Georgia defeats Florida 27-8 in rare Atlanta venue
The Bulldogs forced four turnovers and held the Gators to 54 rushing yards during their sixth straight win in the rivalry.
By Anthony Brooks ·
Georgia fans traveled to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday for a game that rarely leaves Florida. The No. 3 Bulldogs defeated the No. 17 Gators 27-8, marking their sixth consecutive victory in the series.
The matchup was held in Georgia for the first time due to a $1.4 billion renovation of EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville. The last time the game was not played in Jacksonville was during the 1994 and 1995 seasons, when both teams hosted lopsided wins at their respective campuses.
Georgia's defense dominated the contest, forcing four turnovers and recording four sacks. The Bulldogs limited Florida to 54 rushing yards and held them scoreless through the first three quarters. This was the first time Florida had been shut out for three quarters since a 30-3 loss to Oregon State in the 2022 Las Vegas Bowl.
The Bulldogs capitalized on Florida's mistakes. Cornerback Ellis Robinson IV intercepted a wild underhand pass from Aaron Philo in the first quarter, leading to a touchdown by tailback Nate Frazier. Later, linebacker Chris Cole returned a fumble by Tramell Jones Jr. 66 yards for a score.
Florida's offense struggled under the pressure of their first game against Georgia under head coach Jon Sumrall. The Gators were penalized eight times for 78 yards. Philo and Jones combined to throw three interceptions.
Sumrall decided to start Philo, who had missed time with a shoulder injury. In their previous game on Oct. 17, Jones had thrown for 155 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-24 upset of Texas. The switch did not improve Florida's performance, as they punted on three straight possessions after Jones entered the game.
Tramell Jones Jr. finally scored for Florida with 6:59 remaining. He ran in a two-yard touchdown after a pass interference penalty and then completed a two-point conversion to Dallas Wilson. The score became 24-8, but the game remained out of reach.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart praised his defensive staff for executing a simple and disruptive plan. He noted that the team avoided self-inflicted errors, a problem that plagued them in a 27-24 loss to Auburn two weeks prior. Smart also expressed a preference for the Atlanta venue, noting the shorter travel time and the quality of the stadium.
Source: ESPN
