Florida vs Georgia: Gators Fall 27-8 as Four Turnovers Hand No. 3 Georgia a Sixth Straight Rivalry Win
Florida did not score until the fourth quarter in Atlanta, undone by four turnovers — including a 66-yard fumble return for a touchdown — in a 27-8 loss that was 24-0 by halftime.
Atlanta — The Florida Gators' afternoon in the rivalry that usually belongs to Jacksonville came apart early and never recovered. No. 3 Georgia beat No. 17 Florida 27-8 on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, forcing four Florida turnovers and converting them into 17 points, according to the Associated Press game story.
Georgia led 7-0 after the first quarter and 24-0 at halftime. The decisive play came late in the first half, when Florida's second quarterback, Tramell Jones Jr., was sacked and stripped, and Georgia's Chris Cole returned the fumble 66 yards for a touchdown, Georgia Athletics reported. Bo Walker and Nate Frazier added 1-yard scoring runs as the Bulldogs built the halftime margin before a sellout crowd of 72,541.
Florida's running game never got going. Georgia outrushed the Gators 217-48, the AP reported, and Jadan Baugh — who began the day leading the SEC with 13 rushing touchdowns — was held to 38 yards on 17 carries. Florida crossed into the scoring column only with 6:59 remaining, on Jones Jr.'s 2-yard run, with Baugh throwing to Dallas Wilson for the two-point conversion, a score that extended Florida's NCAA-record streak of games without being shut out to 481.
Peyton Woodring's 21-yard field goal with 3:34 left closed the scoring. The win was Georgia's sixth straight in the series; Georgia improved to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the SEC, while Florida fell to 5-3 and 3-3. The rivalry game was played in Atlanta for the first time because of renovations at Jacksonville's EverBank Stadium; the series moves to Tampa next season before returning to Jacksonville in 2028, Georgia Athletics said. Florida returns home next week to face Oklahoma.
