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No. 7 UF Knocks Georgia out of the Title Hunt (2002)
Winning Streak Prior to Game: Florida (four)
Effect on SEC Race: None
Effect on National Landscape: Huge
What Happened:
With Ron Zook assuming the reigns of head coach at Florida, the No. 22 Gators entered their game with Georgia at 4-3. Conversely, the Bulldogs came into the game ranked fifth with a flawless 8-0 record. This game is unlike most others on this list as it was a primetime game on ESPN that started at 7:45.
It was a fairly back and forth contest, but there was no looking back once Florida took a 20-13 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Gator defense stymied all of Georgia’s four offensive drives in the quarter to complete the upset.
Georgia would still go on to win the SEC East along with their last SEC Championship to date, but this loss would knock them out of the National Championship hunt. They would win the Sugar Bowl and conclude the season at No. 3 in the polls with a 13-1 record. Florida, meanwhile, lost in the Outback Bowl to finish 8-5.
