Florida football legends Emmitt Smith and Maurkice Pouncey were inducted into the Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame on Friday at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

Before becoming the NFL's all-time leading rusher, Smith established himself as one of the greatest players in Florida history. A standout from 1987-89, he rewrote the Gators' record book and delivered several memorable performances against Georgia, including a 224-yard effort in his first collegiate start in 1987.

Smith finished his Florida career as the school's all-time leading rusher with 3,928 yards and 36 touchdowns. He helped elevate the Gators to national prominence and earned first-team All-SEC honors in each of his three seasons.

The Pensacola, Florida, native's junior season included 1,599 rushing yards, consensus first-team All-America honors and SEC Most Valuable Player recognition. The Dallas Cowboys selected him in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft. During his 15-year NFL career, Smith became the league's all-time leading rusher, won three Super Bowl championships, earned NFL MVP and Super Bowl XXVIII MVP honors and was selected to eight Pro Bowls.

A member of the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame, Smith remains one of the most accomplished players in football history.

Pouncey helped anchor one of the most successful eras in Florida football history, playing a key role in the Gators' success from 2007-09. During his three seasons in Gainesville, Florida posted a 36-5 record, won two SEC championships and captured the 2008 BCS National Championship. Pouncey faced Georgia three times, helping the Gators earn consecutive victories in 2008 and 2009 while protecting Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow.

A Freshman All-American in 2007, Pouncey developed into one of the nation's top centers by his junior season. In 2009, he became the first Florida player to win the Rimington Trophy, awarded annually to the nation's top center. He also earned consensus first-team All-America and first-team All-SEC honors. Pouncey started 39 games at Florida before being selected 18th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2010 NFL Draft.

During his 11-year NFL career, he earned nine Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro honors and three second-team All-Pro honors. He was also named to the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team and later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame and the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor.

The Florida-Georgia rivalry game will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Oct. 31 before moving to Tampa in 2027. The game will return to Jacksonville in 2028 at the Stadium of the Future.

About the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame

Established in 1995, the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame celebrates the remarkable players, coaches, and administrators who have shaped one of college football's most enduring rivalries.

Over its 30-plus-year history, the Hall of Fame has honored more than 100 distinguished individuals, including iconic Gators like Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, Tim Tebow, and Fred Taylor, as well as legendary Bulldogs such as Vince Dooley, Herschel Walker, David Pollack, and Knowshon Moreno.