Last Saturday’s loss to Auburn wasn’t just a stumble for Florida - it was a gut punch. The Tigers walked into Gainesville and walked out with their first win there since 1996, snapping Florida’s five-game winning streak and ending a home dominance that had stood firm since January 2025. For a team that had been building momentum, it was a jarring reality check.
And it clearly struck a nerve - not just with the fans, but inside the locker room.
Golden Sends a Message
Head coach Todd Golden didn’t waste time trying to shake off the sting. Instead, he leaned into it. Florida changed up its preparation for Wednesday’s road matchup against South Carolina, and Golden made it clear: the Gators were going back to work.
“We practiced really hard on Monday, which we usually don't do,” Golden said after the team’s emphatic win in Columbia. “That's usually a really light day for us. But none of us were satisfied with how we played, and we wanted to get back out there and compete - and practiced hard again yesterday.”
That urgency showed. Florida didn’t just bounce back - they roared back, dismantling South Carolina by 48 points in a wire-to-wire statement win.
It was a far cry from last season’s tense finish in Columbia, when a last-second shot from Will Richard was needed to escape with a win. This time, there was no need for late-game heroics.
The Gators dominated from the opening tip.
Golden was quick to credit his players for their response.
“It was the answer that we needed coming off Saturday,” he said. “We had a bad taste in our mouth following that loss at home to Auburn, and the only response that would have been acceptable was coming out with a great mentality - both physically and mentally - over the course of 40 minutes. And I thought our guys did a great job from start to finish.”
Eyes on Alabama
Now, the Gators shift their focus to a marquee matchup: a Sunday showdown in Gainesville against No. 23 Alabama, set to air nationally on ABC. It’s a high-profile opportunity - and a high-stakes test.
Alabama brings plenty of intrigue to the floor, not just because of their ranking, but also due to the ongoing buzz around their addition of former G League standout Charles Bediako. With the spotlight squarely on this matchup, Florida knows the challenge that lies ahead.
Golden, though, is keeping the message consistent: stay grounded, stay hungry.
“Obviously, very satisfied with how we played,” he said. “But we have to have the same approach and mentality as we did to prepare for this game - whether that’s mentally getting yourself to a spot where you feel like you just lost or whatever - and you’re just getting ramped up and ready to go.”
There’s no room for complacency, not with a team like Alabama coming to town and the national stage waiting. The Gators will take a day off to reset, then dive into prep for what could be a defining moment in their season.
“We won’t be satisfied going into Sunday,” Golden added. “We’ll have really good prep these next couple days.”
After a humbling loss and a thunderous response, Florida is back in stride - and they’re not looking to slow down anytime soon.