This year’s installment of the Florida-Georgia rivalry was supposed to be a matchup of the Bulldogs' Nick Chubb and the Gators’ Kelvin Taylor.
The fate of that matchup changed when Chubb went down with a season-ending knee injury against Tennessee on Oct. 10.
Instead, Saturday’s edition of the "World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" will feature two running backs with South Florida roots: Taylor and Sony Michel.
Taylor is from Belle Glade in Palm Beach County, while Michel is from Plantation, located in Broward County.
But despite living in opposite counties and attending universities that are Southeastern Conference rivals, the two have a relationship that stretches back to their recruiting days.
Taylor said both he and Michel were featured in ESPN RISE Magazine coming out of high school and the two have a good relationship with each other.
When describing what kind of player Michel is, Taylor couldn’t help but gush over the fact that he’ll have the chance to compete in the same game against the Georgia running back.
"He’s a great back. He’s physical, runs hard, very fast. He can do it all. I’m looking forward to it," Taylor said.
However, when strictly comparing the two on the field this season, both have had their share of success and misfortune.
While Taylor has been the No. 1 running back for the Gators this season, Michel replaced Chubb as the Bulldogs' feature back after Chubb went down.
Michel stepped up and filled in nicely against the Volunteers, rushing for 145 yards on 22 carries, albeit in a 38-31 loss.
And in just his second career start in Georgia’s 9-6 win over Missouri on Oct. 17, Michel rushed for 87 yards.
For the season, Michel has 89 carries for 508 yards — an average of 5.71 yards per carry — and four touchdowns.
Taylor, on the other hand, has struggled at times, as he’s rushed for 463 yards on 129 carries — an average of 3.59 yards per carry.
Michel is also a threat out of the backfield catching the ball.
For Georgia, Michel is third in receptions (16) and second in touchdowns (three), which only complements his ability to run the ball with a different style than Chubb.
"Sony is more of like a slasher, gets downhill really quickly, kind of fast," Florida defensive back Nick Washington said.
"I think that’s the big difference between the two."
In recent years, Georgia has used a two-headed attack in the backfield.
First it was Keith Marshall — before injuries caught up to him — teaming up with Todd Gurley, and then came Gurley with Chubb.
Now, Michel is next in line to carry the torch.
Using a stable of running backs has made the Bulldogs into one of the top rushing offenses in the SEC over the past four seasons.
Georgia has been ranked in the top three in the SEC in total rushing yards in three of those seasons — 2012 (fourth), 2014 (first) and 2015 (second).
"It’s been a joy to watch them over the years, really pound defenses and decide, ‘Look, you’re going to have to stop us in the run game before we even think about throwing the ball.’" Florida running backs coach Tim Skipper said.
Coach Jim McElwain is aware that UF will have work on slowing down Michel and the other running backs that Georgia has on Saturday.
"That guy’s got juice now," McElwain said of Michel.
"Don’t let them think they don’t have running backs there. A couple of the guys are as highly recruited guys as there were in the United States of America.
"These guys are difference makers. We have our work cut out for us."
Follow Luis Torres on Twitter @LFTorresIII
Georgia running back Sony Michel runs the ball during the Bulldogs 9-6 win over Missouri on Oct. 17, 2015, at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia.
