Florida faces its biggest test of the season when the Gators enter Mercedes-Benz Stadium for their annual rivalry matchup with Georgia in Atlanta. The SEC showdown moves from Jacksonville for the first time in decades, with significant postseason implications hanging in the balance.
The Gators sit at No. 20 on the US LBM Coaches Poll, while the Bulldogs land at No. 3. Both teams entered their bye weeks under very different circumstances. Georgia surrendered its perfect record after being upset by Auburn and Florida knocked off Texas on the road to end a two-game skid.
Under first-year head coach Jon Sumrall, the Gators have demonstrated an ability to compete with elite programs. However, inconsistency and sporadic lapses in execution paint question
marks around UF's ceiling this season.
Florida will need star running back Jadan Baugh to get going early to establish offensive balance and open up the play sheet for lead coordinator Buster Faulkner. Georgia boasts the No. 1 total defense in the SEC, so the Gators will need to stay out of predictable situations to maximize their weapons.
The Gators' pass rush will need to recreate the pressure it delivered in Austin when the group sacked Arch Manning five times and forced two fumbles. Gunner Stockon turned the ball over three times against Auburn, so the opportunities should be there for Brad White's unit.
"I think Georgia's gonna be Georgia."@ESPNBooger previews Saturday's matchup between Florida and Georgia 👀 pic.twitter.com/SdsLtM9Xbq
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 27, 2026
Florida is again in the midst of a quarterback controversy. Aaron Philo led the Gators to a 4-0 start and was a driving force in their upset win over No. 4 Ole Miss in the Swamp before being sidelined by a right shoulder injury. In his first career start, Tramell Jones Jr. completed 22 of 35 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Texas that revived the Gators' season. Sumrall has yet to announce a starter as of Wednesday afternoon.
Led by Gunner Stockton, Georgia's offense averages 43 points per game; a scoring attack that ranks No. 3 nationally. The unit also converts on 58% of its third-down attempts, which is among the most efficient in the nation. The Bulldogs have won five consecutive meetings, including last season's 24-20 battle.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: ESPN's Booger McFarland previews Week 9's Florida-Georgia rivalry game
