A bold shift is brewing in the Georgia-Florida State rivalry: a neutral-site game may replace the planned home-and-home schedule.
Originally, Georgia and Florida State announced a home-and-home series set for 2027 and 2028. Now, sources indicate at least one of those games could be moved to a neutral venue in the 2028 season, with Tampa as the leading candidate. Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald reported the potential matchup would likely take place at Raymond-James Stadium, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ home field.
Their most recent clash was the 2023 Orange Bowl, a lopsided 63-3 win for Georgia. Florida State played without star quarterback Jordan Travis, a deterring factor that helped the Seminoles miss the Playoff that year. The Orange Bowl result underscored why many viewed that season’s decision as correct.
In regular-season play, Florida State and Georgia haven’t met since 1964. The rivalry ran nearly every year from 1954 through 1965 before it was canceled. Georgia leads the all-time series 7-4-1.
Since the 2023 Orange Bowl, the programs have followed notably different paths. Florida State capped a stellar 13-1 season in 2023, but slumped to 2-10 in 2024, raising questions about head coach Mike Norvell. There was a bright spot to start 2025, though: an upset of No. 8 Alabama, 31-17, in Tallahassee. Yet, the Seminoles finished the year 4-7 over their remaining 11 games, missing bowl eligibility for a second straight season.
Georgia, meanwhile, has surged back into national title contention. The Bulldogs reached the College Football Playoff in consecutive years, earning a first-round bye both times. Last season they fell to Texas in the Quarterfinals without quarterback Carson Beck, but they dominated Alabama in the SEC Championship and are set to meet the Sugar Bowl winner (No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 Tulane) in the upcoming playoff Quarterfinal.
Weiszer’s report notes that Georgia initiated the talks about shifting to a neutral-site format. This follows a recent scheduling tweak: Georgia’s series with Georgia Tech was moved to a neutral-site game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, while Georgia continues its yearly neutral-site matchup against Florida in Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium.
Thought-provoking angles to consider: Do neutral-site games genuinely benefit conferences by boosting national exposure, or do they dilute traditional home-floor advantages and fan experience? If you were a Georgia or Florida State supporter, would you prefer a high-profile, single-game neutral showdown or a longer, home-and-home rivalry that builds momentum for each program? Share your stance and reasons in the comments.
