Florida has a shot to do more than just keep its September clean on Saturday. At The Swamp, the No.
22 Gators get No. 6 Ole Miss in a matchup that could deliver their first signature win under first-year coach Jon Sumrall, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. on ABC.
The setting is part of the story. Florida is 3-0 overall and 1-0 in SEC play, and the Gators are hoping their home crowd can tilt things the way it did in last season’s upset of No.
9 Texas at The Swamp. That same kind of noise, and the pressure that comes with it, is also what Kevin Brockway pointed to as a factor Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss will have to handle.
Brockway brought up another recent example too: two years ago, Florida forced former Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart into mistakes and came away with a 24-17 win over the Rebels at The Swamp after Dart threw two interceptions. He sees the atmosphere as something that could again shape how the game unfolds.
"It could have an impact on the field when at times you have to go to hand signals, depending how to technology is in terms of getting the communication into the helmets," Brockway said. "That could play a big role and how the game goes about and that's why momentum plays, turnovers, are so big early in this game in terms of creating that frenzy."
Andrew Abadie thinks the game may turn into a shootout, with both offenses landing their share of explosive plays. For him, the key won’t be subtle.
"The story is going to be defenses," Abadie said. "I'm not a gambler, but if you are somebody who wants to hammer the over, I would suggest that. I kinda foresee this game being high scoring and whoever wins the turnover battle and gets that first stop is probably who is going to win this game."
The podcast also dug into the emotional swing Ole Miss faces after its win over LSU and former coach Lane Kiffin. Sam Hutchens of the Jackson Clarion Ledger said the bigger challenge is what comes next, especially with another charged environment waiting in Gainesville.
"Definitely unprecedented territory in terms of how do you come down from such a high," Hutchens said.
In Other News...
Jon Sumrall Just Turned Up The Pressure On The Swamp
Floridas home atmosphere drew an unexpected comparison this week when Jon Sumrall said the crowd at the Gators game against FAU felt livelier than what he saw at Auburns Jordan-Hare Stadium during a recent game. The comments added a little extra buzz around the Swamp, especially with Ole Miss coming to town next and the stakes rising for a fan base that prides itself on making home games feel like an event.
Sumrall also made clear he is expecting more from the crowd when the Rebels arrive, and that alone has turned the conversation toward what kind of edge Florida can create at home. His remarks came with the usual backdrop of coaching chatter and prior reports tying him to Auburn, but the immediate takeaway for Gators fans is simpler: the pressure is on to make the next Saturday night even louder. [Read more 🡒]
Florida May Get A Crucial Boost For Ole Miss Showdown
Florida could get an important piece back just in time for its Sept. 26 showdown with Ole Miss, as wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. is listed as questionable after missing time with the ankle injury he suffered in the season opener. His status matters for a Florida offense that has had to adjust without him, and the timing of the report adds another layer to a matchup that already carries real weight in the SEC race.
Ole Miss is sorting through its own injury questions as well, with running back Kewan Lacy also listed as questionable while dealing with a shoulder issue and working on limited reps in practice. The SEC availability report shows several Rebels still in flux for the game, leaving both sides with roster uncertainty as kickoff approaches and a clearer picture may not come until much closer to game day. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Spurrier Just Weighed In On A Texas Game Gators Fans Know Well
Steve Spurrier has a way of turning a future SEC-style conversation into a reminder of old Florida battles, and this one came with a familiar edge. The former Gators star and coach weighed in on Tennessees upcoming game with Texas, pointing to the Volunteers previous win over the Longhorns and backing them to do it again in Knoxville.
For Florida fans, any Spurrier opinion involving Tennessee still carries extra weight because of what he used to do to the Vols on the sideline. His long track record against Tennessee and his connection to the state give his take a little more bite than a casual prediction, especially with a Texas game that Gators supporters already know well in the background. [Read more 🡒]