No. 25 Missouri didn’t just beat No.
8 Florida on Saturday. It flattened the Gators, turning a 10-10 game into a 45-17 rout that sent a loud message from Columbia and handed Florida its first loss of the 2026 season.
For Eli Drinkwitz’s team, it was the kind of performance that answers a week of noise. Missouri had taken criticism for its ranking and for not doing enough against top-25 opponents. Against Florida, the Tigers backed it up with force, speed, and a defense that completely erased one of the SEC’s most talked-about running backs.
Austin Simmons set the tone early and never really let Florida settle in. The Missouri quarterback threw for 238 of his 340 yards in the first half, then finished 23 of 30 for 340 yards and two touchdowns. The Sunshine State native also had a little extra edge to the outing, reminding Gator fans why former coach Billy Napier once recruited him to UF before he flipped to Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss program and eventually landed in CoMo.
His favorite target was Cayden Lee, who caught eight passes for 110 yards.
While Simmons handled the air attack, Jamal Roberts took over on the ground. Missouri’s running back ripped off touchdown runs of 77 and 80 yards in the second half and finished with 211 yards and all three of MU’s rushing scores. He was the most dangerous runner on the field by a wide margin.
Florida came in with Jadan Baugh carrying plenty of buzz, including Heisman Trophy talk after a run of triple-digit games and multiple-touchdown performances. Missouri shut that down fast. Baugh was held to 13 yards on 12 carries, a stunning nonfactor in a game where Florida needed its ground game to steady everything.
The turning point came in the middle stretch before and after halftime. With the score tied 10-10 and 4:26 left in the half, Missouri seized control, winning the “middle 8” 17-0.
The Tigers added 10 points before the break, then opened the third quarter with a six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to push the margin to 27-10 at the 12:24 mark. Florida never recovered.
Missouri kept pouring it on until the game became 35 unanswered points.
The numbers tell the story of a complete beatdown. Missouri outgained Florida 560-325 and produced 11 tackles for loss and three sacks on defense.
Now the Tigers are set up for a jump in the rankings and will try to keep the momentum going against Texas A&M in Week 6. Jon Sumrall’s Gators, meanwhile, head back home looking to regroup against South Carolina.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Police Turned This Aggies Blowout Into A Fan Debate
The lopsided game against Arkansas gave Texas A&M fans plenty to talk about on the field, but the most unusual postgame chatter came from the stands. The Texas A&M Police Department used its official Twitter account to document a run of fan-related incidents during the blowout, including public intoxication, minor-in-possession situations, littering and ejections, along with citations and verbal warnings handed out as needed.
Some individuals were released to sober companions or turned over to EMS, which only added to the debate over how much game-day policing is too much and how much is simply part of managing a major SEC crowd. For Aggies fans, it was one of those nights where the final score was only part of the story, and the bigger conversation centered on behavior in the stadium rather than anything that happened between the lines. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Saw Young Playmakers Spark A Much Needed Breakthrough
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Norman also surfaced as the top receiver even in a passing game slowed by rain, giving Texas A&M something to build around beyond the final score. The bigger question now is whether this was a one-off burst of production or the first sign that the Aggies have finally found some playmakers who can carry that momentum into the heart of conference play. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Faces A Bigger Test Than Fans Wanted After Arkansas
Texas A&M finally got a win back in the column against Arkansas, but the rebound has not done enough to change the bigger picture around the Aggies. A team that opened the season at No. 8 in the AP Poll, won its first two games, then stumbled against Kentucky and LSU is still outside the rankings heading into Week 6, which says plenty about how quickly the early-season momentum has faded.
Now comes a trip to Missouri, and the timing could make the next step even trickier. The Tigers are coming off an upset of a Top 10 team, so this is not the kind of road game that lets Texas A&M ease back into form. The Aggies have a chance to build on the Arkansas win, but they also know another slip would leave the questions around this team hanging around a lot longer. [Read more 🡒]