Georgia and Florida meet in Atlanta for first time in rivalry

The rivalry between No. 3 Georgia and No. 17 Florida shifts to Atlanta on Saturday, a first in the history of the matchup. The move comes after renovations at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville made the usual neutral site unavailable. Ticket distribution is split evenly between the two fan bases at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a setup Florida head coach Jon Sumrall described as a unique environment.

Georgia enters the game seeking to recover from a 27-24 loss to Auburn that ended its season-opening perfect run in the AP Top 25. The Bulldogs are 8-2 against Florida under head coach Kirby Smart, with wins in the last five meetings. Smart noted that while the venue change is unusual for the fan base, the playing field remains the same for the athletes.

Florida, currently 5-2, aims for its second consecutive victory over a top 10 opponent after a 27-24 upset of No. 7 Texas. A win in Atlanta would mark only the third time in school history that the Gators have beaten top 10 teams in back-to-back games. It would also make Sumrall the first Florida head coach to record three wins against top 10 opponents in a debut season.

Quarterback Gunner Stockton of Georgia is looking to bounce back from a performance that included two interceptions and a lost fumble in the loss to Auburn. Center Drew Bobo said Stockton has maintained his routine, stating the quarterback is "a very consistent person" who prepares the same way regardless of recent results. Georgia’s defense, ranked second in the SEC in run prevention, allowed 113 rushing yards to Auburn in the previous week.

The matchup features a clash between two strong rushing attacks. Florida’s Jadan Baugh leads the Southeastern Conference with 13 rushing touchdowns and has 763 yards. Baugh, an Atlanta native and former fan of the city’s NFL team, said the homecoming feels "everything" to him. He cited his father’s advice to avoid becoming overly excited, noting that such emotions can disrupt focus.

Smart has shown his players video clips of Baugh since the start of the year to emphasize the threat he poses. The coach described Baugh as a talented young man who has been incredible. Florida ranks fourth in the league in rushing offense, averaging 194.3 yards per game, while Georgia allows just 91.4 rushing yards per game.

Georgia’s offense has also been preparing for Florida’s quarterback situation, which involves both Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. Philo has returned to practice after missing the Texas game with a right shoulder injury. Sumrall has given both quarterbacks reps with the first-team offense. Smart called both players completely capable, noting one beat Ole Miss handily and the other won on the road against Texas.

The next meeting between Georgia and Florida is scheduled for 2027 in Tampa Bay.