Game recap: No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs top the Florida Gators 42-20 (2024)

When the Florida Gators walk into TIAA Bank Field on Saturday afternoon, all the odds will be against them.

On the opposing sideline will stand the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, who opened as a 22.5-point favorite in this year's edition of the famed SEC East showdown. This year's 22.5-point spread is the largest in the rivalry's history since at least 1995.

Leading up to Saturday's matchup, the largest spread was 19 points in Florida's favor in 1995 and 2001.

Come kickoff, which is slated for 3:30 p.m., the Gators will have to pull themselves up by their bootstraps as they look to rebound from their loss to LSU on Oct. 15.

The task couldn't get much taller for Florida and Billy Napier, who's set to experience his first World's Largest Outdoor co*cktail Party as the Gators' head coach.

Here are live updates from Jacksonville.

Is it possible?:Five ways underdog Florida football could beat Georgia and stun the world | Whitley

What to watch for:Florida football: 5 storylines heading into Saturday's matchup with No. 1 Georgia

Don't miss a beat:How to watch Florida Gators vs. Georgia Bulldogs on TV, live stream

3:15 p.m. | Who's out for the Gators?

CB Devin Moore, LB Diwun Black, LS Marco Ortiz, TE Arlis Boardingham, TE Nick Elksnis andLB Lloyd Summerall III will all miss today's game against Georgia.

3:35 p.m. | Captains' meeting

Meeting at midfield for the Gators are QB Anthony Richardson, RB Montrell Johnson Jr., S Rashad Torrence II and RT Michael Tarquin.

3:40 p.m. | Kickoff

Things are underway from TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. Florida won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. The Bulldogs will start with the football.

3:56 p.m. | Dawgs on top

Georgia finds the end zone on its second offensive possession of the game as Daijun Edwards capped off a 66-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown rush. Georgia leads Florida 7-0 with 7:15 to play in the first quarter.

4:11 p.m. | Georgia adds a score

The Bulldogs increase their lead out to 14-0 with a 2-yard touchdown rush from Kenny McIntosh. Georgia marched 80 yards in 3:28 on a drive that saw quarterback Stetson Bennett go 3-for-3 for 47 yards.

4:30 p.m. | Brock Bowers makes big catch to put Bulldogs out front 21-0

Florida's Amari Burney was in the right spot, but just couldn't do enough to prevent Stetson Bennett's 73-yard pass from finding the hands of tight end Brock Bowers for a touchdown. No. 1 Georgia leads Florida 21-0 with 12:36 to play in the second quarter.

4:53 p.m. | Adam Mihalek nails career-long field goal to put Gators on the board

Adam Mihalek notched a career-long 52-yard field goal with 5:35 to play in the first half to put the Gators on the board. Florida trails 21-3

5:13 p.m. | Stetson Bennett tosses his second touchdown pass

Just before the end of the first half, Georgia's Stetson Bennett connected with Ladd McConkey to extend the Bulldogs' lead out to 28-3 with 17 seconds to play in the second quarter.

5:16 p.m. | Halftime

The top-ranked Bulldogs take a convincing 28-3 lead over the Gatorsinto halftime. Georgia has outgained Florida 346 yards to 88 yards.

5:51 p.m. | Gators find the end zone

Florida travels 75 yards on 13 plays on a drive that'scapped off by a 3-yard touchdown run by Trevor Etienne. The Gators trail the Bulldogs 28-10 with 9:34 to play in the third quarter.

5:56 p.m. | Florida forces fumble, shifting momentum

The tides have turned early in the second half. Following the Gators' first touchdown of the game, the Florida defense recovers a fumble to gift the football back to its offense at the Georgia 36-yard line.

6:00 p.m. | Gators settle for a field goal

After forcing Georgia to cough up the football, the Gators don't travel far before settling for a 26-yard field goal off the foot of Adam Mihalek. Mihalek is now 2-for-2 from 52 yards and 26 yards.

6:13 p.m. | Florida makes it a one-possession ball game

On 3rd and 6 from the Gators' own 22-yard line, Anthony Richardson finds Xzavier Henderson on a 78-yard touchdown connection— the longest reception of Henderson's career. The Gators have trimmed the Bulldogs lead to 28-20 with 3:31 to play in the third quarter.

6:19 p.m. | Georgia stops the second-half bleeding

After giving up 17 unanswered points, the Bulldogs finally put an end to the Gators' tear with a 22-yard touchdown rush from Daijun Edwards. Georgia now leads Florida 35-20 with 35 seconds to play in the third quarter.

6:39 p.m. | The Bulldogs continue to pull away

Florida's second-half heroics have seemingly come to an end as Kenny McIntosh finds the end zone from four yards out. Georgia leads Florida 42-20 with 11:44 to play.

7:13 p.m. | FINAL

The top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs beat the Florida Gators 42-20, keeping their undefeated season in tact, while dropping the Gators to 4-4 on the season.

Game recap: No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs top the Florida Gators 42-20 (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dan Stracke

Last Updated:

Views: 6511

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dan Stracke

Birthday: 1992-08-25

Address: 2253 Brown Springs, East Alla, OH 38634-0309

Phone: +398735162064

Job: Investor Government Associate

Hobby: Shopping, LARPing, Scrapbooking, Surfing, Slacklining, Dance, Glassblowing

Introduction: My name is Dan Stracke, I am a homely, gleaming, glamorous, inquisitive, homely, gorgeous, light person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.