Georgia Rallies Late to Defeat Florida in a Thrilling 24-20 Clash
What a game it was in Jacksonville! The annual Georgia vs. Florida rivalry, famously known as the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,” delivered all the drama fans could’ve asked for. The fifth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs once again showed why they’re one of the most resilient teams in college football, rallying late to defeat the Florida Gators 24–20 in a tense, back-and-forth battle on Saturday.
Now, this wasn’t a game where Georgia dominated from start to finish — not at all. In fact, it marked the fourth time this season that the Bulldogs trailed in the fourth quarter of an SEC matchup. But once again, they managed to find a way to win. Georgia has now improved to 7–1 overall and 5–1 in SEC play, and they’ve extended their winning streak over Florida to five straight, holding a 58–44–2 all-time edge in the rivalry.
Quarterback Gunner Stockton had a strong performance, throwing for 223 yards with two touchdown passes. But the real story came in the closing minutes. With less than eight minutes left and Georgia trailing 20–17, the Bulldogs’ defense made a huge stop on fourth-and-one at their own 18-yard line, completely shifting the momentum. That’s when Stockton and wide receiver Zachariah Branch took charge.
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On the ensuing drive, Stockton connected with Branch for a key third-down completion, setting up redshirt freshman running back Chauncey Bowens for the play of the night — a 36-yard burst straight up the middle for the go-ahead touchdown. That score gave Georgia a 24–20 lead with just over four minutes remaining. Florida had one final shot, but their late deep pass attempt fell short — literally. A badly underthrown ball sealed the Gators’ fate and allowed Georgia to escape with another comeback victory.
Branch was simply electric. He caught a career-high 10 passes for 112 yards — his first 100-yard game as a Bulldog and one that will surely be remembered in this rivalry. Bowens finished with 70 rushing yards and that crucial touchdown, while teammate Nate Frazier added 45 more on the ground.
Defensively, Georgia held Florida to just 281 total yards and came up clutch when it mattered most. Junior linebacker CJ Allen led the defense with a career-high 13 tackles, while Raylen Wilson added eight more.
It wasn’t all perfect for Georgia, though. The Bulldogs lost defensive lineman Jordan Hall early in the game to a leg injury, and defensive back KJ Bolden was ejected for targeting before halftime. Even so, head coach Kirby Smart’s squad once again proved its toughness. As Smart joked afterward, “I don’t write the scripts — but I’ve seen this one before.”
With this win, Georgia remains firmly in the playoff conversation and will next travel to Mississippi State. Florida, now 3–5, will look to regroup when they visit Kentucky next week. One thing’s for sure — this rivalry game lived up to the hype, and Georgia once again walked out of Jacksonville with the victory.
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