GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- When Florida takes on Georgia in this year's World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, it could well be a meeting of two Top 10 teams for the first time since 2012.

Currently the Gators sit just outside the Top 10 at No. 11, while the Bulldogs check in at No. 8. Both teams have bye weeks this week, allowing them to rest and recover ahead of the monster showdown in Jacksonville.

For first-year coach Dan Mullen, that this is such a big game is a testament to the work his team has put in.

"I think you love as the season goes on to be playing in big games," Mullen said. "When you're playing in big games in the second half of the season the reason they're big games is you've made them big games. That's the fun part is that you've made them those big games."

Florida is coming off a stretch with three wins over ranked teams in four weeks. The Gators have survived a number of tough contests, with three of the last four wins coming on the road.

They need to get healthy from both a physical and mental standpoint if they hope to continue building on the success of the season so far. Players, though, mostly played down the magnitude of the Georgia game when meeting with the media on Tuesday during the bye week.

"I don't think you look at them because it's a big game, I think you just look at it because it's the next opponent," quarterback Feleipe Franks said.

The next opponent could set the course of the rest of the season, though. A win and suddenly Florida is considered a potential playoff contender and the favorite to square off against the SEC West in the SEC Championship Game.

A loss and the rebuild trudges on, still looking for that signature moment to propel the Gators over the hump.

Mullen knows the chances to play in these big games only come around as often as teams are bought in and focused on doing exactly what they have to do to be successful. So far Florida has done that.

"I think if you want to continue to play in them you've got to continue to succeed and make the next game even bigger than the last one," Mullen said. "That's one of the things that we talk to the team about. That's why we're trying to give them some rest this week. Not just get a good week, but also the mental rest to also get a break, get away from some things this coming weekend so that they're ready to come back and work at the level necessary to finish the season the way we want to."