Florida, Georgia Tech to face off for first time in four decades

Florida Gators basketball and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are scheduled to play their first game in 36 years on December 12 at the Kia Center in Orlando. The two teams last met in 1987, when Florida won 80-69 in the Preseason Big Apple NIT, with Livingston Chatman leading the Gators with 25 points. Georgia Tech holds the all-time series edge, 24-20, but has only one victory in seven matchups since leaving the SEC in 1964. The upcoming game is part of Florida’s expanded non-conference schedule for the 2026-27 season, which includes four ACC opponents. Alongside Georgia Tech, the Gators will face Florida State in Tallahassee, Miami in the Orion180 Tip-Off Classic in Tampa, Notre Dame in Las Vegas, and Duke at home for the ACC/SEC Challenge. This marks the first time Georgia Tech will play Florida since joining the ACC in 2014, as the Yellow Jackets transitioned to the SEC in 2024. Florida’s full schedule includes early-season games against Miami (Nov. 2), Notre Dame (Nov. 17), and multiple teams in Las Vegas (Nov. 17-19), followed by a home game against Duke on December 1. The Georgia Tech matchup on December 12 will be played at the Kia Center in Orlando, offering a neutral-court setting for the historic rivalry. The game holds significance as Georgia Tech’s first meeting with Florida since the Yellow Jackets left the SEC, where most of their previous matchups occurred. With Florida’s shift toward more ACC competition, the game adds a competitive edge to the Gators’ non-conference slate. Fans and analysts will watch closely to see how both teams perform in a high-profile neutral venue.