Georgia beat No. 17 Florida 27-8 in Atlanta on Saturday, forcing four turnovers and turning them into 17 points. The third-ranked Bulldogs improved to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the Southeastern Conference, while Florida fell to 5-3 overall and 3-3 in conference play. Georgia extended its winning streak in the rivalry to six games, its longest run in the series since a six-game streak from 1978 to 1983.
The game was played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in front of a sellout crowd of 72,541. It was the first game in the series played away from Jacksonville since the 1994 and 1995 seasons, when the games were held on campus during stadium work. The rivalry will meet in Tampa next season before returning to Jacksonville in 2028. Florida last beat Georgia in 2020.
Georgia led 24-0 at halftime and never trailed. Nate Frazier scored on a one-yard touchdown run to open the scoring, and Bo Walker added a rushing touchdown in the second quarter. Gunner Stockton threw for just 101 yards for Georgia, but the Bulldogs did not need a big passing game. Georgia outrushed Florida 217-48 and finished with 318 yards of total offense.
Georgia turns Florida mistakes into points
Florida quarterback Aaron Philo started the game and threw two interceptions before being replaced by Tramell Jones Jr. Jones completed 17 of 24 passes for 172 yards, but he also threw an interception and lost a fumble. The Bulldogs turned those four turnovers into 17 points, and Florida never recovered from the early mistakes.
The biggest play came with 29 seconds left in the first half. Jones was sacked by Quintavius Johnson as he tried to throw, and the ball came loose. Chris Cole picked it up and ran 66 yards for a touchdown, giving Georgia a 24-0 lead at halftime. It was Cole’s second long fumble return for a touchdown this season. Demello Jones had an interception and four tackles for the Bulldogs, and his interception return set up the Bulldogs’ second touchdown.
The Bulldogs’ defense held Florida to 246 yards of offense and recorded four sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Florida running back Jadan Baugh, who entered the game averaging 109 rushing yards per game, was held to 38 yards on 17 carries. Baugh began the day leading the Southeastern Conference with 13 rushing touchdowns, but the Bulldogs kept him from breaking free all afternoon.
Georgia defense holds Florida scoreless late
Florida did not score until 6:59 remained in the fourth quarter, when Jones ran two yards for a touchdown. Baugh threw a pass to Wilson on a trick play for the two-point conversion, extending Florida’s NCAA-record scoring streak to 481 games. The Bulldogs answered with a 21-yard field goal by Woodring with 3:34 left, closing the scoring at 27-8.
Florida finished with five penalties for 60 yards in the first half and failed to cross midfield until its final drive before halftime. The Gators had just 109 yards of offense at halftime, compared with 175 yards for the Bulldogs. Florida coach Jon Sumrall, in his first season, lost his first matchup against Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart, who improved to 9-2 against the Gators.
The Bulldogs’ offense was effective rather than flashy. Frazier and Dwight Phillips Jr. each rushed for 67 yards, and the Bulldogs averaged 4.9 yards per play. The Bulldogs scored only a field goal in the second half, but the 24-0 halftime lead meant the Bulldogs did not need more. The defense did the rest, forcing turnovers and keeping Florida out of the end zone for more than three quarters.
Georgia keeps its playoff hopes alive
The Bulldogs bounced back from a 27-24 loss to Auburn on Oct. 17, when the Bulldogs had three turnovers and forced none. Smart had said after that game that his team beat itself in several ways, and the win over Florida showed a different side. The Bulldogs forced four turnovers this time and turned them into points, a change that decided the game.
Florida returns home to face Oklahoma next week, with its playoff hopes now out of reach after a third loss. The Gators had beaten No. 7 Texas 27-24 in their previous game, but they could not follow that upset with another win over a top-10 team. Georgia, meanwhile, still has to get past Ole Miss next week to stay comfortable in the playoff race. The Bulldogs left Atlanta with a rivalry win and a 7-1 record.