Florida did more than stun Texas. It climbed out of a 17-3 hole on the road, leaned on a freshman quarterback in his first start and turned a huge upset into a night that belonged to Tramell Jones Jr.
Jones, filling in for the injured Aaron Philo, guided the Gators to a 27-24 victory over the seventh-ranked Longhorns in front of more than 100,000 fans. He finished 22 of 35 for 155 yards, threw two touchdown passes - both to tight end Lacota Dippre - and avoided an interception.
The early deficit could have swallowed a young quarterback in that setting. Instead, Jones settled Florida down and let the game come to him. The Gators dominated the ball for more than 38 minutes, converted eight third downs and spent much of the second half on offense, a control game that slowly shifted the pressure onto Texas.
Florida’s comeback started taking shape after halftime. The Gators put together a long scoring drive to pull even at 17, then kept pushing. A fourth-quarter field goal gave Florida the lead, and Jadan Baugh’s 11-yard touchdown run stretched it to 27-17.
Texas still had life. Arch Manning hit Emmett Mosley V for 62 yards to set up the Longhorns’ final touchdown, and the home team trimmed the margin to three with 4:21 left. Texas got the ball back with 2:32 remaining, but Florida’s defense slammed the door by forcing a Manning fumble, ending the Longhorns’ last real chance.
The win leaves Florida with a signature result and Jones with a first start that could hardly have gone much better. Texas, meanwhile, heads into its next test with plenty to sort out after losing at home.
The Longhorns host Ole Miss on Saturday, Oct. 24.
In Other News...
Florida Suddenly Has A Bigger Opportunity Than Anyone Expected
Floridas win over Texas came at exactly the right time, giving Billy Napiers team a needed jolt after a season that has already swung from a 4-0 start to back-to-back losses. The bigger picture around college football has been just as unpredictable, with results across several conferences reshuffling expectations almost every week, and Florida has managed to keep itself in the conversation despite the early turbulence.
With the bye week now in hand, the Gators are in a better spot than many projected before the season, both in the SEC race and in the overall record chase. The Texas victory did more than settle things down for a day, too, because it left Floridas preseason goals still within reach as the schedule moves into its next stretch. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Just Turned The Big 12 Race Into Something Much Bigger
A wild Saturday across college football sent shockwaves through the AP poll, and BYU was one of the biggest beneficiaries after upsetting Notre Dame to climb to No. 2. The chaos was unprecedented, with five of the top seven teams losing on the same day for the first time in AP history, and Miami surged to No. 1 after its double-overtime win against Florida State.
For Florida fans, the broader picture is just as striking because the Gators were part of a day that helped redraw the national conversation in a hurry. Ohio State held off Indiana, Tennessee beat Alabama, Florida knocked off Texas, and Auburn beat Georgia, turning what could have been a routine Saturday into a rankings reset that left the Big 12 race and the rest of the playoff picture looking far more volatile than before. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Win May Have Just Changed Texas More Than Expected
Floridas win over Texas carried a ripple effect far beyond the final score, because the Longhorns now have to navigate the next stretch without one of their most disruptive defenders. Colin Simmons, who suffered a high ankle sprain in the game, is expected to miss three to four weeks, though an MRI showed no structural damage. For Texas, thats a frustrating blow at a time when the schedule doesnt leave much room to breathe.
Hollywood Smothers adds another layer of uncertainty, with the teammate also dealing with an undisclosed injury and his status for the upcoming Ole Miss game still up in the air. The combination leaves Texas waiting on answers in two different spots, and it makes Floridas role in the story feel bigger than just one win on the field. [Read more 🡒]