Florida Keeps QB Decision Under Wraps Ahead of Georgia Showdown

Florida knocked off No. 7 Texas 27-24 in Austin on Oct. 17 before taking a week off, giving the Gators a much-needed reset after two straight blowout losses to Missouri and South Carolina.

Down 17-3 in the second quarter against the Longhorns, Florida rallied behind backup quarterback Tramell Jones Jr., who made his first career start with Aaron Philo sidelined by a shoulder injury. Jones finished 22 of 35 for 155 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, along with 41 rushing yards.

The win over Texas lifted Florida to 5-2 overall and back into the AP Top 25, with the Gators now sitting No. 17 overall heading into their crucial SEC showdown against No. 3 Georgia on Saturday. The game could have massive implications for both teams in College Football Playoff seeding, and another loss could put an end to the Gators' playoff hopes altogether.

Yet, we're just days out from the big game, and Florida head coach Jon Sumrall still hasn't named a starting quarterback. Both Philo and Jones are expected to be available, with Sumrall planning to see how the practice week goes before making a final decision, according to On3's Pete Nakos.

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Philo won Florida's starting job before the season and held it through the first six games. The Georgia Tech transfer has completed 70.5% of his passes for 1,341 yards and nine touchdowns with three interceptions, along with 104 rushing yards and three rushing scores. He's helped the Gators secure several big wins, including at Auburn and against then-No. 4 Ole Miss. But he also started both of the games Florida lost this year, before Jones stepped in and beat the Longhorns.

Sumrall's decision is complicated by injuries to both players. Philo is still recovering from the shoulder injury, while Jones is reportedly dealing with some wear-and-tear issues after his first career start. Sumrall also said Monday that he believes in both quarterbacks and wants both to be prepared to play.

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After the Bulldogs on Saturday, Florida will host Oklahoma on Nov. 7 followed by a tough road matchup at No. 9 Kentucky, a home game against Vanderbilt, and then close out the season at Florida State. That's a relatively winnable stretch, but the Georgia and Kentucky games will be crucial for the Gators to keep their CFP hopes alive. With how competitive the SEC has been once again this season, Florida will likely need to win out to guarantee themselves a spot in the postseason.