Florida is turning back to Aaron Philo at quarterback for Saturday’s trip to No. 11 Kentucky, according to a report from CBS Sports.
The move comes after Tramell Jones struggled in Florida’s 23-7 loss to Oklahoma last Saturday night. Jones finished 10 of 22 for 133 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions, and he added seven rushing yards on 11 carries.
Jones had taken over as Florida’s starter after Philo’s rough outing against No. 3 Georgia on Oct. 31, when he threw for just 26 yards and two interceptions.
“Didn’t think we played well enough at quarterback on Saturday,” Florida head coach Jon Sumrall said on Monday. “Love Tramell.
He got all the 1 reps last week. “I’m very honest with those guys, 10-of-22 for 133 yards, I think.
Two interceptions and just some missed opportunities I felt like that we weren’t able to capitalize on.
“He’ll learn from it and grow. It was his second start and really his second full week of being the starter in that role and getting the whole week as the 1.”
Philo has played five games against SEC opponents this season, completing 78 of 114 passes for 850 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. His 67.8 QBR ranks ninth among qualified SEC quarterbacks.
Florida’s quarterback shuffle is happening against the backdrop of a season that has slipped away from a 4-0 start. The Gators beat No. 4 Ole Miss 52-28 on Sept. 26, a result that pushed them to No. 8 in the AP Poll, but they’ve dropped four of their last five since then.
Sumrall said both quarterbacks will still be involved in practice reps this week.
“They’re both still listed ‘or’ on the depth chart,” Sumrall continued. “Both guys are practicing. Think both guys have done some really good things this year at times, and both guys have done some not so good things at times.
“But they’ll go through the week and they’ll both get some 1 reps. They’ll both get some 2s reps.
… So they’ll both be prepared for the game plan. But as the week goes, we’ll shift to one guy getting the line share for the 1s.”
Florida will need cleaner quarterback play if it wants to leave Lexington with a win. The Gators won 31 straight games against Kentucky from 1987 to 2017, but they’re only 3-5 in the last eight meetings.
In Other News...
Kentucky Finally Got Clarity On Two Injuries That Could Shape The Stretch
Kentucky finally has a clearer picture on two injuries that have lingered since the South Carolina game in early October, and the updates matter for a defense trying to hold together through the stretch run. Nickel cornerback Jaden Smith tore his ACL in that game and will miss the rest of the season, ending any hope of getting him back before the regular season closes.
Linebacker Antwan Smith, meanwhile, had ankle surgery after suffering the injury in the same game, and his timeline is at least more open-ended. Kentucky can now plan around the fact that one key defender is done for the year, while still leaving a door open for the other to possibly return in postseason play. [Read more 🡒]
Brad White's Return Puts Kentucky's Defensive Debate Back In Focus
Jay Bateman has spent the offseason keeping Kentuckys defensive plans deliberately cloudy, and that makes the conversation around Brad Whites return even more interesting. The Wildcats defense has been a mixed bag by the numbers, sitting 76th nationally in both scoring defense and total defense while showing some encouraging individual growth from several players. There has been more disruption in the backfield, too, with the sack rate climbing, even as the unit has had trouble getting off the field on third down.
For Kentucky, the bigger question is not just what the defense looked like last season, but what it is supposed to become in 2026. Whites presence brings the comparison right back to the surface, especially with Bateman keeping his scheme plans close to the vest. The Wildcats have enough evidence to point in both directions, which is why the debate around the defense feels far from settled. [Read more 🡒]
Mark Pope Sees One Chance For Kentucky To Respond After Kansas
Kentuckys rough night against Kansas in the Champions Classic left Mark Pope with little interest in dressing up what went wrong. The Wildcats were beaten by 20 points, and Pope made it clear afterward that the performance fell short of the standard he expects, even as he pointed to the bigger picture of a team still early in its season and still learning how to play together.
Popes confidence now rests on how Kentucky handles the aftermath, because the only real response available is to take the lesson and show it on the floor in the weeks ahead. There was better news elsewhere in the program, with the womens team rolling past Evansville behind freshman Emily McDonalds record-setting night from beyond the arc, a reminder that one side of the Kentucky basketball family is already finding its rhythm. [Read more 🡒]