Georgia holds Florida scoreless for 3 quarters in first Atlanta win
The Bulldogs forced four turnovers and held the Gators to 54 rushing yards at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
By Ethan Cook ·
The Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Florida Gators 27-8 on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The matchup was held in Georgia’s capital for the first time due to a $1.4 billion renovation of EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville. The game had traditionally been played in Florida since 1933. The No. 3 ranked Bulldogs improved their record to 9-2 against Florida under head coach Kirby Smart. This victory marked Georgia’s sixth consecutive win in the border rivalry. It is the longest winning streak in this series since 1978 to 1983.
Georgia’s defense controlled the game by forcing four turnovers. The Bulldogs limited Florida to 54 rushing yards and recorded four sacks. Florida was shut out through the first three quarters. This was the first time the Gators had been held scoreless through three quarters since their 30-3 loss to Oregon State in the 2022 Las Vegas Bowl. The Gators’ NCAA record of 481 consecutive games with points remained intact after quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. scored in the fourth quarter.
Florida committed critical errors in the first half. Coach Jon Sumrall started Aaron Philo, who had missed time with a shoulder injury. Philo threw two interceptions in the first half. One was a wild underhand throw that Georgia’s Ellis Robinson IV intercepted. The other was deflected by Demello Jones after bouncing off the hands of Eric Singleton Jr. Georgia capitalized on these mistakes to build a 24-0 lead by the end of the first half. Linebacker Chris Cole returned a fumble caused by a sack for a 66-yard touchdown.
Georgia’s offense moved the ball efficiently. The Bulldogs ran for 217 yards and converted four of five red zone possessions. Nate Frazier scored on a one-yard run in the first quarter. Bo Walker added a one-yard touchdown run late in the first half. Peyton Woodring kicked a 28-yard field goal to extend the lead. Florida’s only score came late in the fourth quarter when Jones ran in a two-yard touchdown and threw a two-point conversion pass to Dallas Wilson.
Sumrall acknowledged the team’s struggles in his first game against Georgia. He noted that the Gators gave the Bulldogs significant help through turnovers and penalties. The team was penalized eight times for 78 yards. Jones and Philo combined for three interceptions. Sumrall stated that the program is trying to build a sustainable foundation and that every detail matters in their development.
Smart praised his defensive staff for executing a simple but disruptive game plan. He credited the pressure on the quarterback with creating turnovers and limiting Florida’s offensive options. The next Florida-Georgia game is scheduled for Raymond James Stadium in Tampa in 2027. It will return to Jacksonville in 2028. The previous off-cycle games were played in 1994 and 1995 due to renovations at the Gator Bowl.
