Florida got the kind of performance it needed from London Montgomery in a 27-24 win over Texas.
The senior running back, listed at 5’10”, 192 lb, filled his usual role as a kick returner and also saw extra work out of the backfield against the No. 7 Longhorns.
In all, he logged four carries for 20 yards, a 5.0 average, with a long of nine. He also picked up two first downs on offense and helped Florida set up a third-and-short once.
Montgomery’s biggest impact may have come before the offense even took the field. He finished with five kickoff returns for 105 yards, averaging 21 yards per return, and his longest return went 30 yards. Three of those returns carried Florida past the 30-yard line, giving the Gators strong field position throughout the game.
That field position mattered early. With Texas leading 10-0, Montgomery brought a kickoff back to the 35-yard line, helping set up a Florida drive that eventually cut the deficit to 10-3.
He delivered again to start the second half, returning the opening kickoff to the 31 and helping spark a touchdown drive.
His most important sequence came late in the fourth quarter. On one drive, Montgomery turned a second-and-7 into a five-yard gain, then followed with an eight-yard catch that moved the chains. Later, with a little more than eight minutes left, he ripped off a nine-yard run and then added a three-yard carry to secure another crucial first down and help set up a Florida touchdown that stretched the lead.
After Texas trimmed the margin to three, Montgomery answered once more with a return to the 32-yard line, giving Florida another favorable starting point.
It was a full day’s work from a senior who made plays both in the return game and on offense, and Florida leaned on it in the upset win.
In Other News...
Florida's Win At Texas Just Changed The Gators' Postseason Outlook
Floridas Week 7 win at Texas gave the Gators more than a marquee road result. It also showed up in the numbers, with ESPNs Football Power Index lifting Florida six spots to No. 19 and nudging the teams projected regular-season finish to 7.7-4.3. For a program still trying to build momentum, a jump like that is a meaningful sign that the path forward is looking a little brighter.
Floridas improved outlook now stretches beyond the win column, too. The Gators odds of running the table, reaching the College Football Playoff and even contending for the conference all ticked upward after the upset in Austin, a reminder that one big victory can reshape the rest of a season. The FPI top 25 after Week 7 reflects how much movement came from the weekend, and Florida suddenly sits in a more interesting spot than it did before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Fans Are Running Out Of Patience With This Offense
Texas walked out of Gainesville with a second straight loss, and the frustration surrounding the Longhorns is no longer just about the result. The defeat to unranked Florida put the offense under the microscope, with the conversation quickly turning to play-calling, quarterback play and whether the group around Arch Manning is giving the team enough to work with. What had been a promising season now feels a lot more precarious, and the noise around the offense is only getting louder.
Steve Sarkisian has already said everything will be evaluated, including the quarterback position and the way the offense is being run. For Texas, that kind of public reassessment usually signals a stretch where changes are at least on the table, even if they are not immediate. The Gators may have simply been the latest opponent to expose the Longhorns' issues, but the bigger story is how quickly patience is wearing thin in Austin. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Is Back In The Poll Debate After A Statement Win
Floridas statement win over Texas has the Gators back in the conversation for the Top 25, the kind of result that can reshape how a season is viewed almost overnight. A 24-27 road win carries real weight in a crowded college football landscape, especially with several notable teams, including Indiana and Notre Dame, seeing their winning streaks snapped in the same stretch.
For Florida, the timing matters as much as the result. Projected rankings are already starting to reflect the shift, and the Gators now sit in the middle of the weekly poll debate where rsum, momentum and perception can move quickly after a weekend like this. The bigger question is how far the climb goes once the full Top 25 picture settles in. [Read more 🡒]