Florida’s homecoming game turned into a long, ugly afternoon in Gainesville, and by the time South Carolina was done with the Gators, the Swamp had emptied out in chunks.
No. 16 Florida fell 38-19 to an underdog Gamecocks team that arrived carrying an eight-game SEC losing streak, but played like none of that mattered. The Gators, meanwhile, had the same problems that haunted them a week earlier in their 45-17 loss at Missouri: no ground game to speak of, and a defense that kept giving ground.
“I’m frustrated with every part of what we did today. It starts with me,” coach Jon Sumrall said. “So, so many things to clean up.”
Florida’s start was encouraging enough. On the Gators’ second possession, Aaron Philo hit Bailey Stockton in space on a well-designed play that turned third-and-six into a 59-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead. For a brief moment, it looked like Florida might shake off the Missouri loss and settle in.
That didn’t last.
South Carolina answered, and once the Gamecocks got rolling, they never really let go. LaNorris Sellers kept finding answers all over the field, finishing 23-of-35 for 279 yards with four touchdown passes. His final scoring throw, a 21-yarder to backup tailback Jabree Coleman with 8:07 left, was the one that pushed the home crowd toward the exits.
Sellers’ fourth touchdown pass was his most in a game since a five-touchdown outing against Missouri in November of 2024. Against Florida, the 6-foot-3, 238-pound senior looked every bit like the player who had once been viewed as a potential top-10 NFL pick.
The Gamecocks led 17-10 after Vicari Swain picked off Philo and returned it to the Florida 26, setting up Sellers’ 12-yard touchdown pass to Mazeo Bennett Jr. That score gave South Carolina the lead, and it only widened from there.
Florida got a lift to open the second half when Patrick Durkin drilled a 48-yard field goal to trim the deficit to 17-13 after a 45-minute lightning delay. Instead of sparking a rally, it sparked South Carolina. The Gamecocks scored 21 unanswered points from there.
“We wore down a little bit on really in all phases,” Sumrall said.
The Gators’ run game never found its footing. Jadan Baugh, the SEC’s leading rusher, was held to 59 yards and had only one run longer than 10 yards. As a team, Florida finished with just 120 rushing yards.
That was a major reason the offense couldn’t keep pace for a second straight week in October, even after opening the game with promise. Philo finished 21-of-28 for 227 yards, and Stockton was the one consistent bright spot, catching eight passes for 127 yards.
South Carolina’s defense also made its biggest plays when it needed them most. Star defensive end Dylan Stewart, back from a one-game suspension for fighting, forced a fumble by Philo with 12:58 remaining, and that effectively shut the door on any Florida comeback. The turnover was one of three the Gators committed.
South Carolina also controlled the chains, converting 10 of 16 third downs. The Gamecocks were perfect on their first touchdown drive, going 3-for-3 on third down before Sellers hit Nyck Harbor for a 15-yard score in the corner of the end zone on third-and-10.
Harbor finished with four catches for 83 yards, while Sellers continued to punish Florida’s defense with his arm and his size.
For Florida, the result leaves a tough road ahead. The Gators are now 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the SEC, with No.
1 Texas next and a trip to Atlanta to face No. 2 Georgia on Oct. 31 looming after that.
South Carolina, now 3-3 and 1-3 in conference play, picked up its first win in the Swamp since 2014 under Steve Spurrier and its first SEC victory since beating Kentucky 35-13 on Sept. 27, 2025. For a program that had been struggling to finish games during its recent skid, this one never slipped away.
In Other News...
Floridas Ground Game Just Took Another Hit Against South Carolina
Floridas backfield took another hit against South Carolina when sophomore running back Duke Clark left in the second quarter with a left foot injury and did not return. With Clark out, the Gators had to shuffle their rotation and lean on other backs during the third quarter to keep the ground game moving.
The injury adds another layer of concern for a Florida offense already trying to find consistency on the ground. On a different note, linebacker Myles Graham was seen warming up before the third quarter and returned to the sideline dressed out, suggesting a possible return as the game went on. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Faces An Uncomfortable Bounce-Back Test At Home
Florida gets a quick chance to reset at home against South Carolina after the loss to Missouri, a game that exposed just how much the Gators still have to sort out as SEC play settles in. At 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the conference, Florida is still in solid shape, but this matchup in Gainesville carries the feel of an early-season correction point, especially with the weather, injury updates and a few individual performances all part of the backdrop.
South Carolina arrives with a 2-3 record and still looking for its first conference win after an overtime loss to Kentucky, so both teams are bringing some urgency into a game that matters for different reasons. For Florida, the bigger question is how it responds after a stumble at Missouri and whether it can look sharper at home, where the Gators will be judged not just on the result, but on the way they handle a test that should tell a lot about their direction. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Still Has One Worry After Late Vernell Brown Decision
Floridas offense got a little clarity this week when sophomore wide receiver Vernell Brown III was ruled out for the game against South Carolina, even after showing positive progress in practice. The knee strain is being described as low-grade, and head coach Jon Sumralls update suggested there is optimism around Browns overall direction, but the Gators will still have to move forward without one of the young receivers they have been leaning on.
There was better news on the other side of the injury report, with senior safety Bryce Thornton expected to be available after a lower-body issue. Florida also got a look at South Carolinas availability report, which included several players listed out, but Browns status remains the more immediate concern as the Gators try to sort out their depth on offense and wait for the next step in his recovery. [Read more 🡒]