ATLANTA, Ga. — For the first time in its long history, the Georgia-Florida rivalry will be played in Atlanta. The third-ranked Bulldogs and the No. 17 Gators kick off at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the game on ABC.
Georgia comes in at 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the Southeastern Conference. Florida is 5-2 and 3-2 in league play. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 58-44-2 and won last year’s meeting 24-20 in Jacksonville on Nov. 1, 2025.
Kirby Smart is in his 11th season in Athens with a 123-22 record, and he is one of only two active coaches with more than one national title.
The biggest question sits on the Florida sideline. Starting quarterback Aaron Philo missed the Gators’ win at Texas on Oct. 17 with an injured throwing shoulder, which he hurt late in an Oct. 10 home loss to South Carolina. He returned to practice Monday and split first-team snaps with Tramell Jones Jr.
Jones made the most of his chance in Austin. He threw for 155 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, ran for 41 more yards, and no Florida quarterback had won a road debut as a starter over a top-10 team since 1997.
Florida coach Jon Sumrall said he will judge both players on health and how they practice this week, and he may not reveal his choice ahead of kickoff. He added that Jones has picked up some new bumps and bruises since the Texas game.
The game moves away from Jacksonville this season, and the 75,000-seat downtown stadium gives Georgia fans a much shorter drive to a rivalry that has long been played on a neutral field.
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