Florida heads into Week 6 with plenty to clean up after a rough trip to Missouri, but the No. 16 Gators get a chance to reset at home against South Carolina as homecoming arrives in Gainesville.
Jon Sumrall made the tone clear earlier this week. “Anybody can have the right attitude when things are going good.
How do you move forward and continue to churn ahead and try to get better in maybe some adverse times after a game like last Saturday says more about you than anything,” he said on Monday. “So we're challenging our guys to pick up, move on.”
That challenge comes with a few big questions attached. Florida is still waiting to see whether receiver Vernell Brown III, who is dealing with a knee issue, will be available.
South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart is also a name to watch because of his suspension status. And the Gators need more from Jadan Baugh after he was held to 13 yards on 12 carries last week.
There’s also a new look for the Swamp. Florida will wear white throwback uniforms with blue helmets, a nod to Steve Spurrier’s 1966 Heisman Trophy. It will be the first time Florida has worn white at home since 2021.
The Gators and Gamecocks kick off with Florida listed as a 12.5-point favorite at FanDuel, with the over/under set at 58.5 points.
Weather could play a role, too. The forecast calls for 85 degrees, scattered thunderstorms and a 58 percent chance of rain, according to Weather.com.
Florida owns the edge in the all-time series, leading 31-10-3 after winning the last two meetings in 2022 and 2023. South Carolina last won in Gainesville in 2014, and Florida has taken home games against the Gamecocks in 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022.
The timing matters for the Gators beyond Saturday, too. They’re trying to build momentum before heading to No.
1 Texas next week and then facing No. 2 Georgia two weeks after that.
In Other News...
Florida Could Get Key Help Back While One Gators Concern Lingers
Florida got a little good news on the availability front ahead of its game against South Carolina, with senior safety Bryce Thornton no longer on the injury report and expected back in action. The Gators also have running back London Montgomery and cornerback Dijon Johnson listed as probable, which gives the staff a few more options as it sorts through the rotation for a conference matchup that could use some stability on both sides of the ball.
Vernell Brown III is still the name to watch, though, as the freshman remains questionable with a knee strain even while showing positive progress. Florida has not closed the door on his return, but for now the Gators are still waiting to see how much late-week improvement he can make before deciding whether he can be part of the mix against the Gamecocks. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Gymnastics Shakeup Just Got Even More Emotional
Floridas gymnastics roster has taken an unexpected turn, with Leanne Wong, Kaylee Bluffstone and Taylor Clark all removed from the active list and the program offering no public explanation for the moves. Head coach Jenny Rowland has confirmed the changes, but so far she has stopped short of providing any specifics, leaving the situation around one of the sports most closely watched teams to be sorted through mostly from the outside.
Skylar Drasers recent removal from the roster has only added to the unease, especially after the senior pushed back on the online speculation swirling around the team. Draser also said she plans to graduate and enter the NCAA transfer portal, a development that gives the Gators even more to sort out as the season moves forward and the unanswered questions around the roster continue to hang over the program. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Now Has A Bigger Problem To Solve Against South Carolina
Floridas trip to South Carolina just got a little more complicated with Dylan Stewart back in the picture. The Gamecocks defensive end had been sidelined since an incident in the Week 4 game against Alabama, which kept him out of the next matchup against Kentucky, but ESPNs Pete Thamel reported that his indefinite suspension has now been lifted.
For Florida, that means preparing for a South Carolina defense with one of its most disruptive pieces available again. Any game on the road in the SEC is hard enough, and now the Gators have another pass-rushing threat to account for as they try to sort out a matchup that already carried plenty of weight. [Read more 🡒]