Georgia Beats Florida 27-8 in Atlanta, the Rivalry's First Game in Georgia in 31 Years

Georgia beat Florida 27-8 on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, holding the Gators scoreless for three quarters in the first meeting of the rivalry on Georgia soil in 31 years. The game moved to Atlanta this year because of the $1.4 billion renovation at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The teams meet in Tampa in 2027 and return to Jacksonville in 2028. The last time the two played in Georgia, Florida won 52-17 on Oct. 28, 1995.

Three turnovers build a 24-0 halftime lead

Georgia kicker Peyton Woodring missed a 43-yard field goal on the opening drive, but the Bulldogs soon took control. Florida quarterback Aaron Philo threw an underhand pass under pressure on the Gators' first possession, and Ellis Robinson intercepted it. A roughing the punter penalty against Florida then kept Georgia's next drive alive, and Nate Frazier scored on a 1-yard run on a direct snap with 1:50 left in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead at the end of a 41-yard drive.

Florida turnovers kept the points coming in the second quarter. Demello Jones intercepted a Philo pass that deflected off receiver Dallas Wilson, and a sideline penalty gave Georgia the ball at the Florida 17. The Bulldogs settled for a 28-yard Woodring field goal and a 10-0 lead with 8:55 left in the half. Bo Walker then scored on a 1-yard direct snap run to cap a 10-play, 81-yard drive for 17-0 with 1:55 left. With 29 seconds left in the half, Quintavius Johnson sacked Tramell Jones Jr. and forced a fumble, and Chris Cole returned it 66 yards for a touchdown and a 24-0 halftime lead. Georgia outgained Florida 194-94 in the first half, and the three Florida turnovers produced 17 Georgia points.

Florida avoids the shutout late

Neither team scored in the third quarter. Florida drove to the Georgia 3-yard line, but Braylon Conley intercepted Jones in the end zone, the third interception thrown by the Gators. Florida finally scored with 6:59 left in the fourth quarter. A pass interference call against Khalil Barnes on fourth down in the end zone set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Jones, and Jadan Baugh threw a 2-point conversion pass to Dallas Wilson to make it 24-8. The touchdown kept Florida's scoring streak alive at 481 straight games, a run dating to 1988. Woodring closed the scoring with a 21-yard field goal with 3:34 left.

Georgia improved to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the SEC. Florida fell to 5-3 and 3-3 in the SEC, and first-year coach Jon Sumrall saw his team's losing streak in the series reach six games. Sumrall had called the matchup different from any other game before kickoff. "Florida-Georgia is different," he said. "Anybody that says otherwise is insane." On Saturday in Atlanta, his Gators learned how different it can be when Georgia's defense does not give up a point until the final seven minutes.