Olivier Rioux wasted no time making his presence felt in a UC Irvine uniform.
The 7-foot-9 transfer from Florida started Tuesday night in the Anteaters’ 92-66 win over Chapman, and in doing so became the tallest player in college basketball history to start a Division I game. Rioux, already the tallest player in Division I basketball, backed up the milestone with a strong debut: 13 points, 12 rebounds and a block.
He shot 6 of 9 from the floor and played 18 minutes in the lopsided win.
Rioux’s first basket came early, less than two minutes into the game, when he sealed deep in the post and finished easily over the defender. Later, he delivered a one-handed dunk without needing to leave the floor much at all, looking as if he were finishing at a mini hoop.
Rioux transferred to UC Irvine this offseason after spending his first two seasons at Florida, including the Gators’ 2025 national title run. He had originally arrived in Gainesville as a preferred walk-on and appeared in 11 games during the 2025-26 season.
Last season, Rioux also made history by becoming the tallest player in college basketball history - at any level - to score a basket.
At Florida, his path to minutes was blocked by a crowded frontcourt that kept Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh and Rueben Chinyelu in the mix. At UC Irvine, his debut suggested a much clearer runway. He played 18 minutes Tuesday, more than he logged across his entire two-year career with the Gators, which totaled 17.
In Other News...
Floridas Receiver Situation Just Got More Frustrating Before Oklahoma
Floridas receiver room is already thin enough to make every availability report worth watching, and Vernell Browns status has only added to the uncertainty. He was listed as probable for the Georgia game but never took the field, and now he enters the Oklahoma matchup tagged as doubtful, leaving his injury situation unresolved at a time when the Gators can least afford more questions on offense.
The broader picture is just as uneasy. Florida goes into the Oklahoma game with four players ruled out and two more listed as questionable, while the quarterback situation remains unsettled as well. For a team trying to steady itself late in the season, the availability report has become almost as important as the game plan. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Suddenly Has A Major Lineup Problem Before Oklahoma
Floridas depth chart took a hit in a hurry ahead of Oklahoma, with starting defensive tackle Jeramiah McCloud suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. The Gators are also juggling a handful of injury concerns, with receiver Vernell Brown III and defensive end Emmanuel Oyebadejo among the players listed as doubtful or questionable, adding another layer of uncertainty to a lineup that was already set to look different.
The team has already announced changes along the line and at tight end, with replacements needed for starting right tackle Emekga Ugori and Evan Chieca, who will not play against Oklahoma. For Florida, the issue now is less about one absence than how many moving parts it can absorb at once before a game that was already going to demand clean execution. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Faces One Big Question With Bowl Hopes Back At Home
Florida is back at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium with its bowl path still in front of it, but the margin for error is getting thinner after the loss to Georgia. The Gators sit at 5-3 overall and 3-3 in SEC play, and now they get an Oklahoma team that arrives at 4-4 and trying to steady itself after falling to South Carolina. The matchup has enough weight on its own, and the betting line reflects that Florida is expected to handle business at home as a one-touchdown favorite.
Even so, the biggest question around this one is still the quarterback situation, which has become a real concern because of recent performances and injuries. Florida does not need perfection to keep its postseason hopes on track, but it does need more stability than it has shown lately, especially with an SEC game that could help define the rest of the season. How the Gators manage that spot will go a long way toward determining whether this trip back home feels like a reset or another missed opportunity. [Read more 🡒]