Georgia’s Stunning Rally Against Florida: How They Secured a Fifth Consecutive Rivalry Triumph

Saturday’s showdown at EverBank Stadium was a heartbreaking see-saw for the Florida Gators, who battled hard under new interim head coach Billy Gonzales but ultimately came up just short against the relentless No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs. The Gators, fueled by Trey Smack’s booming 54-yard field goal—his ninth ever from beyond 50 yards, mind you—stole a fleeting lead early in the fourth quarter. Yet Georgia’s steely defense, paired with a desperate late-game surge led by quarterback Gunner Stockton and capped off by Chauncey Bowens’ electrifying 36-yard touchdown dash, snatched victory away in the closing moments. It was a game packed with grit, determination, and that all-too-familiar sting for Florida, now searching for answers as the Bulldogs extend their winning streak to five in this storied rivalry. If you want to dive deeper into every twist and turn from this nail-biter, LEARN MORE.

The Florida Gators responded positively in their first game under interim coach Billy Gonzales, but it wasn’t enough to knock off No. 5 Georgia.

Florida fell 24-20 on Saturday at EverBank Stadium in the annual rivalry, as the Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1 SEC) earned their fifth straight victory over the Gators (3-5, 2-3).

Trey Smack’s 54-yard field goal, his school-record ninth from 50-plus yards, gave Florida a 20-17 lead early in the fourth quarter, but Georgia’s defense and a late scoring drive sealed the comeback.

After stopping Florida on fourth and 1 at the 18-yard line, quarterback Gunner Stockton led the Bulldogs 82 yards, capping the drive with a 36-yard touchdown run by Chauncey Bowens with 4:36 to play.

Florida’s final chance ended on an incomplete deep pass that was upheld by replay review. Stockton finished 20 of 29 for 223 yards and two touchdowns.

“I’m super proud of the way they bonded together,” Gonzales said. “They don’t have any quit in their DNA. We came here to win, but we came up short. The Gators expect to win. There are no moral victories.”

Georgia coach Kirby Smart praised his team’s resilience, saying, “This team just won’t go away. Every game in this league comes down to the last two possessions.”