JACKSONVILLE — Florida proved it could compete against the nation’s best with a new head coach, but the Gators will have to wait to find the right man to beat Georgia.
Billy Gonzales stepped in for fired coach Billy Napier and nearly led Florida past its longtime SEC rival. But the No. 5 Bulldogs prevailed 24-20 during a heartbreaker on Saturday in Jacksonville.
“They’re hurting. Our staff’s hurting. I’m hurting,” Gonzales said. “We came here to win. We fell short.”
The Gators (3-5, 2-3 SEC) had their chances to pick up their first win against Georgia since 2020, back when Gonzales coached receivers for Dan Mullen.