Big Change to Historic College Football Rivalry Leaves Fans Frustrated

Big Change to Historic College Football Rivalry Leaves Fans Frustrated originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

There's no doubt that when it comes to college football, some of the sport's best moments come from heated rivalries, which are regularly highlighted by either taking on conference opponents or in-state matchups.

One that always catches a good amount of attention is the game between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Georgia Bulldogs, which has been played a total of 116 times since first meeting in 1893.

However, the game is going through some big changes in 2025, as not only was its longstanding nickname "Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate" tossed to the side, but it will be played on a neutral site for the first time ever on November 28.

On Friday, the official X account of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the game will be held, revealed that tickets will go on sale on August 8, and instead called it the "Inaugural Invesco QQQ Atlanta Gridiron Classic," which is a new college football series announced on July 4.

Tickets for the Inaugural Invesco QQQ Atlanta Gridiron Classic will go on sale August 8.

🐶 UGA vs. 🐝 Georgia Tech
🎟️ On sale Aug 8 - @Ticketmaster
🔓 Presale access available now: https://t.co/HPEG7sdnSNpic.twitter.com/AnUTdwWncz

— Mercedes-Benz Stadium (@MBStadium) August 1, 2025

Fans Are Furious Over the Change

Of course, after over 100 years of tradition, change can be hard to get used to, and fans have not shied away from voicing their frustrations.

"It's CLEAN. OLD. FASHIONED. HATE. Please refrain from calling it any other fraudulent name. What are we even doing?" said one comment.

"Neutral site games suck. Rivalry neutral site games suck more. Everyone involved in this decision should feel ashamed of themselves," said another.

"this game sucks. play it on campus where college football deserves to be," said another.

A fourth stated, "One thing UgA and Ga Tech fans can agree on…this ain’t it. It’s “CLEAN, OLD FASHIONED HATE!!!”"

"QUIT RUINING COLLEGE FOOTBALL!" a fifth continued.

"This is what chasing money looks like…and its ugly," said another.

Georgia's AD Reveals Thoughts on Neutral Site Decision

Last year, the game was held at Sanford Stadium, meaning it should have made its way back to Bobby Dodd Stadium in 2025, and it's something Georgia's athletic director, Josh Brooks, has already addressed.

"We always enjoy playing in a first-class venue like Mercedes-Benz Stadium," Brooks said. "This move will only enhance the long-standing tradition of the Georgia-Georgia Tech game and will provide another outstanding event for our fans."

Of course, with a seating capacity of 71,000 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, it does give more fans the opportunity to attend the game, as Bobby Dodd Stadium has a capacity of just 51,919, while both are still located in Atlanta.

Who Holds the All-Time Lead in the Georgia-Georgia Tech Rivalry?

It's a new era when it comes to this historic rivalry, but if the results on the field follow recent patterns, then the Yellow Jackets and their fans may be going home sad.

Since that first matchup in 1893, the Bulldogs have been dominant, holding the lead with a 72-39-5 record, which includes going 8-2 in their last 10 matchups and sitting on a seven-game winning streak.

That's likely to only continue this year as ESPN BET places Georgia as 17.5-point favorites to win the Governor's Cup.

Related: Ohio State Holding on as SEC Powerhouse Looks to Flip Highly Touted Recruit

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 1, 2025, where it first appeared.