Florida’s trip to No. 7 Texas may hinge on Aaron Philo’s shoulder, and the Gators are preparing for the possibility of starting someone new under center.
Philo is questionable for Saturday after getting hurt in last week’s loss to South Carolina. He did throw some during Wednesday’s practice, a source told the Orlando Sentinel, but the SEC’s initial availability report later in the day is expected to list him as questionable.
If Philo can’t go, sophomore Tramell Jones Jr. would get his first career start for Florida (4-2, 2-2 SEC) against the Longhorns (4-1, 1-1).
The injury comes at a rough stretch for Philo, who had opened the year by steering Florida to a 4-0 start and posting a 182 passer rating, good for third in the SEC. Over the last two games, though, his production has dropped off during consecutive double-digit losses.
Against South Carolina, Philo was charged with two turnovers. One came on an interception that South Carolina turned into a touchdown and a 17-10 lead. The other came when star edge rusher Dylan Stewart stripped him with 12:58 left, as Florida trailed 31-13 at the Gamecocks’ 17-yard line.
Even with the recent struggles, offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner defended Philo’s overall performance a week after the quarterback’s rough outing in Florida’s 45-17 loss at Missouri.
“He really played within himself other than a couple plays,” Faulkner said.
The last two losses have also fueled pressure for coach Jon Sumrall to make a change and hand the offense to Jones.
Florida managed just four touchdowns in 24 possessions during those defeats. Jones helped finish both games with late touchdowns, but he also threw an interception against South Carolina.
For the season, Philo has completed 105 of 149 passes for 1,341 yards with nine passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. Over the past two games, he has been responsible for three touchdowns and two turnovers, after accounting for eight touchdowns and two turnovers during Florida’s 4-0 start.
Jones has completed 23 of 29 passes for 252 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions in 2026.
In Other News...
Arch Manning Is Giving Texas A Season-Altering Offensive Question
Arch Mannings first five games have left Texas with a much bigger offensive question than anyone expected at this point in the season. The senior quarterback has shown the kind of talent that keeps the Longhorns believing, but also the kind of uneven play that has made the offense harder to trust, especially in a recent loss to Oklahoma where two critical interceptions helped swing the game the wrong way. Through those five games, he has thrown for 1,122 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 63 percent of his passes.
The bigger issue for Texas is that Mannings inconsistency is only part of the picture. The Longhorns offensive struggles have been tied to more than one source, with coaching decisions and offensive line play also shaping how the unit has looked from week to week. Even so, Manning is the center of it all, because Texas needs steadier quarterback play if it wants the offense to settle in and stop leaving so many drives unfinished. [Read more 🡒]
Texas May Be Catching A Huge Break Before Florida Arrives
Florida may be heading into Saturdays trip to Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium with a new wrinkle at quarterback. Aaron Philo has reportedly been limited in practice because of an undisclosed injury, and if that keeps him from going, the Gators would be turning to backup Tramel Jones for what would be the first start of his career.
For Texas, it is the sort of development that can change the feel of a matchup before the opening kickoff. The Longhorns are already bringing a defense that figures to present a serious challenge, and now Florida is trying to sort out its quarterback situation against that backdrop. How the Gators handle the position leading into the game could shape the entire night in Austin. [Read more 🡒]
Arch Manning Is Raising A Texas Question Fans Cant Ignore
Arch Mannings first season in the spotlight has looked a lot like a young quarterback learning on the fly at Texas: the kind of flashes that remind everyone why the hype existed, followed by stretches where the operation around him feels unsettled. He has shown he can make impressive plays, but the issues have been harder to ignore too, from decision-making to footwork to how he handles the pocket when the rush closes in.
Steve Sarkisian has openly acknowledged the mixed results, and the bigger question hanging over the Longhorns is how much of this is on Manning and how much belongs to the coaching staff that has had four years to shape him. Texas expected growth by now, and the debate around Manning is no longer just about talent. It is about whether the Longhorns are getting the most out of it. [Read more 🡒]