The Florida Gators are back in Gainesville and looking to make a statement.
After a chilly road trip to Auburn that saw them post a season-low 197.100, the third-ranked Gators return to the friendly confines of the O’Connell Center for a Friday night SEC showdown against No. 6 Arkansas.
The meet, which gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, marks Florida’s third home appearance of the season-and it couldn’t come at a better time.
Last week’s performance at Auburn was a grind. Florida had to count a fall on vault, something this team rarely does, and the slow start mirrored the cold temperatures outside.
But even with the stumble, the Gators showed resilience, clawing their way back to take the meet. That grit matters, especially in a sport where momentum can shift in an instant.
Still, the 197.100 wasn’t enough to keep Florida in the top two nationally. They slipped to No. 3 in the Road to Nationals rankings, now trailing Oklahoma and LSU. But with Arkansas coming to town, this is a prime opportunity for the Gators to reassert themselves.
The Razorbacks, meanwhile, have had a season defined by ups and downs. After a loss to Minnesota, they’ve bounced back with back-to-back wins, including a solid showing against Auburn. They’re a dangerous team when they’re clicking-no one in the SEC is taking them lightly.
Rotation 1: Vault (Florida) vs. Bars (Arkansas)
Florida came out of the gate with purpose, answering last week’s vault struggles with a strong 49.375. That’s their second-best vault score of the season and their top mark in SEC competition so far.
Kayla DiCello opened with a 9.900-her best of the season-and Selena Harris-Miranda matched that score to close the rotation. Danie Ferris’ 9.800 was the dropped score, a sign of just how deep this lineup is.
Arkansas, working the uneven bars-typically a more stable event for them-put up a 49.100. Not a disaster, but they’ll want to clean up some execution errors going forward. Morgan Price’s 9.900 as the anchor helped limit the damage and kept the Razorbacks within striking distance.
Rotation 2: Bars (Florida) vs. Vault (Arkansas)
This is where Florida flexed its muscle. The Gators are ranked No. 1 nationally on bars for a reason, and they showed why with a dazzling 49.600.
Skye Blakely and Harris-Miranda each posted 9.950s to close the rotation, while DiCello delivered a crisp 9.925. Riley McCusker, who scored a 9.975 last week, kicked things off with a 9.900.
Top to bottom, this was elite execution.
Arkansas, to their credit, responded well on vault. Their 49.350 was a solid showing, keeping them within half a point of the Gators at the halfway mark. That kind of consistency will keep them competitive in meets like this.
Rotation 3: Beam (Florida) vs. Floor (Arkansas)
Florida kept the pressure on with a season-high 49.500 on beam, even if the judging raised a few eyebrows. Harris-Miranda’s 9.900 looked underscored, and DiCello’s 9.950 had the feel of a 10.0 routine.
But in the end, the Gators continued to stack clean, confident routines and extended their lead.
Arkansas, meanwhile, ran into trouble on the floor. A 48.400 is a tough number to overcome, especially against a team as polished as Florida. It was a stumble at the worst possible time, and it gave the Gators a comfortable cushion heading into the final rotation.
How to Watch
The meet is being broadcast live on ESPN2, with Olympic veterans John Roethlisberger and Sam Peszek on the call and Taylor Davis reporting from the sidelines. Fans can also stream the action via ESPN.com or the ESPN app.
Florida vs. Arkansas - Starting Lineups
Vault - Florida:
Kayla DiCello, Gabby Disidore, Skylar Draser, eMjae Frazier, Danie Ferris, Selena Harris-Miranda
Vault - Arkansas:
Cami Weaver, Leah Smith, Allison Cucci, Hailey Klein, Lauren Williams, Morgan Price
Uneven Bars - Florida:
eMjae Frazier, Anya Pilgrim, Riley McCusker, Kayla DiCello, Skye Blakely, Selena Harris-Miranda
Uneven Bars - Arkansas:
Joscelyn Roberson, Hailey Klein, Leah Smith, Cally Swaney, Allison Cucci, Morgan Price
Balance Beam - Florida:
Alyssa Arana, Skye Blakely, eMjae Frazier, Selena Harris-Miranda, Kayla DiCello, Riley McCusker
Floor - Florida:
Jayla Booker, Danie Ferris, Taylor Clark, eMjae Frazier, Skye Blakely, Selena Harris-Miranda
Floor - Arkansas:
Allison Cucci, Morgan Price, Leah Smith, Lauren Williams, Frankie Price, Joscelyn Roberson
With three rotations in the books and Florida firing on all cylinders, the Gators are in control. But in gymnastics, nothing’s over until the final dismount. Arkansas will need to regroup and finish strong, while Florida looks to close the door with authority.
It’s SEC gymnastics at its best-high-level execution, elite talent, and plenty on the line.