Florida brings its Texas comeback to Atlanta

Georgia's margin, Florida's even ledger

Against Power 4 opponents, Georgia is +80 in point margin, seventh nationally and third in the SEC. Florida is -15 in the same games, 40th nationally and ninth in the SEC. Georgia is 4-1 in those games, and the only loss came to Auburn.

The Gators gain 404 yards a game, 24th nationally, and allow 405, 52nd. Georgia gains 427, 15th, and allows 320, 13th.

Georgia is penalized 44 yards a game, 19th nationally, against 79 for Florida, which ranks 16th in the SEC. Turnovers are close: Georgia is +1, 26th nationally, and Florida is even, 38th.

Where it's decided

When Georgia has the ball, it brings an offense that scores on 55.1% of its drives against Power 4 opponents, fifth nationally and best in the SEC. It converts 51.7% of its third downs, fourth nationally, and scores 33.6 points a game, 12th. Florida allows 34.8 points a game in those games, 16th in the SEC, and opponents convert 46.8% of third downs against it. The Gators have allowed a score on every red zone trip, a 100.0% rate that ranks 80th nationally, and they end 48.1% of drives without a score.

The pass defense is the softer spot: Florida allows 272 passing yards a game, 15th in the SEC, and 133 on the ground, 30th nationally. Georgia throws for 252 yards a game and runs for 176, 25th and 14th nationally.

Quarterback Gunner Stockton leads Georgia in passing yards with 1,570, with 16 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Among passers with 15 or more attempts a game, his 74.1% completion rate ranks third in FBS and his 9.9 yards per attempt lead the SEC. In all games, Georgia scores 43.0 points a game, best in the SEC and up from 32.1 last season.

Georgia returned 30% of its 2025 receiving yards, and new names have filled in. Craig Dandridge leads the Bulldogs in receiving yards with 310 on 17 catches, and he has raised his total in 3 straight games, finishing with 88 against Auburn. Talyn Taylor leads Georgia in catches with 19, for 283 yards and 3 touchdowns, and running back Nate Frazier is second in rushing yards with 230 and has 5 touchdowns.

When Florida has the ball, it scores 31.8 points a game against Power 4 opponents, 18th nationally, and ends 50.0% of its drives with points, 13th. Georgia allows 17.6 points a game in those games, 10th nationally, and stops 72.2% of the drives it faces, seventh. The Bulldogs allow 104 rushing yards a game, 14th, and 216 passing, 28th. The opening is near the goal line, where Georgia has allowed a score on 90.9% of trips, 64th nationally, and Florida scores on 90.5% of its own.

Florida quarterback Aaron Philo leads the Gators in passing yards with 1,341, with 9 touchdowns, 3 interceptions and a 70.5 completion percentage. Florida throws for 231 yards a game against Power 4 teams, 39th nationally. Dallas Wilson leads Florida in receiving yards and catches, with 403 yards on 29 catches and 3 touchdowns, and Bailey Stockton is second in receiving yards with 289 on 27 catches.

Jadan Baugh plays in his hometown

Florida running back Jadan Baugh plays this game in his hometown of Atlanta. He has 13 rushing touchdowns, third in FBS, and leads Florida in rushing yards with 763 on 135 carries. His yardage ranks third in the SEC, and two more rushing touchdowns would give him 15 this season and 30 for his career. He is one of 5 FBS players this season with two or more rushing touchdowns in four games.

Florida's offense, rebuilt by transfers

In all games, Florida scores 39.6 points a game, ninth in FBS and up from 21.6 last season. The Gators return 8% of their 2025 passing yards, after D.J. Lagway took 2,264 of them elsewhere by transfer. Philo came from Georgia Tech, and transfers brought in 1,857 of last season's receiving yards, 534 of them from 4-star receiver Eric Singleton Jr., who arrived from Auburn.

Smart's record and three more local returns

Kirby Smart is 8-2 against Florida and 44-18 as a head coach against ranked teams. Jon Sumrall has never faced Georgia in 5 seasons as an FBS head coach.

Baugh is not the only player coming home. Florida tight end Luke Harpring, a transfer from Georgia Tech, plays in his hometown of Atlanta, where he played at Marist School. Georgia running back Dwight Phillips Jr. plays about 10 miles from Mableton, where he played at Pebblebrook, and he leads the Bulldogs in rushing yards with 348 on 47 carries. Georgia tight end Lawson Luckie plays about 15 miles from his hometown of Norcross, where he played at Norcross.

Florida had 7 players drafted, including a defensive tackle, a center, an offensive tackle and both specialists, with 2 in the first two rounds. Defensive tackle Caleb Banks went 18th overall to Minnesota, and center Jake Slaughter went 63rd to Los Angeles.

Georgia had 8 players drafted, including 2 wide receivers, with 3 in the first two rounds. Offensive tackle Monroe Freeling went 19th overall to Carolina, and linebacker CJ Allen went 53rd to Indianapolis.

Florida's quarterback question

Update, Sat, Oct 31, 1:00 PM CT: Since Friday's report, Florida upgraded Aaron Philo (probable to available) and Tramell Jones Jr. (probable to available); downgraded Vernell Brown III (questionable to out). On the latest report, Georgia lists Chauncey Bowens, Thomas Blackshear, Tyriq Green and 1 other as out or doubtful, and KJ Bolden and Isiah Canion as game-time decisions. Florida lists Vernell Brown III, Jaden Robinson and Duke Clark as out or doubtful, and Bailey Stockton as a game-time decision.

Sumrall said Oct. 26, according to 247Sports, that Philo, who has a shoulder injury, practiced Monday and that both he and Tramell Jones are "available, I think" this week. Sumrall did not name a starter.

Florida running back Duke Clark, second on the team in rushing yards with 265 and 3 touchdowns, was listed Out on the SEC availability report for the Texas game.

Georgia has kept the Oar since 2021

Georgia leads the series 58-44-2 since 1904 in the games we hold, and it has won 5 straight against Florida, dating to 2021. The Bulldogs hold the Okefenokee Oar, the trophy for the Florida-Georgia game.

The run began in 2021 with a Georgia team that went 14-1. Jordan Davis won the Outland Trophy and the Bednarik Award, Nakobe Dean won the Butkus Award, and both were unanimous All-Americans, while Florida went 6-7.

Georgia won the last meeting 24-20 at a neutral site in 2025, and Zachariah Branch had 112 receiving yards. That Georgia team went 12-2, with Ray Guy Award winner Brett Thorson and All-America linebacker CJ Allen, and Florida went 4-8.

Three things to watch

Florida's clock: against Power 4 opponents, the Gators hold the ball 34:26 a game, second nationally, behind a running game that gains 173 yards, 16th.

Baugh's milestones: the Atlanta native needs 2 rushing touchdowns to reach 15 this season and 30 for his career.

Third downs: Florida converts 45.2% against Power 4 opponents, and Georgia's defense allows 34.8%, 16th nationally.