Florida’s climb in the AP Top 25 came fast, and the timing could hardly be bigger.
The Gators are up to No. 17 after moving three spots during their bye week, setting up Saturday’s meeting with No. 3 Georgia in Atlanta.
Florida was back in the poll at No. 20 last weekend after its 27-24 upset of then-No. 7 Texas in Austin, and the Gators benefited again when seven teams ranked ahead of them fell.
That group included No. 14 Houston, No.
15 Iowa and No. 16 USC.
The top of the poll also shifted around Florida. Miami stayed at No.
1, Ohio State moved up to No. 2 and Georgia climbed two spots after then-No. 2 BYU lost 39-31 at UCF.
Notre Dame slid to No. 5 after its bye, leaving Georgia and No. 4 Indiana ahead of the Irish.
For first-year coach Jon Sumrall, the matchup gives Florida a chance to stack another statement win onto a résumé that already includes a 52-28 rout of No. 4 Ole Miss on Sept. 26 in the Swamp. The Gators now have their sights on a third victory against a top-10 team and a second against a top-five opponent.
Florida’s run against Georgia, though, has been a tough one to crack. The Gators have not beaten the Bulldogs since 2020 and have only one win in the rivalry since 2016. Still, an upset as 10.5-point underdogs would keep Florida’s College Football Playoff hopes alive while tightening the pressure on Georgia for the rest of November.
Georgia arrives with its own problems, even after the ranking bump. Kirby Smart’s team is coming off a shocking 27-24 home loss to Auburn. The Bulldogs are still putting up big numbers, though, leading the SEC with 43 points per game on offense and allowing just 15.9 points per game on defense.
Florida’s defense showed real fight in its win over Texas, holding the Longhorns to 272 yards after entering the game last in the SEC. The Gators also leaned on backup quarterback Tramell Jones Jr., who made key plays while Florida rallied from a 17-3 hole on Texas’ home field.
Jones is a 19-year-old sophomore who took over after starter Aaron Philo Jr. suffered a shoulder injury in a 38-19 homecoming loss to South Carolina on Oct. 10 in the Swamp. Sumrall’s quarterback decision remains one of the major questions heading into the week.
No. 17 UF (5-3, 3-2) vs.
No. 3 Georgia (6-1, 4-1)
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