JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The traditional Florida-Georgia rivalry game is set for one final hurrah in Jacksonville before a temporary relocation, as fans from both sides gather for what many describe as more than just a football game – it’s a family reunion.
Days before the 3:30 p.m. Saturday kickoff at EverBank Stadium, fans have already lined up their RVs.
Dozens wrap around the block with the steady hum of generators and engines echoing outside the soon-to-be open RV City.
“Oh man, I love it. This is awesome. I’ve been here since Wednesday,” Rusty Shortridge said. Shortridge said he’s been coming to this matchup as a Florida Gator fan since the 1970s.
The matchup represents more than just another SEC showdown.
“The battle of the borders,” as Shortridge describes it, has been a staple in Jacksonville since 1933, bringing together two passionate fan bases in a unique neutral-site setting.
“This cocktail party – it ain’t just a cocktail party. It’s all about two teams getting together and see who can beat the other one,” Shortridge explained. “But then again, it’s all about everybody having a good time together.”
This year’s game marks the temporary end of an era, as the rivalry will temporarily move away from Jacksonville after Saturday’s contest. The game will shift to Atlanta in 2026 and Tampa in 2027 while Jacksonville’s “Stadium of the Future” undergoes construction. The matchup is scheduled to return to Jacksonville in 2028.
The temporary relocation has sparked mixed emotions among longtime attendees.
“It’s not going to be the same,” Shortridge said. “When both schools get together, all their fans can have a good time. It’s just something different about this. Everybody cooks out together, has a good time together.”
This year’s matchup carries additional intrigue as Florida enters with interim head coach Billy Gonzales following Billy Napier’s recent dismissal. Georgia has dominated recent meetings, winning the last four encounters, but Gator fans remain optimistic.
“Hey bring it. We have nothing to lose but all to gain,” Shortridge said. “It don’t take but one little spark to make it happen. This game can go either way. It doesn’t matter how good anybody is.”
Some Georgia fans like Randy Stone feel it adds a little uncertainty to Georgia’s preparation.
“You go into a game where they don’t have a head coach, you don’t know what to practice for,” Stone said. “You don’t know what the other coach is going to bring to the table.”
While the venue may temporarily change and Florida’s future head coach remains a mystery, the SEC has confirmed that Florida and Georgia will remain yearly opponents for the foreseeable future, preserving one of college football’s most storied rivalries.
“You can take some other teams, but this one’s been going on since 1933,” Stone said. “If you take that out, you just pulled the wind out of it. Keeping Florida and Georgia on the schedule every year – that’s a big plus.”
As fans set up their RVs and prepare for another chapter in this historic rivalry, the sentiment among both fan bases remains clear: while winning matters, it’s the tradition and camaraderie that make this game special.
“If you win, it’s a bonus,” Stone reflects. “We rag on each other, but we want to win. We all have a good time.”
RV City will open Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. marking the official start of the annual festivities.