No. 2 Georgia Looks to Extend Winning Streak in Showdown with Florida
Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck scans for a passing opportunity during the game against the Longhorns on Oct. 19, 2024, at Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin.
Ahead of Saturday’s rivalry clash with Florida, No. 2 Georgia appears to be hitting its stride.
Since their Sept. 28 defeat to then-No. 4 Alabama, the Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1 SEC) have secured three consecutive victories, including a notable 30-15 road win over then-No. 1 Texas on Oct. 19.
Hoping to secure a spot in the SEC Championship Game for the fourth year in a row, Georgia now heads to Jacksonville, Florida, to face the Gators in their 103rd meeting.
Following a bye week, the Bulldogs took time to reassess and refocus during the midseason break.
It was a good opportunity for self-evaluation,” said Georgia coach Kirby Smart. “We worked extensively with our younger players, honing specific drills and focusing on offensive and defensive situations that we hadn’t prioritized due to the fast-paced schedule.”
Quarterback Carson Beck has yet to fully reach his anticipated potential.
Despite ranking in Georgia’s top five for single-game passing records this season with 459 yards against Mississippi State and 439 against Alabama, Beck has thrown eight interceptions, surpassing last year’s total of six.
Smart, however, stands firmly behind his quarterback.
Nothing’s wrong with him,” Smart said. “He hasn’t been flawless, but no one is. Carson’s leadership, work ethic, and execution are solid, and I’m pleased with his performance.”
Smart values the Georgia-Florida rivalry as highly as any other game on the schedule.
All rivalries are equally important,” he stated.
After a tough start, Florida (4-3, 2-2) has shown progress. Starting at 1-2 after a loss to Texas A&M, coach Billy Napier faced increased scrutiny.
The Gators have since won three of their last four games, highlighted by a 48-20 win over Kentucky on Oct. 19.
Freshman quarterback DJ Lagway has taken control of the Florida offense after Graham Mertz’s season-ending ACL injury against Tennessee on Oct. 12.
Lagway’s debut as the starter in the Kentucky game saw him complete 7 of 14 passes for 259 yards and add 46 rushing yards.
It’s all about reps for DJ,” Napier commented. “He’s gaining experience both in practice and game situations. We focused heavily on situational drills last week.”
lagway has totaled 1,024 passing yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions this season.
In recent years, Georgia has dominated this rivalry, winning six of the past seven games, with Florida’s last win coming in 2020.