"I think they’re playing their best football": Georgia HC Kirby Smart previews Florida ahead of Week 10 rivalry clash

Kirby Smart and his Georgia team return to action this weekend following their bye in Week 9. The Bulldogs make a trip to the Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville on Saturday to play Florida in one of the most historic rivalries in the world of college football.

In his weekly media availability on Monday, Kirby Smart offered his opinion on Billy Napier's Florida team. The Gators have lost three games this season, with experts raising questions on job security of the team's coach. However, Smart saw a lot of positives in their Week 10 opponent.

“I think they’re playing their best football,” Smart said. “I think they have a really, really good roster. A lot of players we’ve recruited and recruited against them. But they’re playing their best football and obviously a talented group.”

"A lot of great size across the front on the offensive and defensive lines. I think Billy (Napier) knows that’s where the key is in the SEC in terms of length and size. They play a lot of players on defense. They’ve had a lot of guys play up front."

Kirby Smart speaks on Florida’s improvement lately

While Florida experienced significant struggles earlier in the season, the team has shown some glimpses of brilliance in the last couple of games, ushering in some positive momentum in Gainesville. Kirby Smart answered a question on the Gators’ resurgence on Monday.

“I think they’re executing at a higher level," Smart said. They’re making explosives, which is the number one indicator to win/loss. They turning it over a little less. They played a really clean game against Tennessee at Tennessee, which we all know is a really hard place to play.

“And they’ve got more and more guys. I mean, some of their portal guys have stepped up and made more plays. So I’m very impressed with how they’re playing, playing with more confidence on defense and really flying around.”

Kirby Smart and his team have to ensure a victory in Jacksonville on Saturday to keep their playoff hopes alive. Georgia has already suffered a loss this season, falling to Alabama in Tuscaloosa in Week 5. They will be looking to win out their remaining schedule to seal a place in the SEC championship game.

Nicknamed “World Largest Cocktail Party,” the rivalry between Georgia and Florida is an iconic one in college football. It's been played every year since 1926 except for a wartime interruption in 1943. Quite a lot is debated by both schools in regarding the rivalry, including the first encounter, overall record and total meetings.