Florida looks for season-saving win vs. No. 3 Georgia

Oct 23, 2017 - 8:19 PM GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida, after two straight close losses, is in search of a season-salvaging win in its annual rivalry game against Georgia in Jacksonville, Fla.

The Gators (3-3, 3-2 SEC) are off to their worst six-game start since 2003 and it won't get any easier against No. 3 Georgia (7-0, 4-0 SEC).

Florida is coming off a bye week after a disheartening 19-17 home loss to Texas A&M. The Gators let a 17-10 lead slip away in the fourth quarter due to questionable play calls and special team breakdowns late in the game.

"When you give yourself an opportunity to win in the fourth quarter you've got to take advantage of it," coach Jim McElwain said. "And we didn't do that the last two ballgames."

Florida's two-game losing streak has caused angst in Gator Nation. McElwain said death threats have been made against Florida players, coaches and their families.

"It's a pretty good lesson for the way things are," McElwain said. "There's a lot of hate in this world. A lot of anger, and yet, it's freedom to show it. The hard part is, obviously, when the threats are against your own players. Death threats to your families. The ill-will that's brought upon out there."

McElwain did not dive into specifics when asked about the threats. But the third-year Florida coach will have a chance to pull Gators fans back together if his team can upset one of its biggest rivals. Florida has won three straight in the series and 21 of the last 27 meetings.

"That's the message in the locker room right now: They might be the No. 2 team in the country, but they can't beat Florida," Florida sophomore receiver Josh Hammond said. "That's our mentality going forward and we'll come out and be ready to play."

Quarterback Feleipe Franks took responsibility for UF's offensive struggles against Texas A&M. He completed 17 of 26 passes for 129 yards with no TDs and two interceptions, dropping to 2-3 in five career starts.

"Ultimately, it's my job to get the offense moving," Franks said.

The 6-foot-5, 227-pound redshirt freshman still has a tendency to lock onto his primary receiver and not see the rest of the field. For the season, Franks has completed 68 of 106 passes for 800 yards with four TDs and three interceptions.

NOTES: Florida LB David Reese has a team-high 53 tackles and will be counted on to stop the run against Georgia, which is led by the high-powered senior rushing tandem of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. "Those runners are real," Florida coach Jim McElwain said. ... DL Jordan Sherit, a senior, is out for the rest of the season after undergoing hip surgery last week. Sherit suffered the injury during the fourth quarter against Texas A&M. ... WR Tyrie Cleveland is questionable for the Georgia game with a high ankle sprain. Cleveland played on two offensive series in the first half against Texas A&M but had no catches on two targets.