Georgia and Florida Collide in Top Ten Rivarly Showdown

For the first time since 2008, Georgia and Florida both enter their annual showdown ranked in the top ten. The Dawgs are seventh, while the Gators are ninth. So when two highly ranked rivals clash in late October, you know the stakes are pretty high.

The Dawgs Kirby Smart and the Gators Dan Mullen have enough history with the Georgia-Florida game to understand it’s really not just another game.
Said Smart:”For me personally, this is a great rivalry game. The pageantry is different than other games because nobody is ever at home. They’re always in a joint place. A neutral site.”
Said Mullen:”Florida-Georgia is always such a huge game. You look at it this year. We have College GameDay. SEC Nation there. You’ve got the CBS national game of the week. So it’s going to be pretty special.”
Florida went 4-7 last season, but first year head coach Dan Mullen has made Saturday’s game an SEC East showdown with a 6-1 record this season.
Reporter:”Have you surprised yourself that you are at this point seven games in?”
Said Mullen:”If you said hey, 6-1 going into the Georgia game. Take it or leave it. I might take it.”
After losing big to LSU in their last game, Georgia hopes the Florida contest will parallel a turnaround similar to last year after the Dawgs lost to Auburn.
Said Georgia defensive lineman Jonathan Ledbetter:”Everyone is kind of comparing it to the Auburn game last year. We kind of see it similar. It is different, but it is kind of similar as a wake up call.”
No doubt both teams will be woke for Saturday’s rivalry.
Said Georgia running back Elijah Holyfield:”I like playing big games. I think it brings the best out of people, and I’m excited.”
Reporter:”No one has even mentioned that you are ranked in the top ten. Is it so incidental that it’s not worth talking about? I mean it’s fairly significant.”
Said Mullen:”It’s pretty cool. You know. It’s good. Um. I don’t know. We are as good as your last game, so hopefully we will be ranked in the top ten after this week.”

Georgia and Florida kick at 3:30pm Saturday, and the game will be televised on News 12 Now.