JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida defensive end Jack Pyburn grew up in Jacksonville, where he regularly attended the Gators’ games against Georgia in the football rivalry series known as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.”
He remembers tailgating in “RV City,” riding scooters through parking lots and screaming his head off for the Gators.
Saturday afternoon, his family will be sitting in the same seats at EverBank Stadium they’ve occupied for years of Florida-Georgia faceoffs — and Pyburn doesn’t want to let them down again.
“For me, it means everything,” said Pyburn, a junior and the team’s leading tackler this season. “Growing up in that environment and really truly knowing what this game is like, it makes or breaks some people’s year for them. … I was one of those people where this game would make or break my year, make or break my week. It was bad.”
It’s been even worse for Florida lately.
The Gators (4-3, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) have lost six of the past seven meetings with the Bulldogs, including three in a row by an average margin of 24 points. They hope to reverse the trend this time against Georgia (6-1, 4-1), which has won three consecutive games this season by double digits since losing at Alabama to close out September and is No. 2 in the AP Top 25 poll.
And with key matchups looming against No. 19 Ole Miss and then No. 7 Tennessee, the Bulldogs probably can’t afford a slipup against Florida with the regular season in its final month and the first edition of the College Football Playoff committee’s rankings coming Tuesday. Few guys on their sideline even know that feeling of falling to Florida in the neutral-site stadium where the seating is split down the middle.
“It is personal,” Georgia receiver Arian Smith said. “That borderline rivalry, you already know that it is going to be a physical game. It feels like a good win when we come out of it and our fans are right there cheering for us. We see the other side clearing out. It is just one of those games where we want to come out as a dominant win.”
The past three meetings have essentially been over by halftime, with Georgia leading 24-0 in 2021, 28-3 in 2022 and 26-7 last year. The Gators are well aware of those numbers and don’t want to get behind early again. They also hope freshman quarterback DJ Lagway, who boasts a strong arm and the ability to make deep connections, can help make a difference.
“It’s everything,” Pyburn said. “We have to come out there with the right mindset and set the tone early.”
Trevor Etienne is about to see the rivalry from a different angle.
The Georgia running back will be facing his former teammates for the first time since leaving Florida after last season and landing in Athens, where he saw an opportunity to become a starter. He spent two years in Gainesville playing behind Montrell Johnson.
“I’ve got nothing but love for those guys,” Etienne said.
The Gators also expressed respect for Etienne, who leads the Bulldogs with 422 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
“At the end of the day, the guy is my brother,” Pyburn said. “Blood, sweat and tears here together for two years. Came in with him. He’s a great friend to me. He always has been. I have respect for him.
“There’s no friends on the field, but before and after the game, always buddies, always friends. Just looking forward to competing against him, because he’s a great player.”
The Bulldogs are coming off an open date, while Florida beat Kentucky 48-20 last Saturday in Gainesville.
On the injury front, Georgia right guard Tate Ratledge is listed as probable after missing the past four games after undergoing ankle surgery. Defensive tackle Jordan Hall also is probable to make his season debut after being sidelined with a tibia stress fracture.
The Bulldogs have ruled out running back Branson Robinson (knee) and linebacker Smael Mondon (lower leg).
Florida will be without receiver Eugene Wilson III and cornerback Jason Marshall (shoulder).
In addition, Georgia safety Dan Jackson and defensive back Joenel Aguero are suspended for the first half after being ejected for targeting against Texas two weeks ago. Jackson is the team’s second-leading tackler with 37, and Aguero ranks eighth with 19.
“I’m not really worried about it,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “It is what it is right now.”