Florida’s path back up the AP Poll is still right in front of it, but the Gators have no margin for error after Saturday’s collapse against Missouri.
Jon Sumrall’s team was riding high after climbing to No. 8 following a win over Ole Miss, only to tumble all the way to No. 16 after a 45-17 blowout loss to the Tigers. Missouri is a respectable opponent, but the size of the defeat is what sent Florida sliding so hard.
That drop doesn’t erase what Florida has shown this season. The roster has enough talent to look like a real contender, but the next stretch will decide whether that reputation sticks. Consistency is the separator now, and if the Gators want a shot at the College Football Playoff, they have to stack wins the rest of the way.
The schedule also gives Florida a chance to repair the damage in a hurry. The Gators are set to face No.
1 Texas on October 17 and No. 2 Georgia on October 31, which means there are still signature opportunities on the table.
If Florida can run the table and take one or both of those games, it could surge back up the rankings and strengthen its playoff case.
Much of Florida’s success has been built around Baugh, one of the Heisman favorites. He has 613 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 95 carries, though he was held to just 13 yards on 12 carries in the loss to Missouri. A response from him would go a long way.
Duke Clark has given the Gators useful production as well, handling a change-of-pace role behind Baugh. He has 260 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries.
Aaron Philo has also done solid work at quarterback in his transfer season. He has completed 69.4 percent of his passes for 1,114 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions, while adding 72 rushing yards and three scores.
Philo has benefited from the run game and Baugh’s presence, but Florida needs more from him in obvious passing situations. Against Missouri, the passing attack needed to do more.
Sumrall has already shown he can build a winner. He went 23-4 at Troy and 20-8 at Tulane, and that run included a College Football Playoff appearance. Florida entered the season unranked, but after a heavy transfer-portal haul, Sumrall got the Gators to a 4-1 start and put them in the conversation.
Now the challenge is simple: recover quickly, win the games that are still there, and give the AP Poll reason to move Florida back up.
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Vernell Brown III is still the name to watch, though, as the freshman remains questionable with a knee strain even while showing positive progress. Florida has not closed the door on his return, but for now the Gators are still waiting to see how much late-week improvement he can make before deciding whether he can be part of the mix against the Gamecocks. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Gymnastics Shakeup Just Got Even More Emotional
Floridas gymnastics roster has taken an unexpected turn, with Leanne Wong, Kaylee Bluffstone and Taylor Clark all removed from the active list and the program offering no public explanation for the moves. Head coach Jenny Rowland has confirmed the changes, but so far she has stopped short of providing any specifics, leaving the situation around one of the sports most closely watched teams to be sorted through mostly from the outside.
Skylar Drasers recent removal from the roster has only added to the unease, especially after the senior pushed back on the online speculation swirling around the team. Draser also said she plans to graduate and enter the NCAA transfer portal, a development that gives the Gators even more to sort out as the season moves forward and the unanswered questions around the roster continue to hang over the program. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Now Has A Bigger Problem To Solve Against South Carolina
Floridas trip to South Carolina just got a little more complicated with Dylan Stewart back in the picture. The Gamecocks defensive end had been sidelined since an incident in the Week 4 game against Alabama, which kept him out of the next matchup against Kentucky, but ESPNs Pete Thamel reported that his indefinite suspension has now been lifted.
For Florida, that means preparing for a South Carolina defense with one of its most disruptive pieces available again. Any game on the road in the SEC is hard enough, and now the Gators have another pass-rushing threat to account for as they try to sort out a matchup that already carried plenty of weight. [Read more 🡒]