South Carolina walked into Gainesville and left with a result that landed hard on Florida: a 38-19 blowout that snapped the Gamecocks’ eight-game SEC losing streak and sent the No. 16 Gators into another ugly home loss.
It was Florida’s second straight lopsided defeat, and this one unraveled in a hurry once the second half got going. South Carolina carried a 17-10 lead into halftime, then took control in the third quarter with a 14-3 edge that stretched the margin from one score to 31-13. Florida opened the half with a field goal, but that was the last sign of life before the game tilted sharply the other way.
The Gators’ next four possessions went nowhere in a string of frustration: punt, fumble, turnover on downs and interception. While the offense stalled, South Carolina kept punching. The Gamecocks scored touchdowns on three straight drives and turned a close game into a rout, enough to have Florida fans heading for the exits at The Swamp early.
LaNorris Sellers was at the center of it all for South Carolina. After a season that has brought its share of uneven moments across 2025 and ’26, he put together the kind of outing that stands out on an NFL Draft tape. Sellers threw four touchdown passes, completed 66% of his throws, connected with eight different receivers for 279 yards and added a rushing touchdown.
Dylan Stewart also made his presence felt in a major way. The South Carolina edge rusher had logged only one tackle in 2026 before serving a one-game suspension, but his return was loud. Stewart finished with five total tackles, including four solo stops, along with one sack, one TFL and two forced fumbles.
Florida, meanwhile, lost the turnover battle 4-0. Starting quarterback Aaron Philo and backup Trammell Jones both threw interceptions, and Jones added a second late pick on a 2-point try. The Gators also put the ball on the ground twice, including a Philo fumble that wiped out a potential scoring drive.
Jadan Baugh was held in check again. Florida’s star running back finished with 15 carries for 59 yards, better than his Week 5 showing at Mizzou but still far from the triple-digit production he stacked up through the first month of the season.
The loss drops Florida into a brutal stretch. Jon Sumrall’s team heads to No.
1 Texas in Week 7, then gets a Week 8 bye before facing No. 2 Georgia in Atlanta.
In Other News...
Floridas Ground Game Just Took Another Hit Against South Carolina
Floridas backfield took another hit against South Carolina when sophomore running back Duke Clark left in the second quarter with a left foot injury and did not return. With Clark out, the Gators had to shuffle their rotation and lean on other backs during the third quarter to keep the ground game moving.
The injury adds another layer of concern for a Florida offense already trying to find consistency on the ground. On a different note, linebacker Myles Graham was seen warming up before the third quarter and returned to the sideline dressed out, suggesting a possible return as the game went on. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Faces An Uncomfortable Bounce-Back Test At Home
Florida gets a quick chance to reset at home against South Carolina after the loss to Missouri, a game that exposed just how much the Gators still have to sort out as SEC play settles in. At 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the conference, Florida is still in solid shape, but this matchup in Gainesville carries the feel of an early-season correction point, especially with the weather, injury updates and a few individual performances all part of the backdrop.
South Carolina arrives with a 2-3 record and still looking for its first conference win after an overtime loss to Kentucky, so both teams are bringing some urgency into a game that matters for different reasons. For Florida, the bigger question is how it responds after a stumble at Missouri and whether it can look sharper at home, where the Gators will be judged not just on the result, but on the way they handle a test that should tell a lot about their direction. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Still Has One Worry After Late Vernell Brown Decision
Floridas offense got a little clarity this week when sophomore wide receiver Vernell Brown III was ruled out for the game against South Carolina, even after showing positive progress in practice. The knee strain is being described as low-grade, and head coach Jon Sumralls update suggested there is optimism around Browns overall direction, but the Gators will still have to move forward without one of the young receivers they have been leaning on.
There was better news on the other side of the injury report, with senior safety Bryce Thornton expected to be available after a lower-body issue. Florida also got a look at South Carolinas availability report, which included several players listed out, but Browns status remains the more immediate concern as the Gators try to sort out their depth on offense and wait for the next step in his recovery. [Read more 🡒]