Florida’s path to bowl eligibility runs straight through three problem areas, and all of them showed up in the loss to Georgia. With Oklahoma up next in Week 10, the Gators have to clean up the quarterback situation, get Jadan Baugh rolling again, and bring a steadier version of their defense.
The matchup carries a little extra weight because Oklahoma also owns a win over Texas, making Saturday, Nov. 7 a meeting between the only two teams with that claim. The Sooners come in after a 17-point home loss to South Carolina, and they still haven’t won or lost back-to-back games this season. Florida has to be ready for that kind of bounce-back response.
The biggest issue is simple: Florida cannot keep giving the ball away. The Gators didn’t score a passing touchdown against Georgia, and the quarterback rotation only added to the mess.
Aaron Philo was pulled after completing 5 of 7 passes, with both incompletions turning into interceptions. Tramell Jones Jr. then took over and finished 18 of 25 for 172 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
Florida also needs more from Jadan Baugh, who has gone from one of the hottest backs around to a player searching for his burst. Against Georgia, he was held to 38 yards on 17 carries and didn’t reach the end zone. He’s now averaged under 4.0 yards per carry in his last four games, a sharp drop after opening the season with outputs of 11.4, 9.7, 6.2, and 4.9 yards per game in his first four.
Then there’s the defense, which has been impossible to pin down. Some weeks it looks like one of the best units in the country.
Other weeks, it bleeds points in bunches. Against Georgia, a 17-point second quarter put Florida in a hole it couldn’t escape.
The Gators trailed 24-0 at halftime, and even though they allowed just three points in the second half, the damage had already been done.
In Other News...
Florida Could Pull Off A Huge Recruiting Surprise Here
A major recruiting decision is coming into focus for one of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2028 class, and Florida has managed to stay in the thick of it. Brysen Wright has trimmed his list to Florida, Texas and Miami, with an announcement set for Nov. 5, after taking unofficial visits to all three programs. For the Gators, simply being in the final group for a national-caliber receiver says plenty about the pitch they have made early in the process.
Miami is viewed as the clear favorite in the prediction game, but Florida remains a finalist and has a real chance to make this interesting. Wrights status as a highly ranked prospect gives this race extra weight, especially with three prominent programs still in the mix and a decision date now on the calendar. The Gators will be watching closely to see whether they can turn a strong position into a surprise win. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Is Still Waiting On Vernell Brown III For One Reason
Floridas receiving room has had to keep moving without Vernell Brown III, and the wait has stretched longer than the Gators likely hoped. Brown has now missed four games after a setback in his recovery from a knee injury, and coach Jon Sumrall said the sophomore had a non-surgical procedure as part of the process.
Even with the uncertainty, Brown has stayed around the program as a vocal presence and continues working his way back. The issue now is less about whether he still matters to Florida and more about when, or even if, the Gators will get him back this season. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Still Waiting On A Key Playmaker As Oklahoma Nears
With Oklahoma closing in, Florida is still waiting on one of its more intriguing playmakers to get back on the field. Jon Sumrall said wide receiver Vernell Brown III is doing everything he can to return after the knee injury he suffered in late September, but the recovery has kept him out for multiple games and left the Gators without a player they had been counting on.
Browns absence has been felt, and Sumrall made clear the setback has been difficult for the receiver as well as the team. For now, his status remains uncertain heading into the matchup with Oklahoma, leaving Florida to prepare without knowing whether one of its key weapons will be available when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]