Georgia-Florida Rivalry Moves to Atlanta

The Georgia-Florida football rivalry game will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, October 31. This marks the first time the contest has been held outside of Jacksonville since 1995. The location change is necessary because EverBank Stadium is currently undergoing renovations. The next edition of the game is scheduled for Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Georgia enters the matchup as the No. 3 ranked team with a record of 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the SEC. The Bulldogs lost their previous game to Auburn 27-24 on a last-second score, a defeat that dropped them from the top spot in the AP Top 25. Florida is ranked No. 17 with a 5-2 overall record and 3-2 in the conference. The Gators recently upset No. 7 Texas 27-24, securing their second consecutive victory over a top 10 team.

Both teams are fighting for position in the SEC Championship race. The all-time series is led by Georgia 58-44-2. The Bulldogs defeated the Gators 24-20 in Jacksonville last year. Under head coach Kirby Smart, Georgia is 8-2 in this rivalry and has won the last five meetings.

Smart noted that the venue change offers a unique experience for the fan base. He stated that the location does not matter much to the teams playing in it. However, the Gators present a different challenge this year. Head coach Billy Napier and quarterback DJ Lagway have left the program. They are replaced by coach Jon Sumrall and transfer quarterback Aaron Philo from Georgia Tech.

Philo and backup quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. were listed as questionable for the game. They split repetitions in practice throughout the week. Sumrall said the decision on the starter would come down to health and availability. Smart described both players as completely capable and talented, noting that Philo beat Ole Miss and Jones beat Texas on the road.

Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton seeks a bounce-back performance after throwing two interceptions and fumbling the ball away in the loss to Auburn. Tailback Nate Frazier returned from a rib injury but gained only 19 yards on nine carries. Georgia was outrushed by Auburn 192-113. Center Drew Bobo said Stockton has responded by being consistent and giving 100 percent effort in preparation.

Florida features running back Jadan Baugh, who has rushed for 763 yards and leads the SEC with 13 rushing touchdowns. Baugh is an Atlanta native and a former Atlanta Falcons fan. He said the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium means everything to him, though he aims to avoid getting too excited as his father advised. Baugh noted that Georgia recruited him hard in his 10th grade year but wanted him to play defense, a position he did not want.

Smart said his staff has shown players clips of Baugh since the start of the year to motivate them. Florida ranks fourth in the SEC with 194.3 rushing yards per game. Georgia is second in the league in run defense, allowing 91.4 yards per game despite the poor performance against Auburn. A win for Florida would give the Gators back-to-back wins over top 10 teams for the third time in school history. Sumrall would become the first Florida coach to lead the team to three wins over top 10 teams in his debut season.

The Atlanta News First program Gametime will air from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm will join sports director Baillie Burmaster, along with former players Drew Butler and Rennie Curran. Anchor Connor Hines will be in Atlanta for the game. The broadcast is available on channel 46 over the air and on various cable and streaming providers.