Rivalry aside, there’s going to be a lot at stake when Florida and Georgia renew their annual rivalry in Jacksonville at EverBank Field on Saturday.

Bragging rights are great, but essentially punching your ticket to the SEC Championship game in Atlanta will carry considerably more weight between the two teams.

It’s for that reason that play figures to be intense from the outset, so here’s a quick look at five players likely to impact the game’s outcome.

Florida QB Treon Harris: He was a true freshman making his first career start last year when he engineered a stunning 38-20 upset in Jacksonville over then-No. 9 Georgia. Harris passed for just 27 yards as he wasn’t asked to do much while the Gators chewed up 418 yards on the ground. First-year Florida coach Jim McElwain will need him to do a lot more on Saturday – with both his arm and his legs – if the Gators are to repeat the magic and put themselves a step closer to the SEC Championship game in Atlanta. Harris made his second start of the season in the loss at LSU on Oct. 17, setting career highs in completions (17) and passing yards (271) and matching personal bests in passing attempts (32) and touchdown passes (2).
Florida RB Kelvin Taylor: The Bulldogs are probably still having nightmares from last year’s game in which Taylor gashed them for a career-high 197 yards and 2 scores on 25 carries. Now solidly established as his team’s No. 1 tailback, Taylor leads the Gators with 463 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. He managed just 25 yards on 15 carries at LSU on Oct. 17, but will look to rebound against the Dawgs.
Florida DE Jonathan Bullard: The senior has been his team’s best defensive lineman and has single-handedly changed the outcome of several games with his ability to rush opposing passers. Bullard is currently tied for 35th nationally in tackles for loss (10.0) and also boasts 4.5 sacks and 4 quarterback hurries. He ranks 8th in sacks and 5th in stops for loss among SEC players. Georgia will have to know where he is at all times.
Georgia QB Greyson Lambert: The Dawgs will be facing a stout Florida defense that ranks 21st nationally after yielding an average of just 116.6 rushing yards per game. That means Lambert will have to make plays downfield with his arm to keep drives alive. The Gators boast an aggressive secondary, so Lambert will have to be sharp and ready to throw into tight spaces. It’s unlikely the Dawgs can win if Lambert struggles again.
Georgia RB Sony Michel: The versatile Michel is now shouldering the load for his team following the loss of Nick Chubb to a season-ending knee injury at Tennessee. Michel, whose speed and elusiveness are most effective in space, made his first start against Missouri and totaled 87 yards on 26 carries. He suffered a hip pointer in the win over the Tigers on Oct. 17 but has since completely recovered. Michel isn’t the power runner between the tackles like Chubb, so it will be imperative that offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer adjusts his play-calling to reflect the Bulldogs’ new reality. It will be critical that the Dawgs establish their ground game and keep Lambert in more favorable down-and-distance situations.