There’s no game like Florida-Georgia. As a Florida fan who grew up in Jacksonville, this matchup has always been one of my favorites. Being a Florida fan means one thing: you cannot stand Georgia. Every football team has a rival, but not every rivalry carries the same weight. This game feels different from any typical SEC matchup. The first official Florida-Georgia game was played in 1915, when Georgia defeated Florida 37-0. Since 1933, the game has been held in Jacksonville at EverBank Stadium, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Photo Cred: CBS Sports
The neutral site has traditionally welcomed travelers from Athens and Gainesville, making it one of the few remaining neutral-site rivalries. However, this year’s game was played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. in Jacksonville Stadium is undergoing renovations. The matchup carries more weight because of the bragging rights and lasting tradition.
The rivalry is often called the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” because of the tailgating scene that fills Jacksonville year after year. Although this year’s game was held at a different venue, resulting in an “indoor cocktail party,” the energy remained the same. For Florida fans, Saturday’s game was not their best performance. The Gators scored their first and only points in the fourth quarter, while Georgia held a commanding lead throughout, going into halftime up 24-0.
In the end, Georgia defeated Florida 27-8, improving to 5-1 in conference play while Florida fell to 3-3 in the SEC. For Georgia, the victory was a big recovery from its unexpected loss to Auburn on October 17. For the Gators, they couldn’t beat another top-10 team as they did at Texas. After the game, first-year Florida coach Jon Sumrall shared his thoughts.
Photo Cred: SEC
“Georgia, I think they’re really good. I think they’re well-coached. Got a lot of respect for them… They didn’t need our help tonight, but we gave it to them, and they won the game. The Gators didn’t help the Gators enough tonight.”
The feeling of beating your biggest rival is unmatched. For Georgia, this weekend’s victory provides more confidence heading into the final stretch of the season. Georgia will travel to Oxford to play No. 12 Ole Miss, which defeated Auburn 45-15 last weekend. Florida will host Oklahoma in The Swamp. As the weeks pass and new rankings come out, more exciting matchups await in the coming weeks.
