Florida versus Georgia is one of the best rivalries in college football – and further proof that people from Florida and Georgia cannot agree on anything.
The first game between these schools dates back to 1904… or rather 1915? Depending on who you ask is the answer you get. The University of Georgia recognizes the first game as Oct. 15, 1904, a game that was played in Macon that Georgia won 52-0.
Florida, meanwhile, doesn’t recognize that school as the true University of Florida, as it was a school based out of Lake City, Florida, and said the first game was played in 1915. It was the first matchup played in Jacksonville, and Georgia won that one 37-0.
Regardless of the date, it’s a rivalry that stretches back over one hundred years, and every year in Jacksonville you’ll see a swarm of red and black from the north and a sea of blue and orange from the south. And each game has its own share of fireworks.
The theatrics of this game goes back decades, famous games such as Herschel Walker going over the top to beat the Gators in 1981, Knowshon Moreno’s “Gator Stomp” in 2007, and Urban Meyer’s subsequent “Gator Stop” the following year. The rivalry has seen some of the best players, best games, and best atmospheres in college football, and 2019 appears to be no different.
Florida and Georgia are coming into this game in what feels like a “loser goes home” sort of matchup. What’s on the line? Well, for starters, playoff hopes. Both teams have a loss on their records, with the Gators and the Bulldogs losing on Oct. 12, albeit in different fashions.
Florida was able to hang on the road with LSU, even leading in the third quarter, but fell to the Tigers in the end. Georgia had a miserable performance at home against South Carolina, losing in double overtime after three Jake Fromm interceptions.
Since the inception of the College Football Playoff, no two-loss team has ever made the playoffs, and that won’t start this season. The winner of this game keeps their hopes alive, takes control of the SEC East division, and, most importantly, gets bragging rights as rivalry champions.
Bulldogs versus Gators. Peaches versus Oranges. It’s a tradition unlike any other in Jacksonville. As for the football, Florida looks like the better team of late, and Kyle Trask has figured out the offense. He out-duels Jake Fromm, and Florida takes home the victory.
