Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame Induction Highlights Jacksonville's 2028 Stadium Return

Four football legends will be inducted into the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame at an October 30 ceremony in Atlanta, a recognition that underscores Jacksonville's nearly century-long role as host of one of college football's premier rivalries — and the city's commitment to reclaiming that stage when the game returns in 2028 to the rebuilt EverBank Stadium.

The announcement from the City of Jacksonville Office of Sports and Entertainment marks the latest chapter in the rivalry's temporary displacement while Jacksonville constructs what officials call the "Stadium of the Future. " After hosting the game continuously since 1933, Jacksonville will sit out 2026 and 2027 as the rivalry is played in Atlanta and Tampa, respectively, before returning to Duval County in 2028.

What's happening

This year's inductees include Georgia Bulldogs Brandon Boykin (2008-2011) and Andre Hastings (1990-1992), alongside Florida Gators Maurkice Pouncey (2007-2009) and Emmitt Smith (1987-1989). The induction ceremony and luncheon, presented by Miller Electric Company, will take place at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. Tickets are on sale now at gafljax. com/hall_of_fame.

"Jacksonville has served as the stage for the Georgia-Florida rivalry since 1933," Mayor Donna Deegan said in the announcement. "We are proud to honor some of the players who have contributed to the legacy of this cherished tradition and look forward to welcoming the rivalry back to Jacksonville in 2028. "

The Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame was established in 1995 and has honored more than 100 players, coaches, and administrators over its 30-plus-year history. Past inductees include Florida icons Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, Tim Tebow, and Fred Taylor, as well as Georgia legends Vince Dooley, Herschel Walker, David Pollack, and Knowshon Moreno.

Among the 2026 honorees, Boykin recorded 17 tackles, four tackles for loss, three pass breakups, and 298 return yards against Florida during his Georgia career. Pouncey helped lead the Gators to back-to-back victories over Georgia in 2008 and 2009 while protecting Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow. Smith rushed for 224 yards against Georgia in his first collegiate start in 1987 and finished his Florida career with 3,928 rushing yards. Hastings totaled 132 receiving yards across his final two matchups with the Gators.

What the stadium timeline means for Jacksonville's sports economy

The Georgia-Florida game is Jacksonville's signature annual sporting event, drawing tens of thousands of fans from both states to Downtown Jacksonville and generating significant economic activity across hotels, restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues along the riverfront and in surrounding neighborhoods. The game weekend typically brings national media attention and out-of-state visitors who spend well beyond game tickets, creating a concentrated impact in the hospitality and service sectors.

With the rivalry temporarily relocating to Atlanta in 2026 and Tampa in 2027, Jacksonville will forgo that revenue and visibility for two years while EverBank Stadium undergoes its transformation. The decision to rotate the game to neutral sites — rather than a traditional home-and-home series at the universities' campuses in Athens and Gainesville — reflects the logistical constraints of major stadium construction and the contractual commitments the city, the Jaguars, and the universities have negotiated.

The 2028 return date provides a concrete public milestone for the Stadium of the Future project, which remains in planning and design phases. For the rivalry to return on schedule, construction must progress on a timeline that delivers a completed, fully operational venue capable of hosting one of the Southeastern Conference's most-attended neutral-site games. Any delays to the stadium project would directly affect Jacksonville's ability to reclaim the event.

Jacksonville's Office of Sports and Entertainment is tasked with attracting and hosting events that drive economic impact and accelerate the city's brand. The Georgia-Florida game has been a cornerstone of that portfolio for more than nine decades, making the temporary loss — and the importance of the 2028 return — a high-stakes question for the city's sports economy and its broader reputation as a destination for major events.

How the hall of fame ceremony ties to Jacksonville's identity

Hosting the hall of fame induction ceremony in Atlanta during a year when the game itself will be played there maintains continuity for the tradition while Jacksonville's stadium is under construction. The ceremony serves as a visible reminder of the rivalry's historical home and the players who contributed to that legacy on Jacksonville's turf.

The inductees' credentials underscore the caliber of talent the rivalry has brought to Jacksonville over decades. Boykin was the first player in SEC history to record three 100-yard plays of any kind, all on kickoff returns. Pouncey was the first Florida player to win the Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center and later became a nine-time Pro Bowl selection. Smith became the NFL's all-time leading rusher and is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Hastings caught 10 passes for 98 yards in Super Bowl XXX.

For Jacksonville, the hall of fame institution and the annual induction luncheon are part of the civic infrastructure that supports the city's claim to the rivalry. The event keeps alumni, fans, and college football stakeholders engaged in the tradition even during the years the game is played elsewhere, and it reinforces the narrative that Jacksonville's connection to the rivalry will outlast the temporary relocation.

The city's continued involvement in the hall of fame ceremony — promoted through the Office of Sports and Entertainment and featuring remarks from the mayor — signals an effort to maintain relationships with both universities and their fanbases during the stadium construction period. That relationship maintenance is critical to ensuring the rivalry returns in 2028 as planned and does not permanently shift to a rotation that excludes Jacksonville.

What the rivalry's history means for the Stadium of the Future

Jacksonville's role as the rivalry's neutral-site home since 1933 is one of the longest-running traditions in college football. The game has been played at the stadium now known as EverBank Stadium — previously called Gator Bowl, Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Alltel Stadium, and TIAA Bank Field — since the venue's modern configuration opened in 1995 following a major renovation ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars' inaugural NFL season.

The Stadium of the Future project represents the latest chapter in that infrastructure evolution. While specific design details and construction timelines are still being finalized through negotiations between the city and the Jaguars, the project is expected to include significant renovations or a rebuild of the existing facility to meet modern standards for NFL and major-event hosting.

The Georgia-Florida game's return in 2028 will serve as an early test of the new stadium's capacity to deliver on the promises that justified the public investment. The game requires seating capacity for more than 80,000 fans, premium hospitality spaces for donors and corporate sponsors, and logistical infrastructure to handle the concentrated arrival and departure of tens of thousands of visitors in a short window. How well the Stadium of the Future performs during that first rivalry weekend will shape perceptions of the project's success among taxpayers, sports stakeholders, and potential future event organizers.

The rivalry's history also places Jacksonville in competition with other Southern cities that have invested in stadium infrastructure to attract neutral-site games and championship events. Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Tampa's Raymond James Stadium, and Orlando's Camping World Stadium all host major college football games, SEC Championship Games, College Football Playoff events, and bowl games. Jacksonville's ability to retain the Georgia-Florida game long-term will depend on whether the Stadium of the Future can compete with those venues in amenities, technology, and fan experience.

What happens next

The 2026 Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Luncheon will take place on October 30 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. Tickets are available for purchase at gafljax. com/hall_of_fame. The rivalry game itself will be played in Atlanta in 2026, followed by Tampa in 2027.

Jacksonville's Office of Sports and Entertainment will continue to coordinate with the University of Georgia, the University of Florida, and stadium project stakeholders to ensure the 2028 return proceeds as planned. Public updates on the Stadium of the Future's design, financing, and construction timeline will be critical to maintaining confidence that the 2028 date is achievable.

For Jacksonville residents and businesses, the two-year absence of the Georgia-Florida game will provide a before-and-after comparison that quantifies the event's economic impact. The game's return in 2028 will offer an early indicator of whether the Stadium of the Future delivers the economic and reputational benefits city officials have projected, and whether Jacksonville can sustain its nearly century-long role as the neutral ground for one of college football's defining rivalries in an increasingly competitive landscape for major sporting events across the Southeast.