ATLANTA — Chris Cole returned a fumble 66 yards for a touchdown and the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs’ defense forced four turnovers as the Bulldogs rolled to a 27-8 victory over the No. 17 Florida Gators on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The win improved Georgia to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the Southeastern Conference. Florida fell to 5-3 and 3-3.

No. 3 Georgia Overpowers No. 17 Florida 27-8 in Atlanta

It was Georgia’s sixth consecutive victory in the rivalry, known as the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, and its ninth win in the last 10 meetings. The series now stands at 59-44-2 in Georgia’s favor. Coach Kirby Smart is 9-2 against Florida.

The game marked the first time the annual neutral-site showdown was played outside Jacksonville since 1995, when it was held in Athens. Renovations at EverBank Stadium forced the temporary move to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. A crowd of 72,541 attended, with tickets split roughly evenly, though red appeared to hold a slight edge in the stands. Next year’s game is scheduled for Raymond James Stadium in Tampa before the series returns to Jacksonville.

Georgia, bouncing back from a 27-24 loss to Auburn two weeks earlier, controlled the game from the outset. The Bulldogs led 24-0 at halftime and never looked back. Nate Frazier scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter. In the second, Peyton Woodring kicked a 28-yard field goal, Bo Walker added a 1-yard touchdown run, and Cole’s defensive score with 29 seconds left in the half capped the surge.

Florida’s offense never found rhythm. Starting quarterback Aaron Philo, returning from a shoulder injury, was benched after throwing two interceptions (5-of-7 for 26 yards). Tramell Jones Jr. took over but also struggled, finishing with an interception and the fumble that Cole returned. Jones was sacked by Quintavius Johnson on the play that set up Cole’s score—Cole’s second long fumble return of the season after an 85-yarder earlier against Oklahoma.

Georgia’s defense held Florida star running back Jadan Baugh, the SEC leader in rushing touchdowns entering the day, to 38 yards on 17 carries. As a team, the Gators managed just 48 rushing yards on 28 attempts. Georgia rushed for 217 yards on 42 carries. Overall, Georgia outgained Florida 318-246.

Florida avoided a shutout in the fourth quarter. After a Georgia fumble gave the Gators field position, Jones scored on a 2-yard run. Jadan Baugh then threw a 2-point conversion pass to Dallas Wilson to make it 24-8. Georgia answered with a 21-yard field goal by Woodring to seal the final margin. Florida’s scoring streak, the longest active in the FBS at 481 games dating to 1988, remained intact.

Gunner Stockton completed 13 of 23 passes for 101 yards for Georgia. The Bulldogs played conservatively on offense after building the lead but controlled the line of scrimmage. Smart called the defensive performance the team’s best of the season.

“This is always a great tradition, a great game,” Smart said afterward.

For first-year Florida coach Jon Sumrall, the loss highlighted remaining gaps against a top-tier SEC opponent. The Gators had upset No. 7 Texas the previous week but could not sustain that momentum amid the turnovers and stalled ground game. Florida plays host to Oklahoma next, while Georgia travels to face No. 12 Ole Miss in a key SEC matchup.

The result reinforced Georgia’s place among the nation’s elite while dealing a setback to Florida’s efforts to climb the rankings. With the roof closed at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the traditional “outdoor” cocktail party became an indoor affair, but the outcome followed a familiar script of recent years.