Jadan Baugh was the difference Saturday night in Auburn, and Florida needed every bit of it.
The Gators leaned on Baugh’s 162 rushing yards and three touchdowns to outlast Auburn 44-39 in a Southeastern Conference matchup that doubled as the league debut for both teams’ new head coaches. Florida also got 202 passing yards and a score from Aaron Philo, then rode a balanced offense to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2019.
Florida’s attack was rolling from both directions. The Gators finished with 245 rushing yards and 252 through the air, while Vernell Brown III hauled in five catches for 86 yards and Dallas Wilson added four receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. The performance gave new coach Jon Sumrall a statement road win.
Baugh’s workload told the story. He carried 26 times and averaged 6.2 yards per attempt, then took over after halftime with 106 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the second half alone. Duke Clark also got in on the action, finishing with 50 yards and a touchdown after muscling through a pair of Tigers on his way to the end zone.
Auburn’s night started rough and only briefly found life before slipping away. The Tigers finished with 373 total yards, but just 102 came on the ground, forcing them into a more pass-heavy approach than coach Alex Golesh would have wanted in his first conference game. Byrum Brown went 20 of 35 for 271 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, while also adding 65 rushing yards and a score.
The Tigers did show some punch before halftime. After opening with minus-3 yards in the first quarter, Auburn strung together a 16-play, 150-yard sequence that ended in two touchdowns and pulled the game even at 17 just before the break. But the second half never came together cleanly, with Auburn slowed by four sacks and six penalties.
Even so, the Tigers kept swinging until the final seconds. Brown’s 35-yard Hail Mary to Chaz Nimrod with 24 seconds left cut into the margin, but Florida held on to finish the job.
Auburn will host Vanderbilt next Saturday.
In Other News...
Florida Just Gave Auburn Fans A Painful Reminder Before SEC Opener
Floridas social team leaned into the kind of memory Auburn fans would rather not revisit ahead of the SEC opener, using LaMical Perine to narrate a hype video for the primetime matchup. The clip centers on Perines long touchdown run from the 2019 Florida-Auburn game, a moment that still stands out for Gators fans because it helped deliver the win and added another layer to a rivalry that rarely needs much extra fuel.
Now the two programs meet again with both entering unranked, both 2-0, and both guided by new head coaches, which gives this one a different feel even before kickoff. Floridas reminder was sharp and simple, but it also underlined how much history can still shape an SEC opener, especially when the past includes one play Auburn supporters would just as soon forget. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Just Found The Formula That Could Change This Season
Florida left Jordan-Hare Stadium with more than a hard-earned win over Auburn, because the Gators finally put together the kind of complete effort they have been searching for. The 44-39 victory delivered Florida its first 3-0 start since 2019 and its first SEC road win since 2024, a welcome sign that the program may be finding its footing early in the season.
Jadan Baugh gave the offense a clear identity, piling up 162 yards and three touchdowns while also ripping off a crucial 53-yard run on fourth-and-one. Floridas defense did its part with seven sacks, the kind of disruptive night that can travel, and the bigger question now is whether this performance was a one-off surge or the start of something the Gators can lean on moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Faces A Doubt Gators Fans Wont Want To Hear
Auburns trip to Jordan-Hare Stadium is shaping up as one of the more uneasy spots on Floridas early schedule, and The Athletics Manny Navarro has already put a number on the concern. He is calling for the Tigers to edge the Gators 28-27 in Week 3, with the matchup around Floridas ground game drawing particular attention. Jadan Baugh is expected to be a focal point, but Auburns run defense has looked strong so far this season, which adds another layer of difficulty for a Florida offense trying to find answers on the road.
The quarterback battle also looms over the matchup, with Floridas Aaron Philo and Auburns Byrum Brown both central to how this game could swing late. Navarros prediction leans toward Brown guiding a late game-winning drive, a scenario that would leave Florida with a frustrating close loss and plenty to sort through afterward. For Gators fans, the sting is not just the upset call itself, but the sense that this one could hinge on the kind of late-game execution that has no margin for error. [Read more 🡒]