You remember the 2023 Orange Bowl, right? It was supposed to be a heavyweight clash. The Georgia Bulldogs versus the Florida State Seminoles. Two titans. Instead, what we got was a 60-point massacre that felt more like a training camp scrimmage than a New Year's Six bowl game.
It was weird.
Actually, it was historic. Georgia’s 63-3 win became the largest margin of victory in bowl history. Period. But if you just look at the box score, you're missing the entire story of why this specific ga bulldogs vs fsu matchup became the poster child for everything right—and everything broken—in modern college football.
The Night the Scoreboard Broke in Miami
People like to say FSU quit. That’s a bit of a reach, honestly. You've got to look at who actually stepped onto that field at Hard Rock Stadium. Florida State was missing essentially their entire identity. Because of the CFP snub and the transfer portal, the Noles played without 97% of their passing yards and 88% of their rushing production.
Basically? They were a junior varsity team facing a buzzsaw.
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Kirby Smart, being Kirby Smart, didn't call off the dogs. Georgia led 42-3 at halftime. They had 11 different players record a rushing attempt. Even Jackson Muschamp—the son of co-defensive coordinator Will Muschamp—got in on the action, ripping off a 14-yard run in the fourth quarter. It was a "everyone eats" kind of night for the Bulldogs.
By the numbers, it was a nightmare:
- Total Yards: Georgia 673, Florida State 209.
- First Downs: Georgia 36, Florida State 11.
- The Halftime Lead: 39 points (the biggest in the bowl's 90-year history).
The Rivalry That Isn't (But Should Be)
Believe it or not, these two haven't played that much. Before that 2023 blowout, you had to go all the way back to the 2003 Sugar Bowl to find a game between them. Georgia won that one too, 26-13.
Historically, the Dawgs lead the series 7-4-1.
The "tie" happened back in 1984 at the Citrus Bowl. It ended 17-17. Can you imagine a game ending in a tie today? The internet would actually melt. Back then, FSU was the rising power under Bobby Bowden, and Georgia was the established blue blood. Now, the roles have shifted. Georgia is the undisputed king of the mountain, and FSU is desperately trying to climb back up while fighting the ACC's revenue gaps.
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Looking Ahead: The 2027-2028 "Home-and-Home" Drama
Here is where things get spicy. There has been a ton of talk about the upcoming series scheduled for September 4, 2027, in Tallahassee and September 16, 2028, in Athens.
But wait.
As of late 2025, there are serious rumors—and some reporting from the Athens Banner-Herald—that Georgia wants to scrap the home-and-home. They’re looking to turn it into a single, neutral-site game in Tampa. Why? Because the SEC is moving to a nine-game conference schedule in 2026.
Kirby Smart has been vocal about this. He likes the neutral site money, sure, but he also needs to balance a schedule that already includes annual wars with Florida, Auburn, and Texas. For FSU fans, losing a home game against a powerhouse like Georgia would be a massive blow to Doak Campbell Stadium's prestige.
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Why This Matchup Still Matters
If you’re a fan of either team, you know the recruiting trail is where the real ga bulldogs vs fsu battle happens. Every year, both schools are in the mix for the same five-star kids in South Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.
Take Marvin Jones Jr., for example. He was a legacy kid who started at Georgia, didn't see the path he wanted, and transferred to FSU. That’s the modern game. The rosters are fluid.
Key takeaways for the future:
- Scheduling Flexibility: Don't be surprised if the 2027 game moves to Tampa. Georgia is prioritizing neutral sites for the recruiting "juice" and the massive payouts.
- The Portal Factor: Any future matchup will be dictated by who stays. The 2023 Orange Bowl proved that depth is the only thing that saves you when the portal opens.
- Conference Realignment: If FSU eventually finds a way out of the ACC and into the SEC or Big Ten, this could become a regular-season staple rather than a rare treat.
The reality is that Georgia has set the standard. Florida State proved in 2023 (during the regular season) that they can play at an elite level, but the gap in roster depth between the two programs is still a canyon. Until the Noles can match the Bulldogs' "blue-chip ratio" across all 85 scholarships, the results on the field will likely favor the red and black.
If you're planning to travel for the next matchup, keep your hotel reservations refundable. With the SEC's new 2026-2029 schedule updates and the push for neutral sites, the "where" and "when" of the next Georgia vs. Florida State game is still a moving target. Keep a close eye on athletic director Josh Brooks’ announcements through 2026, as the "contractual flexibility" clause is the most important document in both offices right now.