Philo Returns to Start for Florida in Rivalry Clash Against Georgia

Aaron Philo will start at quarterback for Florida in Saturday's matchup against Georgia. The junior returns to the starting lineup after a shoulder injury sidelined him during the Gators' recent upset of Texas.

Philo was injured in Florida's 38-19 homecoming loss to South Carolina on Oct. 10. He was listed as available only for emergency situations during the subsequent game in Austin, where coach Jon Sumrall kept him on the sideline. Tramell Jones Jr. filled in as the starter for that contest, completing 22 of 35 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.

Sumrall stated that no formal announcement regarding the starter would be made prior to the game. Both quarterbacks were designated as questionable on the SEC's player availability report released Thursday. Philo has started Florida's first six games this season, completing 70.5% of his passes for 1,341 yards and nine touchdowns while throwing three interceptions.

The quarterback connection to the state adds a layer of personal stakes to the contest. Philo led Prince Avenue Christian, a high school near Athens, to consecutive state championships. During his high school career, he broke Georgia's all-time passing record, a mark previously held by Trevor Lawrence. He did not play in either of Georgia Tech's losses to the Bulldogs during his time in Atlanta.

Florida currently sits at No. 17 in the polls with a record of 5-2, including a 3-2 mark in conference play. The Gators began the season with a 4-0 record, which included a 52-28 victory over then-No. 4 Ole Miss. They subsequently lost back-to-back games in October, falling 45-17 at Missouri and 38-19 to unranked South Carolina.

The College Football Playoff Forecaster assigns Florida a 9.5% probability of making the postseason. A victory over No. 3 Georgia, which holds a 6-1 record and a 4-1 conference mark, would increase that chance to 29%. Georgia is coming off a 27-24 home loss to Auburn and used the following bye week for rest. The Bulldogs lead the SEC in scoring defense, allowing 15.9 points per game.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This marks the first time the rivalry has been played in Atlanta, as the traditional venue in Jacksonville undergoes renovations.