Georgia and Florida Meet in Atlanta as Rivalry Moves From Jacksonville

No. 3 Georgia and No. 17 Florida will play their first meeting in Atlanta on Saturday, shifting the traditional neutral site rivalry away from Jacksonville. The change occurs because EverBank Stadium is undergoing renovations, forcing the contest to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Both teams will share the ticket allocation equally, a format that mirrors the atmosphere of an SEC championship game.

The rivalry has typically been played in Jacksonville, Florida, for decades. That tradition will pause this season due to the stadium work. Florida coach Jon Sumrall noted that while Atlanta is not the team's home turf, the unique ticket split creates an exciting environment for his players. He described the setting as distinct from a standard SEC road game.

Georgia holds an 8-2 record in the series under coach Kirby Smart, including victories in the last five meetings. Smart stated that the venue change likely matters less to the players than to the fans. He called the move to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium a unique experience for the Georgia fan base.

The game serves as a critical test for both programs' conference titles hopes. Georgia enters the match at 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the SEC. The Bulldogs are attempting to recover from a last-second 27-24 loss to Auburn, which dropped them from the top of the AP Top 25. Florida stands at 5-2 overall and 3-2 in conference play.

Florida seeks its second consecutive victory over a top 10 opponent. The Gators recently defeated No. 7 Texas by a score of 27-24. A win on Saturday would mark only the third time in school history that Florida has achieved back-to-back wins against top 10 teams. It would also make Sumrall the first Florida coach to record three wins over top 10 opponents in his first season.

Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton is preparing for a bounce-back performance after throwing two interceptions and fumbling in the loss to Auburn. Center Drew Bobo described Stockton as a consistent competitor who prepares the same way regardless of recent results. Georgia also faces a challenge against Florida's rushing attack, which ranks fourth in the SEC with 194.3 yards per game.

Florida tailback Jadan Baugh leads the SEC with 13 rushing touchdowns and has carried for 763 yards. Baugh, an Atlanta native and former Falcons fan, viewed the game as a special homecoming. He mentioned advice from his father about staying calm and not getting overly excited for the moment. Georgia ranks second in the SEC in run defense, allowing 91.4 yards per game.

Florida head coach Jon Sumrall is deciding between Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. to start at quarterback. Philo returned to practice after missing the win over Texas with a right shoulder injury. Sumrall has given both quarterbacks reps with the first-team offense. Smart praised both players, noting that Philo beat Ole Miss handily while Jones Jr. won on the road at Texas.

The next scheduled meeting between the two teams will take place in Tampa Bay in 2027.