No. 8 Florida came into Week 5 with real momentum after blasting then-No. 4 Ole Miss, but that surge hit a wall fast in Columbia.
Missouri answered with a ruthless all-around performance and handed the Gators a 45-17 loss at Memorial Stadium, fueled by Austin Simmons and Jamal Roberts. Simmons was efficient and explosive, throwing for 340 yards and two touchdowns, while Roberts powered the Tigers on the ground with 211 yards and three scores. The result dropped Florida to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in SEC play, while Missouri improved to 4-1 and 1-1 in the conference.
Florida’s issues started up front and never really let go. Missouri repeatedly shut down the run, including back-to-back quarterback sneaks stuffed on Aaron Philo in the second quarter that forced a turnover on downs. The Gators managed only 43 rushing yards in the first half and finished with 42 for the game after a second half that went off the rails.
Baugh, who came in as the SEC’s leading rusher, never found room to breathe. Entering Saturday, the junior led the conference in points scored (66), points per game (16.5), rushing touchdowns (11), rushing yards (600) and rushing yards per game (150). Missouri held him to 12 yards on nine carries in the first half, and he ended with 13 yards on 12 carries.
The Tigers were disruptive from the opening snaps. They piled up multiple tackles for loss on Florida’s first drive and forced punts on the next two possessions. Even after Florida opened with a 15-play, 73-yard march, Missouri stood firm at the goal line and forced the Gators into a 20-yard Patrick Durkin field goal.
Philo spent most of the afternoon under pressure and finished 21 of 34 for 197 yards and a touchdown. Florida’s offense never really settled in, and the Gators couldn’t match Missouri’s pace once the game started tilting the other way.
Simmons, meanwhile, was carving up Florida’s defense before halftime was even over. He completed 16 of 21 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone.
He hit Donovan Olugbode for a 47-yard touchdown in the second quarter, then found Caleb Goodie Sr. on a 31-yard score late in the half. Missouri also closed the first half with a strong two-minute drive that ended in a field goal and a 20-10 lead.
That cushion didn’t last long after the break. Missouri opened the second half with a 6-play, 75-yard touchdown march and kept rolling from there. The Tigers scored on six straight drives and ripped off 35 unanswered points, turning a 10-10 tie into a 45-10 fourth-quarter lead.
Florida did get a spark from Dallas Wilson, who stepped into a bigger role with Vernell Brown III out because of a low-grade knee strain. Wilson caught a 24-yard pass on the opening drive and later hauled in a 12-yard touchdown that tied the game before halftime. He finished with four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown, but the Gators could not build on it and were held to 10 points in the first half for the first time this season.
The mistakes kept stacking up for Florida, too. Eight penalties for 80 yards repeatedly put the Gators behind the chains, and a holding call on Micah Mays Jr. wiped out a London Montgomery kickoff return touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Florida’s defense found a few moments early, with Emmanuel Oyebadejo and Kamran James each recording a sack in the first half. But Missouri kept hitting big plays anyway, and Roberts delivered the knockout blows with a 77-yard run late in the third quarter and an 80-yard touchdown in the fourth. The Tigers finished with 560 total yards.
Florida added one last score when Tramell Jones Jr. entered for the final drive and threw a 42-yard touchdown to TJ Abrams, but the game had long since slipped away. The Gators finished with 325 total yards.
Florida now heads back home to face South Carolina at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Oct. 10 in its annual Homecoming game. Kickoff is set for either noon or 12:45 p.m., with the game airing on ABC or SEC Network.
In Other News...
Greg McElroy Just Added To Floridas Misery After Mizzou Rout
Missouris 45-?? rout of Florida only deepened an already rough stretch for the Gators, and the Tigers left little doubt about where they belong in the national conversation. Missouri improved to 4-1 and was rewarded in the AP Poll, climbing from No. 25 to No. 14 after piling up 560 total yards and smothering Florida on the ground, where the Gators managed just 42 rushing yards.
The damage kept building as the game wore on, with Missouri outscoring Florida 25-7 in the second half. Austin Simmons carved up the Gators for nearly 240 passing yards in the first half, and Jamal Roberts punished them on the ground with 211 rushing yards and three touchdowns, the kind of performance that leaves Florida searching for answers long after the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Snap Count Shifts Raise Tough Questions After Missouri Loss
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Tramell Jones brief late appearance at quarterback added another wrinkle to a night full of questions about usage and rotation. For a team still trying to settle on dependable pieces, those snap-count shifts matter because they can hint at where the coaching staff is leaning next, and where it still isnt sure who fits best when the games get tight. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Just Got Another Harsh Reminder Of How Bad This Is
Floridas rough start got another jolt after Week 5, when ESPN refreshed its FPI rankings and the Gators slid five spots following Missouris 45-17 win in Columbia. The loss only deepened the sense that Florida is still searching for traction, while other contenders around the country kept stacking convincing results and moving up the board.
Ohio State took over the top spot in the updated rankings after a 31-14 win over Iowa, and Jeremiah Smiths record-setting night only underscored how sharply the hierarchy can shift. For Florida, the latest drop serves as another blunt reminder that the margin for error is already thin, and the climb back will not get any easier. [Read more 🡒]