Buster Knows Where the Spare Key Is Hung
Written by Jarvis Prime on October 28, 2026
GEORGIA MONEYBALL — Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Kirby Smart spent Monday praising the Florida coordinator he used to employ, which is the politest way a coach has of saying he is worried.
ALBANY, GA — · By the RFA Sports Desk
Kirby Smart stood up Monday and called Buster Faulkner one of the best offensive minds in the country, and he meant it as a compliment, which is the trouble. Faulkner will call Florida's plays from the far sideline Saturday, but he learned the trade in Athens, on the staffs that won the 2021 and 2022 national titles. Saturday Down South reports he spent three seasons at Georgia Tech after that and was one of the first men Jon Sumrall hired. There is nothing a Georgia man fears quite like a Georgia man who left and took notes.
Smart told reporters Monday that Faulkner's offense is quarterback driven but does not require the quarterback to be perfect. "He gives them so many options and he can play to the strengths of each guy," Smart said. That line matters this week because Florida still has not said which guy. Aaron Philo is nursing a shoulder, Tramell Jones Jr. has bumps and bruises from his first start at Texas, and Sumrall has named nobody. Smart's view is that both are plenty capable in Buster's offense, and a scheme that makes a freshman and a sore-shouldered veteran look alike from the press box is a scheme worth respecting.
There is nothing a Georgia man fears quite like a Georgia man who left and took notes.
What Faulkner has to work with is mostly Jadan Baugh and a run scheme Smart called great. Baugh has 13 touchdowns, and Raylen Wilson said Tuesday that he runs through arm tackles, so you had better bring your feet and wrap him up. Florida rushes for 194.3 yards a game, fourth in the league, against a Georgia defense that gives up 91.4. Faulkner also gets a receiver back. Sumrall said Monday that Vernell Brown III practiced and looks normal after missing three games with a knee strain, 247Sports reported. Brown had 17 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns in the four games he played.
The familiarity cuts both ways, and everybody in both buildings knows it. Drew Bobo was a freshman the last year Faulkner coached in Athens, and he said Monday that one year around the man showed him what kind of coach he is. Smart said his staff has gone against both Florida coordinators for multiple years. So this is poker with your brother-in-law. Everybody at the table knows everybody's tells, nobody is giving a discount, and the fellow who moved away still remembers which floorboard squeaks. Georgia's edge is that Smart has had a long time to wonder what Buster would do with his own plays.
The market still believes the home folks' knowledge wins out. DraftKings has Georgia by 12.5 with a total of 53.5, and the moneyline has drifted from minus 500 to minus 550 since the number opened. Our Moneyball machine says Georgia 30, Florida 21, and wins the game in 70 percent of its runs, but covers the twelve and a half only 41.7 percent of the time. ESPN's FPI is more confident at 82.7 percent. Smart, for his part, said Monday he has less depth than he has ever had, and the league's first availability report is due Wednesday. Three days to kickoff, 3:30 Saturday on ABC, under a roof in Atlanta.
The Notebook
- AROUND THE COUNTRY: UCF beat No. 2 BYU 39-31 in double overtime on a fourth-down stop and a roughing-the-kicker flag Provo is still arguing about, and BYU fell to No. 8. Cincinnati handled No. 8 Texas Tech 37-24, South Carolina walked off No. 11 Tennessee 27-24 on a 48-yard field goal, and Texas beat No. 7 Ole Miss 34-27, which matters because Georgia goes to Oxford on November 7 at 7:30 on ABC.
- THE CHECK CLEARED: Flagpole reports Georgia and Florida were each paid $7.5 million to bring the game to Mercedes-Benz Stadium while Jacksonville renovates. Tampa gets it in 2027 and Jacksonville takes it back in 2028.
- THORPE WATCH: Georgia's athletic department said Tuesday that KJ Bolden is one of 15 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, the first Bulldog so named since Malaki Starks. He has 22 tackles and an interception, missed Auburn hurt, and Wednesday's availability report will say whether he plays.
Written in the tradition of Lewis Grizzard, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1946–1994.
Hear the desk read tonights report on Radio Free Albany, WPFQ 96.7.
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