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...
Arch Manning's Slide Is Fueling A Bigger Texas Quarterback Debate
Arch Mannings early struggles have done more than dent the buzz around Texass quarterback situation. They have turned every shaky drive into a referendum on pedigree, expectation and what the Longhorns are willing to tolerate while trying to chase wins. After his latest uneven showing, CBS analyst Damien Harris said on the CBS Postgame Show that he would refer to him simply as Arch, a pointed way of saying the performance has not matched the name.
Harris went after Mannings mechanics, game management and overall play, calling him a below-average quarterback in his current form, and the reaction online only widened the discussion. Some fans have wondered whether the last name is keeping him from being benched, while others are already looking years ahead and debating whether he should declare for the 2027 NFL Draft or spend another season in college. For Texas, the bigger issue is no longer just how Manning plays next week, but how long this conversation can hang over the offense before it starts to shape decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Sarkisian And Arch Manning Face A Texas Debate Thats Growing
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Arch Manning is part of that debate, too, because the quarterback play did not lift Texas out of its slump. With Sarkisians play-calling under scrutiny and the attack sputtering again, the Longhorns are left trying to sort out whether the fix comes from better execution, a different approach, or both as the season starts to demand a response. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Volleyball Let A Statement Win Slip Away At Home
No. 12 Texas put together enough quality stretches at Gregory Gymnasium to make a statement against No. 7 Florida, but the Longhorns could not turn that edge into a finish. Texas won the first and third sets and had multiple players pile up double-doubles, yet the match kept swinging back and forth before it settled into a tense five-set battle that felt worthy of its ranking and the home-court setting.
The result leaves Texas with a reminder of how thin the margin can be against elite opponents, especially when a lead does not quite hold long enough to matter. There were positives beyond the final score, including production from several Longhorns in all-around roles, and the next chance to reset comes on the road against South Carolina. [Read more 🡒]