No one is pretending Florida arrives at this game with clean edges. That’s not this team.
The Gators have flashed enough to make people take them seriously, then turned around and reminded everyone why they’re so hard to trust. That’s the backdrop for No.
24 Florida’s matchup with Georgia, with the Gators sitting as a 10.5-point underdog after an open week.
The last time Florida walked off the field, it did so with one of the wildest wins of the season: a 27-24 upset of Texas. It was one of five top-10 upsets in the chaos, and it came after Florida head coach Jon Sumrall summed up his team this way:
“We still suck as a team. Today we just sucked less.”
That line fits Florida’s season almost too well. The Gators have shown they can land a punch, but they’ve also left enough openings to make you wonder what version shows up next. Georgia, meanwhile, comes in after its own jolt of turmoil, having lost in overtime to Auburn - the same Auburn team Florida beat earlier this season.
The run game could give Florida a real path here. Jadan Baugh has been a problem for defenses all season, and he was a headache for Texas too.
He has 763 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Florida’s ground attack has also found life again after going off the rails in the Missouri game.
The Gators ran for more than 200 yards in each of their first four wins, then followed the Missouri loss with a stretch that looked far more stable: 258 rushing yards over the last two games.
Georgia hasn’t been nearly as settled on the ground. Lead back Chauney Bowens is dealing with a right foot injury, and the Bulldogs have had to lean on Dwight Phillips and Nate Frazier, who has been working through injured ribs.
The results have swung from week to week. Georgia was held to 113 rushing yards against Auburn, then turned around and ran for 206 against Alabama.
On defense, the Bulldogs have also shown some leakiness, giving up 192 rushing yards to Auburn and 161 to Alabama.
Florida’s front has done its part against the run, too. With Missouri as the exception, every opponent the Gators have faced has been held under 130 rushing yards. South Carolina managed only 114, and Texas was limited to 99 in Florida’s upset win.
Where Florida makes life difficult for itself is with penalties. The Gators are the second most penalized team in the SEC and among the most penalized teams in the country.
They average 7.8 flags per game for 74.5 yards. Against a team like Georgia, that kind of sloppiness can turn into a fast problem.
The Bulldogs are ranked No. 36 as the least penalized team in the country, which only raises the cost of every free yard Florida gives away.
There’s also the weight of recent history. Florida hasn’t beaten Georgia in four years, and its last win came in the chaotic 2020 COVID season. Kirby Smart has been the standard-bearer for Georgia this decade, and he hasn’t lost back-to-back regular-season games since his first year at UGA in 2016, which is also the only other year Florida has beaten him.
Quarterback uncertainty could add another wrinkle. Florida starter Aaron Philo missed the Texas game with a shoulder injury, and backup Tramell Jones stepped in and delivered a strong performance in the win over UT.
It’s not clear who starts for Florida, or whether the Gators will use both. That kind of uncertainty can complicate Georgia’s prep.
The Bulldogs may also be waiting on the status of defensive back KJ Bolden, who missed the Auburn game. His availability is unknown.
On the other side, Gunner Stockton has been steady for Georgia, throwing for 1,570 yards and 16 touchdowns with four interceptions. Florida’s secondary has had trouble slowing passing attacks all year, and its first real breakthrough came against Texas. The Gators are second-to-last in the SEC in passing defense, so if Georgia can’t fully lean on the run, more of the load may fall on Stockton’s arm.
In Other News...
Floridas Biggest Georgia Question Still Has Playoff Stakes
With Floridas trip to Georgia looming, Jon Sumrall still has a significant decision to make at quarterback. Freshman Tramell Jones Jr. and returning starter Philo are both available for the matchup, and Sumrall said he expects to have a starter in place by Wednesday, though he has not made anything official yet.
It is the kind of choice that reaches beyond one game, especially with playoff implications hanging over the stretch run. Both quarterbacks have posted similar completion percentages and each has been part of the offense this season, which makes the decision less about finding a clear emergency option and more about settling on the one that best fits the moment. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Still Has One Massive Question Heading Into Georgia
Florida still has its biggest offensive decision hanging over the buildup to Georgia, with Jon Sumrall declining to name a starting quarterback for the matchup with the No. 3 Bulldogs. Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. are both available, both practiced, and both remain in the mix as the Gators try to settle on the best option for one of the seasons most important games.
Sumrall said he needs both quarterbacks ready and may wait until after he reviews practice film before making the call. However the choice goes, Florida knows it will need steady play at the position and continued production from Jadan Baugh, who remains a key part of the offense heading into the showdown. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Is Hiding The One Decision Georgia Fans Care About
With Georgia week looming, the quarterback question is still the biggest storyline around Florida as the Gators get ready for one of the most watched games on their schedule. Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. are both available, and Jon Sumrall has kept the competition open after Jones stepped in to lead Florida back to a comeback win while Philo sat out with an injury.
Sumrall said he expects to settle on a starter by midweek, but he does not plan to stage a formal announcement, which only adds to the interest on the other side of this rivalry. Georgia fans will be watching closely to see whether Florida goes with the quarterback who returned from injury or sticks with the one who just steadied the offense when the Gators needed it most. [Read more 🡒]