Georgia tops Florida as historic rivalry makes Atlanta debut

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The Georgia Bulldogs and Florida Gators renewed their annual rivalry in Atlanta on Saturday, marking the first time the game was played in the city as Georgia handled Florida 27-8.The matchup, traditionally held in Jacksonville, Florida, will not return there until 2028 while the Jacksonville Jaguars renovate their stadium. After this year’s edition at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the game moves to Tampa next year. Fans filled downtown Atlanta on Saturday afternoon wearing Bulldog red and Gator blue to mark the occasion.RELATED: No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs ease past No. 17 Florida Gators at Mercedes-Benz Stadium“It’s local, it’s convenient, it’s a good time,” said Elijah Barnes, a Buford resident. “It’s awesome, there’s a lot of good Florida alumni here. We have a friendly rivalry with them, but a lot of smart guys come out of Gainesville, and it’s exciting to be able to experience it together.”Barnes added that Atlanta is well suited to handle major events.“Yo