Georgia beats Florida 27-8 in Atlanta

Georgia defeated No. 17 Florida 27-8 on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The contest marked the first time the annual rivalry was played in Georgia’s state capital since 1933, a change necessitated by a $1.4 billion renovation of EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.

The Bulldogs forced four turnovers and limited the Gators to just 54 rushing yards. Florida’s offense struggled significantly, as quarterback Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. combined for three interceptions. The Gators were also penalized eight times for a total of 78 yards. Georgia’s defense held Florida scoreless for the first three quarters.

Florida’s NCAA-record 481 consecutive games with points stood until the fourth quarter. Jones scored on a two-yard run following a pass interference penalty on fourth-and-goal. He then threw a two-point conversion pass to Dallas Wilson, making the score 24-8 with 6:59 remaining. The Gators failed to score again after that drive.

Georgia capitalized on defensive mistakes to build its lead. In the first quarter, cornerback Ellis Robinson IV intercepted a wild underhand throw from Philo. Nate Frazier then ran for a one-yard touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead. Later, linebacker Chris Cole returned a fumble forced by a sack on Jones 66 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 24-0.

Coach Kirby Smart credited his staff for a disruptive game plan. He noted that the defensive staff kept things simple against Florida’s complex schemes. Smart said the team avoided self-inflicted wounds, a stark contrast to their previous loss. Georgia improved to 9-2 against Florida during Smart’s tenure, winning six straight games.

This streak represents Georgia’s most dominant run in the border rivalry since 1978 to 1983. The Bulldogs ran for 217 yards and converted four of five red zone trips. Florida coach Jon Sumrall, in his first game against Georgia, admitted his team gave away opportunities. He stated that while he respects Georgia’s talent, the Gators must improve every aspect of their play to build a sustainable program.

The next Florida-Georgia meeting will take place at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa before returning to Jacksonville in 2028. The current venue shift is temporary, with only 1994 and 1995 serving as other exceptions to the Jacksonville tradition in the last 93 seasons.