After a crucial bye week and recent 27-24 loss to Auburn, the Georgia Bulldogs now look ahead to their annual rivalry game against the Florida Gators in the 2026 Invesco QQQ Atlanta Gridiron Classic. The matchup will take place Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, after being held the last 32 years at Jacksonville’s Everbank Stadium.
The annual rivalry has been relocated for 2026 and 2027 as Everbank undergoes renovations. Next year’s matchup will be at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium before moving back to Jacksonville in 2028.
UGA head coach Kirby Smart shared his thoughts on the upcoming matchup in a Monday afternoon press conference.
“They play really hard. When you turn on the tape, you see the physicality they play with on both sides of the ball,” he said. “A ton of respect for both coordinators. Going against both of them for multiple years, they’ve got a great scheme and really good players.”
Florida is also entering the matchup off a bye week, last taking the field Oct. 17, when they defeated the Texas Longhorns 27-24.
The Gators (5-2) are currently in their first season with Jon Sumrall as head coach, after he spent the last two years in the same position for Tulane. Smart noted Sumrall’s offense is “difficult to defend” against under the leadership of offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner.
“A lot of respect for Buster Faulkner, who obviously was on our staff, and I just think he’s one of the best offensive minds in the country,” Smart said. “They’re really hard to defend, but I’m so happy for his success and how well he’s done.”
The Gators have relied on both Tramell Jones Jr. and Aaron Philo at quarterback, and Sumrall has yet to announce who will start on Saturday. Philo has taken most of the snaps this season but was pulled in the Gators’ 38-19 loss to South Carolina.
Jones took over the offense during the home loss to the Gamecocks and led the Gators to victory on the road against Texas.
“Both are very talented,” Smart said of the Florida quarterbacks. “One beat Ole Miss handily, and one beat Texas on the road. They’re both completely capable, good players, known about both of them for a long time, and in terms of their ability, they’re both plenty capable, especially in Faulkner’s offense. It’s quarterback- driven, but it doesn’t require the quarterback to be perfect.”
On the defensive side of the ball, Smart described the Gators as having multiple playmakers, noting they “strike people” and are “twitchy, violent-sized guys.”
“[Defensive Coordinator] Brad White has always had really good defenses. I think when you put him in the Florida system, and you get those kinds of athletes and pass rushers, it kind of compounds his effect on the game,” Smart said. “They’re always long; they’re always physical; and they always have a great depth in their defense in terms of the way they play.”
After the loss to Auburn, Smart said he hopes his team can make multiple improvements before taking on the Gators. He noted that improving tackling and preventing penalties are crucial areas to focus on throughout the week.
“The results are what people focus on, but it’s the process that we try to focus on, which is like, okay, what can we do better?” Smart said. “How do we get more turnovers so that our turnovers are less glaring? Because if you get three, you give three, you’re at net zero and a lot better off. I’m a lot more interested in the improvement than I am in just the results.”