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)
In Other News...
Georgia Fans Have A New Reason To Worry About Glenn Schumann
The opening at NC State has put an unwelcome new name on Georgia fans radar: Glenn Schumann. ESPN recently listed the Bulldogs defensive coordinator as a potential candidate for the Wolfpack job after Dave Doerens firing, a reminder that Schumanns profile keeps rising as he prepares for another Georgia season. He has been in Athens since 2016, moving from inside linebackers coach to defensive coordinator, and he has been part of six national championship teams along the way.
For Georgia, the appeal is obvious and so is the concern. Schumann has become one of the more respected defensive minds in the sport, and while he is still focused on the Bulldogs right now, the possibility of a head-coaching move is getting harder to ignore. Whether this particular job becomes a real threat or just another line on a growing list of opportunities, it is the kind of development that can have fans watching the staff carousel a little more closely than they would like. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Fans Just Got A Reassuring Sign About Elite QB Commit
Jayden Wades trip to Michigan over the weekend gave Georgia fans something to watch closely, even if the five-star quarterback remains committed to the Bulldogs in the 2028 class. Wade made the visit to see the Wolverines take on Indiana, and the setting offered a useful snapshot of a program trying to sell itself to one of the nations top young passers while Georgia continues to hold the early pledge.
Michigans recent quarterback play and broader team struggles have made the pitch a tougher one than it might have looked a year ago. The Wolverines have built a reputation for flipping recruits in the past, but this season could make that harder, and for Georgia the timing at least offers a reassuring backdrop as it tries to keep Wade in the fold. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia-Florida Suddenly Feels Bigger After What Happened At Auburn
The annual Georgia-Florida rivalry already had enough weight attached to it, but this years edition in Atlanta has taken on an even bigger feel after what unfolded at Auburn. Instead of the usual setting in Jacksonville, the game is being moved because of renovations at the stadium that has hosted the matchup since 1995, turning a familiar neutral-site date into something with a different backdrop and a little extra edge.
It still carries the same kickoff window, with a 3:30 p.m. EST start on ABC and streaming available through the ESPN app and Fubo TV, but the venue change gives the old rivalry a fresh look. Georgia enters as the clear favorite at 10.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook, and ESPNs matchup predictor pegs the Bulldogs with an 82.1 percent chance to win, but this one feels like more than a routine November measuring stick. [Read more 🡒]