CBS Sports put Florida-Georgia squarely in the Week 9 spotlight, naming the SEC showdown one of six games that could help reshape the College Football Playoff picture.
The Gators and Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs are part of a national slate that also includes Texas Tech vs. Arizona, Wisconsin vs.
Iowa, Miami vs. North Carolina, Ohio State vs.
USC, and Utah vs. Cincinnati.
CBS Sports framed all six as games with the power to clarify this year’s bracket.
Florida’s path back into the postseason discussion has changed quickly after Jon Sumrall’s team upset Texas on the road in Week 7. A win over No.
3 Georgia would put the No. 20 Gators in a strong position to control their own fate down the stretch.
For Georgia, another loss would sting, though it would not necessarily knock the Bulldogs out of the playoff conversation.
"Florida had a miserable couple of weeks to start October, but the Gators are rounding into form at the right time. Backup quarterback Tramell Jones helped lead a massive upset of No. 7 Texas, which brings the Gators right back into the conversation," wrote college football writer Shehan Jeyarajah.
Jones’ performance in Austin was a big reason Florida got back on track. The first-year quarterback completed 22 of 35 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns, and he added 52 net rushing yards.
It is still unclear whether Jones will get a second straight start on Saturday or whether Sumrall will turn to Aaron Philo. The Bogart, Georgia, native helped Florida jump out to a 4-0 start and has thrown for 1,341 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
"Florida has wins over Ole Miss and Texas on their resume, but a win over Georgia would help cement them in the home stretch, with a road game against No. 9 Kentucky still remaining," Jeyarajah concluded.
If the Gators do get past Georgia in Atlanta, they would still face Kentucky later on, after a home stand against Oklahoma.
In Other News...
Florida Just Made Its Biggest Offensive Decision Before Georgia
Aaron Philo is back in the spotlight at the right time for Florida, and the Gators have made their call for the Georgia game. After Philo was sidelined by injury and Tramell Jones Jr. stepped in to lead a recent upset win, the quarterback situation had become one of the biggest questions hanging over the week. Now the job goes back to Philo, who helped fuel Floridas strong start to the season before the setback.
The timing matters because Georgia brings the kind of defense that can expose even small flaws in an offense. Florida is banking on Philos return to steady the group against the top-ranked unit on the schedule, while Jones surge has only added intrigue to the decision. For a rivalry game with plenty at stake, the Gators are choosing the quarterback they believe gives them the best chance to match Georgias pressure and keep the offense moving. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Heads Into Georgia With One Huge Question Still Unanswered
Floridas trip to Georgia comes with the usual rivalry pressure, but there is a bigger football question hanging over the Gators as they try to sort out a season that has gone from impressive to baffling and back again. Joel Klatt pointed to that week-to-week inconsistency, noting that Florida has paired significant wins with puzzling losses while still showing enough talent to make this one feel live.
The matchup also puts the spotlight on how Florida wants to play it, because the ability to run the ball and lean on a strong defensive line could go a long way toward keeping the game on script. Even so, the quarterback picture remains unsettled, with no starter announced and Tramell Jones and Aaron Philo both listed as questionable, leaving one of the teams most important decisions open as kickoff approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Florida May Be Getting A Massive Boost Right Before Georgia
Floridas passing game has been searching for consistency while the receiver room works through injuries to Eric Singleton Jr. and Vernell Brown III, a hit that has shown up in the offenses overall effectiveness over the last few games. The two bring different traits to the field, and when both are available, the group gives the Gators more options in how they can attack downfield and on the perimeter.
As Georgia looms, there is at least some reason for optimism that the receiving corps could be getting closer to full strength at just the right time. If that trend holds, it could open up more of the game plan Florida has been unable to fully lean on lately, with the real question being how quickly those pieces can be worked back into rhythm before the rivalry game arrives. [Read more 🡒]