Georgia and Florida released a joint statement Monday addressing the future of their annual college football rivalry game, saying they will discuss whether to continue holding the game in Jacksonville, Fla., next year.

The contract between the universities to play the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” in Jacksonville ends in 2023, though there are options for 2024 and 2025.

“The annual game between our two universities is an important tradition,” the statement said. “At this time, both programs are focused on our current seasons. Typically both schools begin conversations regarding future games in the series as the last contracted game nears. We anticipate following that timeline.

“When those discussions take place, we will consider a multitude of factors including tradition, finances, future SEC scheduling models with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma, and what is best for both schools’ football programs overall.”

Jacksonville has been the site of the Georgia-Florida game since 1933. In the nearly 90 years since then, the schools only played on one another’s campuses one time apiece — 1994 in Gainesville, 1995 in Athens — before returning to Jacksonville.

But Georgia coach Kirby Smart recently said he “firmly believe(s) that we’ll be able to sign better players by having it as a home-and-home because we’ll have more opportunities to get them to campus.” He also allowed that having the game in Jacksonville is a moneymaker for both schools.

No. 1 Georgia and Florida will meet at TIAA Bank Field, home of the NFL’s Jaguars, this Saturday. The Bulldogs lead the Gators 53-44-2 in the all-time series.

–Field Level Media