Georgia holds off Florida: No. 5 Bulldogs stay alive in SEC title race behind another fourth quarter rally

Georgia has found itself in some difficult spots during a competitive 2025 campaign, including a 24-21 loss to Alabama, overtime win over Tennessee and a late two-score deficit against Ole Miss. However, the late win against Florida was one of the most consequential on the board. 

Had the Bulldogs lost against Georgia, their place in the College Football Playoff picture would have shifted significantly. UGA still has games against No. 20 Texas and No. 8 Georgia Tech left on the schedule, and would have flirted with falling out of the top 10 in the first CFP Rankings. 

Now, Georgia has some leeway heading into the home stretch at 7-1. They likely need to beat Texas to earn a trip to the SEC Championship Game, but a 3-1 finish is enough to get into the CFP. 

The Gators went into their first game after firing coach Billy Napier, and the roster he left behind was impressive. Despite missing several key starters with injuries -- Vernell Brown, Caleb Banks, Dallas Wilson chief among them -- the Gators kept finding ways to stay in the game. 

Sophomore receiver Eugene Wilson III stepped up most with nine catches for 121 yards and a touchdown, the best performance of his career against FBS competition. Running back Jadan Baugh was strong again. A defense playing without several of its most talented linemen held the Bulldogs to 3.5 per carry. 

Georgia coach Kirby Smart acknowledged postgame that Napier built a great roster at Florida. If the program can keep it together, the next coach will be in good shape. 

In the game's biggest moments, Georgia's playmakers stepped up. Running back Chauncey Bowens broke off a 36-yard touchdown run that was the game-winner. Quarterback Gunner Stockton found Zachariah Branch for a 42-yard pass to set up a touchdown. But for most of the game, Georgia was plagued by inconsistency. 

The Bulldogs had a success rate of 37%, which led to periods of poor offense. During one stretch in the first half, Georgia punted four times and threw an interception on another as the Gators built a 10-7 lead. Only one drive went more than eight plays, and it ended in a punt. 

Georgia has been able to run on many teams, but finding consistent offense against quality units is getting harder. That's a major concern heading into the home stretch. 

FINAL: Georgia 24, Florida 20

No. 5 Georgia outlasted Florida 24-20 in a hard-fought battle to move to 7-1 and stay in the SEC title race. The Bulldogs got a key fourth down stop and heady kneel from quarterback Gunner Stockton to escape Jacksonville with a win. 

Florida and Georgia were tied 10-10 at the half, but the Bulldogs ran nearly twice as many plays as the Gators. After getting a three-and-out, Georgia stormed down the field for a quick touchdown to take the lead. Instead of fading, Florida stepped up to the occasion and put together two of its best drives of the season to go on a 10-0 run to take control of the game. 

The Gators drove down the field a third time, but got stuffed on 4th-and-1. And this time, Georgia came back for a seven-play, 82-yard drive that ended with a 36-yard rushing touchdown from Chauncey Bowens. Florida had a wild pass from Lagway to Eugene Wilson III that was reviewed and ultimately ruled incomplete, which proved to be the game-deciding play. 

After that, Georgia was able to run out the rest of the clock. Stockton had a wide open run to the end zone, but opted to kneel at the one-yard line to run out the clock. The win was the fifth straight against Florida and eight in nine performances. 

Stockton led the game with 223 yards passing and two touchdowns. The Bulldogs rushed for 138 yards, including 70 from Bowens. Wilson had 121 yards and a touchdown in a breakout performance, but Lagway finished with only 166 total passing yards. Florida fell to 3-5 after the loss, putting them in a difficult spot to earn a trip to the postseason under interim coach Billy Gonzalez. 

Florida quarterback DJ Lagway launched a ball downfield to Eugene Wilson III on third down, which was ruled incomplete. On video review, it looked like Wilson might have laid his wrists under the ball -- but officials determined it was too close to overturn. Florida fans will be irate about the call for the rest of the year. 

4Q: Georgia 24, Florida 20

Georgia running back Chauncey Bowens broke through the line and reeled off a 36-yard touchdown run to give the Bulldogs a late late in the fourth quarter. Florida has just more than four minutes to respond. 

Florida marched down the field a second time in a 10-play drive that took 4:48 off the clock. However, on a critical 4th-and-1 on the edge of the red zone, Jadan Baugh was stuffed on an inside run to give Georgia the ball back. The Bulldogs have to score here to remain in good standing with less than eight minutes on the clock. 

End 3Q: Florida 20, Georgia 17

Florida retook the lead in Jacksonville after a 54-yard field goal from Trey Smack pushed it to 20-17 against No. 5 Georgia in Jacksonville. The Gators stormed back from an early third quarter deficit and took advantage of a bad snap to get the ball back with great field position. 

With top receivers Dallas Wilson and Vernell Brown both sidelined, sophomore Eugene Wilson III has stepped up and delivered a career game. The older Wilson has eight catches for 114 of DJ Lagway's 146 passing yards through three quarters. Running back Jadan Baugh has also been strong with 11 carries for 57 yards. More importantly, the second half run has helped cut what was once a 20-play deficit of plays run to 10. 

Georgia has run the ball for only 76 yards on 26 carries and quarterback Gunner Stockton threw his second interception of the season. Stockton has 183 yards passing and two scores. 

Florida went down the field and scored a touchdown, and the next drive started with Georgia launched a snap over Gunner Stockton's head. The next play, the Gators picked up a tackle for loss and forced Georgia into 4th-and-22. Florida will now get the ball back in great field position with a chance to take the lead in Jacksonville. What a turn of events for the Gators. 

3Q: Florida 17, Georgia 17

Florida responded to Georgia's touchdown to start the half with an impressive drive. The Gators went 12 plays for 79 yards to set up a two-yard touchdown run from Jadan Baugh. DJ Lagway had a 26-yard run, but Florida primarily stacked short gains until they added up to a long drive. That's the kind of patience we don't usually see against a stacked Georgia defense, and pulls the Gators back into the game heading into a pivotal fourth quarter. 

3Q: Georgia 17, Florida 10

Florida got the ball to start the second half, but Georgia wasted little time taking over. The Bulldogs forced a quick three-and-out and responded with a 42-yard pass from Gunner Stockton to Zachariah Branch to drive down the field. Then, Stockton found Noah Thomas for a 22-yard touchdown pass. Less than five minutes into the second half, Georgia is back in complete control. 

HALF: Georgia 10, Florida 10

In the first game for Florida since firing coach Billy Napier, the Gators are in of a tight game against Georgia in Jacksonville. The Bulldogs drove down the field to set up a game-tying field goal with 12 seconds remaining in the half, but Florida gets the ball back to start the second half. 

in the absence of Florida receiver Vernell Brown, Eugene Wilson has stepped up. The sophomore had five catches for 87 yards and a touchdown in the half, including a 40-yard grab for a score. Lagway had 101 yards passing, while running back Jadan Baugh has 41 yards rushing. 

Georgia has been inconsistent offensively, posting four punts and an interception in the middle drives of the half. Quarterback Gunner Stockton has 119 yards passing and 20 yards rushing, including 43 coming to receiver Dillon Bell. Stockton had passes of 17 and 20 yards during the two-minute drill to tie the game. 

While Florida has led on the scoreboard for most of the game, Georgia ran 43 plays to only 22 for Florida. Against an injury-plagued Gators defense, that could prove vital. 

Georgia safety K.J. Bolden has been ejected from the game for targeting after a hit on Florida wide receiver Dallas Wilson. Bolden led with the crown of his helmet and went helmet-to-helmet as Wilson caught a pass as the Gators drive down the field before the half. 

The only fortunate piece for Bolden is the timing -- had the play happened in the second half, Bolden would have to miss the first half against Mississippi State next week. 

Georgia went eight plays and took 5:23 off the clock, but quarterback Gunner Stockton was called for a false start after moving his body excessively during a hard count on fourth down. Instead of going for it, the Bulldogs were forced to punt with 6:08 remaining in the second quarter and Florida leading. There's a huge opportunity here for the Gators to pull away. 

End 1Q: Florida 10, No. 5 Georgia 7 

After Georgia marched down the field on its first offensive drive, momentum went Florida's way for the rest of the first quarter. The Gator defense put the offense in a couple of plus situations thanks to a forced punt from deep in Georgia's own territory and an interception from Florida defensive back Devin Moore off of a deflected pass. 

Florida was able to capitalize from its advantages. Florida quarterback DJ Lagway hit wide receiver Tre Wilson on a 40-yard touchdown that tied the game and then kicker Trey Smack booted a 22-yard field goal to give Florida its first quarter advantage. Wilson is already up to 80 yards receiving, which is his most in a single game since Sept. 7, 2024. 

Late 1Q: Florida 10, No. 5 Georgia 7

So far, Florida is doing what it needs to do to pull off an upset. After the Gators allowed Georgia to march down the field on its first drive, the defense has stiffened up. Florida defensive back Devin Moore benefitted from a tipped ball and intercepted a pass from Gunner Stockton, which gave the Gators possession at Georgia's 38-yard line. Florida quarterback DJ Lagway then found wide receiver Tre Wilson for a big gain into the red zone and, though Florida's drive stalled there, the Gators were able to take the lead with a 22-yard field goal from Trey Smack. 

Georgia defensive lineman Jordan Hall is out for the rest of the game with an apparent leg injury. Hall exited on Florida's first drive of the afternoon and was taken to the locker room with the help of some team trainers. He's a big loss for a Bulldog defensive line that has struggled a bit this season. The 6-foot-4 and 320-pound Hall had 10 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss, through Georgia's first seven games. 

Late 1Q: No. 5 Georgia 7, Florida 7

It took the Gators a little while to wake up, but they have finally arrived for their rivalry game against Georgia. After the defense forced a Bulldog punt from deep in their own territory, Florida took over at Georgia's 40-yard line. It took one play for the Gators to take advantage. Quarterback DJ Lagway extended the play with his legs by rolling out to the right, which drew Georgia's safeties in a bit. That allowed wide receiver Eugene Wilson III to sneak behind Georgia's secondary and get open for a 40-yard touchdown, which Lagway delivered on a rope. 

Early 1Q: No. 5 Georgia 7, Florida 0 

Georgia finished an easy first drive in the end zone take an early lead against Florida. The Bulldogs marched 75 yards down the field in just eight plays, as quarterback Gunner Stockton had no trouble dicing up Florida's secondary. He completed all four of his pass attempts for 54 yards, including an eight-yard scoring connection with wide receiver Dillon Bell. 

Florida will come out juiced against their rival, especially with Billy Gonzalez leading the program. The Gators will take big swings and maybe even build a lead in Jacksonville. However, Georgia is too patient and has too many avenues to win this game for it to last. The Bulldogs will lean on their physical running game and pull away late. The line will be touch-and-go into the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs can pull away late. Pick: Georgia +7.5

Georgia vs. Florida prediction, pick, odds, spread: Bulldogs look to continue hot streak against rival Gators

Shehan Jeyarajah

Florida

Out: RB Treyaun Webb, WR Vernell Brown III, EDGE LJ McCray, WR Aidan Mizell, DB Aaron Gates, RB Duke Clark, RB Ja'Kobi Jackson, DB Dijon Johnson, DB Javion Toombs, DL Caleb Banks

Probable: WR Jackson Wade

Georgia

Out: WR Colbie Young, TE Ethan Barbour, WR Talyn Taylor, DB Kyron Jones

Florida DJ Lagway remains a rising star, but he's gotten some help in the form of wide receiver Dallas Wilson. Since Wilson debuted against Texas, the Gators have been one of the more efficient passing offenses in the SEC. Lagway has thrown for 823 yards and four touchdowns over the three games.

Georgia's passing defense has been less consistent since the loss of safety Malaki Starks to the NFL; the Gators will try to maximize those moments. 

The "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" takes place in Jacksonville this week, as the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs take on the Florida Gators at EverBank Stadium. This edition of the rivalry may not be as emotional as past matchups given that Florida is 3-4 and has already fired Billy Napier, but for Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton, this game is incredibly important to his family. 

Back on Oct. 30, 2010, Stockton's grandfather, Lawrence Stockton, died of a heart attack at 63 years old in a Jacksonville parking lot outside the stadium following Georgia's 34-31 overtime loss to Florida. 

"He said something about Todd Grantham and collapsed," Suzanne Frederickson, Lawrence's widow, said via ESPN. 

Why the Georgia vs. Florida rivalry is personal for Gunner Stockton and his family

Jordan Dajani

Why the Georgia vs. Florida rivalry is personal for Gunner Stockton and his family