this wasn’t Kirby Smart’s call.

Georgia and Florida’s football rivalry has been played at a neutral site in Jacksonville (except in 1994 and 1995) since 1933. This means nearly everyone has only seen these two teams clash in Athens and Gainesville twice in their lifetime—or not at all.

There’s nothing particularly wrong with Georgia and Florida playing in Jacksonville, especially given the rich history. But many fans from both schools would love the chance to see this rivalry on their home fields at least once or twice to enjoy a true home atmosphere. So, when news broke that Jacksonville’s stadium was undergoing renovations and the game would need to be relocated in 2026 and 2027, the obvious solution seemed clear.

Hold one game at Georgia and the other at Florida in their home stadiums. However, that’s not what the two schools decided. Instead, the 2026 game will be played in Atlanta, while the 2027 matchup will be in Tampa Bay.

So why did this happen? Both programs stand to make a lot of money from neutral-site games, and according to Kirby Smart, only one person made the call.

“That was an AD decision that ultimately came down to money.”

Kirby Smart reveals the main factor in Georgia-Florida rivalry decision

Smart’s comment makes it clear he had no input in where the games would be played in 2026 and 2027. If it were up to him, he might have preferred a home-and-home series with Florida, but it’s not shocking to learn that he isn’t overly concerned about the location.

Still, it’s disappointing that the athletic directors from both schools prioritized another big payday over giving the fans what they wanted. These two games will still be as thrilling as ever, but it’s hard to overlook that both programs missed a chance to do something special for their supporters.