During Florida’s homecoming a week later, one of the nation’s surprise teams of September suddenly looked broken during a 38-19 loss Saturday to struggling South Carolina.

Consecutive losses to open October and away games with SEC heavyweights Texas and Georgia on the horizon leave Sumrall searching for answers after his rebuild once seemed well ahead of schedule.

“No excuse for it,” he said. “I’m frustrated with every part of what we did today. It starts with me.

“So, so many things to clean up.”

Against the underdog Gamecocks, the Gators’ vaunted run game deserted them for the second straight week while their season-long defensive struggles continued.

South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers looked like a future first-round NFL draft pick for the first time since his breakout 2024 season and embattled coach Shane Beamer snapped an eight-game SEC losing streak at the No. 16 Gators’ expense.

Even after Florida’s 52-28 rout Sept. 26 of then-No. 4 Ole Miss, Sumrall had wide-ranging concerns with his then-unbeaten Gators, who are now 4-2, 2-2.

Sellers, receiver Nyck Harbor and South Carolina’s defensive front, led by star pass rusher Dylan Stewart, exposed Florida’s inconsistent pass rush, disjointed secondary and overmatched offensive line.

With ample time to find his receivers, Sellers shook off an 0-of-4 start passing to finish 23-of-35 for 279 yards and four touchdowns — his most since a five-touchdown day against Missouri in November of 2024. Back then, observers envisioned Sellers as a future No. 1 pick and the Gamecocks as a potential College Football Playoff team.

On Saturday, South Carolina (3-3, 1-3) was a 10.5-point underdog trying to salvage its season against a Florida squad aiming to bounce back from a 45-17 loss at Missouri.

A season after the Gators’ season went into free fall and Billy Napier was fired, junior linebacker Aaron Chiles sees better times ahead this season.

“We understand how last year went,” he said. “We started losing a little bit, and it was kind of roller-coaster effect. But we’ve lost two games.

“I don’t believe it’s the end of the world.”

Still, Saturday’s loss turned homecoming into an exodus at the Swamp.

Disgusted Florida faithful flooded the exits after Sellers found freshman receiver Lex Cyrus wide open for a 21-yard touchdown with 8:07 remaining to put the Gamecocks ahead 38-13 after scoring 21 unanswered points.

Florida’s pass rush began the day effectively pressuring the athletic 6-foot-3, 238-pound Sellers, while forcing two punts and a 47-yard field-goal attempt that Malik Orsan missed.

Prior to the miss, Florida quarterback Aaron Philo found Bailey Stockton in space on a well-designed play that turned a third-and-6 into a 59-yard score for a 7-0 lead and shot of confidence a week after the Gators scored only one touchdown until a meaningless final drive.

But after a Florida punt, Sellers began to find his rhythm on South Carolina’s fourth possession.

The Gamecocks converted three times on third down while going 65 yards, the final 15 on Sellers’ touchdown pass to Harbor in the corner of the end zone on third-and-10.

With the game knotted 10-10, veteran South Carolina cornerback Vicari Swain intercepted a deep pass from Philo intended for Stockton and returned the ball 18 yards to the Florida 26 to set up Sellers’ 12-yard touchdown pass for Mazeo Bennett Jr. for the go-ahead score at 17-10.

With 1:40 remaining in the half and three time outs, the Gators played cautiously knowing Florida would receive the kickoff after intermission. Sumrall finally called timeout with 21 seconds left in the half. Eventually, Patrick Durkin missed a 43-yard field-goal attempt, causing fans to usher the Gators off the field with a chorus of boos.

“The quarterback was not real comfortable because the rush and those guys were living in our backfield in obvious pass situations,” Sumrall explained. “So calling a drop-back pass sounds great until you realize we haven’t blocked those guys very well all day.

“Did not want to give them an opportunity, with us backed up, to possess the football on a shorter field and have an opportunity at a field goal when we were getting it out of the half.”

Durkin’s 48-yard field cut the lead to 17-13 on Florida’s opening possession of the second half after a 45-minute lightning delay.

But the Gamecocks answered with a six-play, 75-yard drive ending with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Sellers to Donovan Murph.

Florida’s offense, one of the nation’s best through four games, couldn’t keep pace for the second straight week while the defense ran out of gas.

A Heisman hopeful heading to Missouri, star tailback Jadan Baugh, the SEC’s leading rusher, managed just 59 yards. He had one run longer than 10 yards as Florida finished with 120 on the ground.

“We wore down a little bit in all phases,” Sumrall said.

During their SEC skid, the Gamecocks struggled to close out games, squandering leads — four of them eight points or more —  during their past five conference losses.

On Saturday, South Carolina built an 18-point cushion by the end of the third quarter. The Gamecocks effectively ended any hopes of a Gators’ comeback when Stewart — back from a one-game suspension for fighting — forced a Philo fumble with 12:58 to go.

The miscue was one of three Florida turnovers, including two by Philo, against a defense that had forced just two all season. The Gators didn’t force a turnover themselves for the second straight week.

“That’s a big problem,” Chiles said. “That’s one of the keys of victories.”

South Carolina also converted 10 of 16 third-down tries, another way to measure a defense’s success.

“It’s not necessarily the calls or the coaches, but it’s the players,” Chiles said. “At some point, we’ve got to win our one-on-ones, and we’ve got to perform.”

The Gators now find themselves in a deep hole with a visit to No. 1 Texas next and an Oct. 31 trip to Atlanta to face No. 2 Georgia.

On Saturday, Florida’s homecoming game was anything but a celebration, ending with a half-empty stadium and a crushing loss that had erased the good feelings in the Swamp just two weeks earlier against Ole Miss.

“We’re the same football team,” Sumrall said. “We haven’t gotten better and improved in certain areas to maybe offset our weaknesses.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

If Florida doesn’t beat spiraling South Carolina Saturday in the Swamp, two defeats could soon become four for the No. 16 Gators (4-1, 2-1 SEC).

With an Oct. 17 trip to No. 1 Texas and Oct. 31 date with No. 2 Georgia looming, coach Jon Sumrall’s team aims to bounce back from a humbling, one-sided loss at Missouri while regaining its identity and confidence before hitting the road to face the conference’s top two teams.

Establishing the run — and stopping it — could decide the winner on a playing surface soaked from rain during the days leading up to UF’s homecoming.

Against SEC competition, Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks average a league-leading 199 rushing yards, while Florida is next with 195.7 yards per game on the ground. That’s a stark contrast to the Gators’ performance at Missouri, where they managed just 42 rushing yards, including 13 on 12 carries by star running back Jadan Baugh.

“We got to be able to run the football,” offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner said.

With the run as a hammer and Baugh with 600 rushing yards in four games, Faulkner’s attack was at times unstoppable through September. Florida averaged 53.5 points through four games after scoring on five consecutive second-half possessions Sept. 26 to run away from then-No. 4 Ole Miss 52-28.

A subsequent 13-spot jump to No. 8 in the Associated Press Top 25 put Sumrall’s rebuild ahead of schedule and inspired College Football Playoff conversations. It also set the stage for last weekend’s reality check.

“People kind of got a little complacent,” senior defensive tackle Brendan Bett said after the defense was shredded for 560 yards, including 214 by Tigers’ tailback Jamal Roberts.

Next up is South Carolina’s Matt Fuller, whose 433 rushing yards are fourth in the SEC behind Baugh, Roberts and Tennessee’s DeSean Bishop. Gamecock’s quarterback LaNorris Sellers, a 6-foot-3, 238-pound dual-threat, is fresh off a 147-yard rushing performance during an overtime loss to Kentucky and figures to challenge a struggling Florida defense’s ability to contain him.

Up front, South Carolina features four new starters, all transfers, but is a team pushing to save its season with Beamer on the hot seat.

“This is probably one of the most physical offenses that we probably play,” Bett said. “Coming off a loss, we have the right mindset of what we need to do.”

Scoring points is key.

If Baugh can return to form, Faulkner will be able to open his playbook and allow quarterback Aaron Philo to operate the offense more freely after he was unable to shoulder the load at Missouri. Facing third-and-long situations all day, Philo and the offense looked ordinary.

“We want to be able to throw the football,” Faulkner said. “But we want be able to do it on our terms: on schedule, play-action pass, naked boot.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville

Line: UF by 13.5 points

TV: SEC Network

Weather: 85 degrees with a 30% chance of precipitation

Coaches: Shane Beamer is 35-33 at South Carolina; Jon Sumrall is 4-1 at UF, 47-13 overall

Quick slant: The Gators are 17-2 at home in the series, losing in 2010 and 2014 to Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks. Florida is 32-5 in homecoming games since 1989, last losing in 2018 to Missouri 38-17.

About South Carolina (2-3, 0-3): The Gamecocks are on an eight-game SEC losing streak, featuring leads in the last five, as criticism of Beamer intensifies in Columbia. South Carolina’s top-end talent is undeniable. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers, receiver Nyck Harbor and defensive end Dylan Stewart are rare specimens, yet each has been inconsistent and unreliable. Stewart’s potential return from a one-game suspension for fighting Sept. 26 at Alabama would provide edge pressure to disrupt Florida’s offense. Linebacker Justin Okoronkwo, who is fourth in the SEC with 24 solo tackles, must be accounted for in the run game after the Gators rushed for just 42 yards during a 45-17 loss at Missouri.

About No. 16 UF (4-1, 2-1): Coordinator Buster Faulkner said his offense must turn a 17-point day at Missouri into “the outlier.” The Gators will need it to be unless their defense — No. 15 in the SEC — can emerge. Florida’s cornerbacks have particularly struggled, but Sellers can be an erratic passer. He has thrown 21 touchdowns and 13 interceptions over the past two seasons. Vernell Brown III’s possible return — he’s questionable with a knee injury — would provide a lift at receiver and punt returner. Defensively, linebacker Myles Graham aims to move past a tough day at Missouri, where he had just one solo stop.

Three things to watch

1. Beamer’s acumen in the game’s third phase comes from father, Hall of Famer Frank Beamer, whose Virginia Tech teams won games by blocking kicks and using trick plays. The Gators need to be on guard.

2. Florida’s explosive sophomore defender Jayden Woods continues to develop technique and recognition off the edge. Consistent pressure from Woods and Co. would help a struggling secondary.

3. During the Missouri loss, Florida failed to create a turnover for the first time in 2026 but still boasts a plus-four margin. South Carolina has generated two turnovers and committed eight. The minus-six margin ties with Oklahoma for last in the SEC.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

• 2:29 Reason for optimism
• 5:13 Reason for pessimism
• 7:17 Match-up offense
• 8:46 Match-up defense
• 11:07 Attention paid
• 14:23 On the spot
• 17:07 Coordinator corner
• 21:50 Final thoughts: Must-win game
• 26:22 Training room
• 30:44 Golden Era
• 35:50 Jeremy Foley’s Corner
• 39:59 Picking the game

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

The No. 40 player in the 2027 class and No. 5 center, according to 247Sports composite rankings, Awaka aims to help the Gators rebuild their frontcourt after the departure of center Rueben Chinyelu and power forward Alex Condon following the 2026-27 season.

“I could possibly make a huge impact right away as a freshman potentially,” Awaka told 247Sports after committing to coach Todd Golden Wednesday.

Awaka, who plays for the Blair Academy in New Jersey, chose the Gators over Arizona, UConn Michigan and Michigan State. Boasting a 7-foot-4 wingspan, he is the younger brother of former Arizona big man Tobe Awaka, the 2025-26 Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year and now with the Chicago Bulls.

Playing for the New Heights AAU program on the Adidas 3SSB circuit adidas this past summer, Kamsi Awaka averaged 13.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game.

He joins power forward Ian Condon — no relation to Gators star Alex Condon — in the Gators’ 2027 recruiting class. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound Condon is rated the nation’s No. 101 prospect, per 247Sports composite rankings, out of Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., where he averaged 20.4 points and 8.1 rebounds last season.

Condon chose the Gators over Boston College, Cal, Georgia Tech and N.C. State.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

The Gamecocks (2-3, 0-3 SEC) arrive with coach Shane Beamer squarely on the hot seat and star defensive end Dylan Stewart back at practice from a one-game suspension, but not yet cleared to play. Meanwhile, dual-threat quarterback LaNorris Sellers is coming off his best game of 2026.

Florida (4-1, 2-1) has its own concerns after scoring a season-low 17 points during a 28-point loss and allowing 560 yards to Missouri.

Questions abound on both sides, with these among them:

Can Gators’ offense stay on schedule?

Buster Faulkner’s attack was behind the chains all day against the Tigers.

The Gators converted on third-and-13 on their opening drive before settling for a field goal, and executed on third-and-14 on the opening series of the second half before failing from the same distance in the same drive while trailing, 20-10.

Otherwise, Florida failed seven times on third down when needing at least nine yards, including on third-and-22 on the Gators’ third series, third-and-18 when trailing, 30-10, in the third quarter and  third-and-21 with Missouri leading, 45-10.

Left in obvious passing situations, quarterback Aaron Philo was under duress and unable to find receivers, while lacking the dynamic playmaking ability to create offense on his own.

Philo entered the day the SEC’s third-rated passer while tailback Jadan Baugh led the SEC in rushing. Sophomore Vernell Brown III led the Gators in receiving. But Missouri bottled up Baugh, who finished with 13 yards on 12 carries, Philo finished with a season-low 120.1 rating, Brown sat out with a knee injury and veteran receiver Eric Singleton still was not 100% from an ankle injury sustained during the season opener.

Left without key weapons and the offensive line breaking down, Florida’s offense repeatedly found itself in third-and-long situations few teams could overcome.

“We’re not built for that right now,” Faulkner said. “We were off schedule all day, no rhythm.”

Against South Carolina, the Gators have to execute on early downs — or else.

Will Brown be back?

Coach Jon Sumrall said Brown was “optimistic” Wednesday he’d return. He ran Tuesday, but has yet to fully participate in practice.

“We’ll give him a little bit of a run Thursday and Friday,” Sumrall said during the SEC teleconference. “Just saw him though … he seemed a lot more confident today than I’ve seen him in the last week and a half. So, that’s encouraging.”

Brown, who has 17 catches for 271 yards, can separate in coverage better than any Florida pass-catcher and can turn a screen pass into six points. He’s also a threat to score as a punt returner; he returned two punts for scores Sept. 12 against Campbell.

Meanwhile, Singleton continues to improve. On Wednesday, GPS timing clocked him running 22 mph.

“Both of those guys are trending upward right now from maybe where they’ve been,” Sumrall said.

Does Florida contain trio of Sellers, Stewart and Nyck Harbor?

The Gators’ porous defense faces a monumental task slowing Sellers.

The bloom is off the rose since his breakout 2024 season elevated him into the conversation surrounding future No. 1 NFL draft picks. Despite his inconsistent play and struggles with accuracy, the 6-foot-3, 238-pound Sellers can beat defenses with arm and feet. During the Kentucky loss he passed for 226 yards and two scores while rushing for 147, the most since his 166-yard, two-touchdown day during a 2024 upset of rival Clemson.

The Gators will have to fill their gaps and gang tackle or they could be Sellers’ latest victim.

Having twice faced Sellers while at Kentucky, Gators’ defensive coordinator Brad White is bracing for the challenge.

“He is as talented a physical quarterback as I’ve played against in my career,” White said. “He’s a guy that’s a 600-pound squatter, huge legs, guys fall off. If you watch the tape, very rarely does he actually go on the ground. He is big, he’s strong, he’s fast. He’s got a live arm, talented wideouts to throw to.”

The 6-foot-5, 239-pound Harbor is a physical freak himself. Timed in 10.2 seconds running the 100 meters in high school, Harbor is off to a slow start in 2026. A season after he averaged 20.6 yards and scored six times on 30 catches, he has 13 catches for 195 yards and one touchdown.

Florida’s cornerbacks, though, are vulnerable, having been on their heels much of the season.

“He puts his arms up, and it feels like he’s 10 feet,” White said. “You got to be a dog and you got to play through the arms, play through the catch point. We’ve got to be violent.”

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Stewart’s status is unclear, but he’s looking to get on track after missing the first three games with an injury. Once considered a top-10 pick, the former 5-star prospect had 11 sacks the past two seasons.

Given the Gators’ struggles up front at Missouri, Stewart will be licking his chops if Beamer clears him to play.

If S. Carolina builds a lead, can they keep it?

The Gamecocks have enjoyed their share of fast starts and late collapses under Beamer.

This season, his team led Mississippi State, 16-0, and lost, 41-34. Last weekend, a 17-0 lead against Kentucky ended during a 35-34 gut punch in overtime at home when the Wildcats converted a game-winning two-point conversion.

The loss continued a disturbing, frustrating trend.

South Carolina led in its past five SEC games, all losses. The Gamecocks led Alabama 22-14 but lost. The most egregious defeat was at Texas A&M, where Beamer’s squad led an eventual College Football Playoff team, 30-3, and fell, 31-30.

If the Gamecocks get ahead early Saturday, the Gators should remain confident the momentum eventually will swing in their favor.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Up next

What: South Carolina (2-3, 0-3 SEC) at No 16 UF (3-1, 0-1)

When: 12:45 p.m., Saturday

Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville

TV: SEC Network

Favorite: Florida by 13.5 points

Not this week.

Since the Gators’ 45-17 loss at Missouri, White has ratcheted up the intensity after watching his defense get outmaneuvered, outmuscled and ultimately overrun by the Tigers.

“He’s definitely turned up the heat on us,” safety DJ Coleman said. “Coach White’s more of a relaxed guy. But this week, there’s no chilling. Forty-five points, that’s unacceptable at any level of football. So if we give up 45, a lot of people will not be in this building any more.

“So, we can’t do it.”

Now comes the harder part: stopping it.

That starts Saturday for No. 16 Florida (4-1, 2-1 SEC) against South Carolina (2-3, 0-3) and LaNorris Sellers, the Gamecocks’ dynamic dual-threat quarterback.

This past weekend, the Gators struggled on all three levels.

Florida failed to generate push or a steady pass rush up front, didn’t consistently fill gaps at linebacker and continued to struggle in the secondary.

Given time to survey the field, Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons shredded the Gators for 340 yards and touchdowns of 47 and 31 yards.

Kept in check much of the day, tailback Jamal Roberts ripped off runs of 77 yards to set up his one-yard touchdown plunge and 80 yards untouched for another score.

Four plays for 245 yards stuck in White’s craw on a day Florida allowed 560 yards, the second-most by one of his defenses dating to the 2021 season at Kentucky and only the third time in that span an opponent surpassed 500.

“We can’t give up explosives, both in the pass game and then the run game,” he said. “We’ve got to eliminate those plays. We won’t be a good defense until we do that.

“Then at that point, then you can start playing competitive football.”

White’s defenses at Kentucky led the SEC in 2024 and 2022 in fewest plays allowed of 10 yards or longer. Florida is currently tied for last in the 16-team conference.

Shaky cornerback play and communication has been a key culprit.

On Simmons’ 47-yard touchdown to Donvoan Olugbode sophomores Ben Hanks Jr. and Drake Stubbs were looking toward the sideline for the play call as Olugbode sprinted past them before catching a pass with no one around.

Stubbs ultimately was responsible for the breakdown, but was in the game only because four-year starter Bryce Thornton was sidelined with an injury suffered during warm-ups.

“You never want to be without a good player, but that didn’t have a bearing on the game,” White insisted Tuesday. “The plays that needed to be made were one-on-one challenge players, and fitting two runs that didn’t have anything to do with him.”

Coleman said his sidekick’s absence “hurts definitely,” but said “it’s just a next-man-up mentality.”

Fifth-year defensive back Alfonzo Allen, Thornton’s replacement, made five tackles while delivering the Gators’ biggest hit and a level of physicality too often missing at Mizzou.

“The way Alfonzo plays, it just brings energy to the whole team,” Coleman said.

Yet Allen lacks Thornton’s range or experience.

A consistent pass rush would help the Gators on the back end of the defense.

Florida finished with two sacks and six hurries, including a sack and two hurries from fifth-year end Emmanuel Oyabadejo. The Jacksonville transfer, though, has played just two seasons at the college level.

Meanwhile, edge rusher Jayden Woods managed two hurries and didn’t get to the quarterback during the sophomore Kansas native’s return to the region.

“All of us put so much time and effort into it,” he said. “External stuff aside, it would have hurt the same, because I hate losing.”

Florida is favored by 13.5 points against struggling South Carolina. Long term, there are no easy fixes on defense.

The Gators need their front to elevate its physicality, Woods continues to grow and cornerbacks Cormani McClain, J’Vari Flowers, and Hanks to perform like the top recruits each was coming out of high school. Ditto Dijon Johnson as he continues to recover from a knee injury; he played just six snaps at Missouri.

Meanwhile, veteran linebacker Myles Graham looks to shake off a subpar performance at Missouri, where he didn’t make a tackle early before recording five during the second half.

There are no easy fixes as the season reaches its midpoint.

“There’s not a waiver wire in college football,” coach Jon Sumrall said. “So we’ve got our roster set, and we have to help the guys that are here maximize what they can become — and that’s each guy individually.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Up next

What: South Carolina (2-3, 0-3 SEC) at No. 16 UF (4-1, 2-1)

When: 12:45 p.m., Saturday

Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville

TV: SEC Network

Favorite: Florida by 13.5 points

• 0:00 Blood bath or building block?
• 3:35 Thumbs up
• 4:15 Thumbs down
• 7:42 Sumrall warning
• 8:58: Second guess: voters
• 11:27 Game ball
• 13:26 Sumrall’s assessment — post game
• 15:51 Blame defense
• 16:55 Pointed out the flaws
• 20:00 Owning the loss
• 21:18 Humble yourself or be humbled
• 22:39 Final thoughts
• 30:21 Foley’s Corner: Volleyball and golf

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

On Sunday, Florida’s star tailback picked up his phone and texted his head coach to apologize for the 13-yard day during a one-sided loss at Missouri.

“He’s like, ‘Coach, I’m sorry. I won’t let that ever happen again. I didn’t play my best,’ ” Sumrall said Monday. “I love Jadan because he owned it and he’s ready to move forward.”

Baugh’s message conveyed his character, yet also was out of character. So untethered is he to his mobile device, Sumrall could not get in touch with Baugh when it was unclear where he’d play in 2026.

“For a little while in December, I could never get a hold of him,” Sumrall recalled. “So for him to reach out unsolicited on a Sunday after the loss was encouraging.”

Of all the Gators who didn’t show up during Saturday’s 45-17 loss at Missouri, Baugh stood out. The Tigers corralled the SEC’s leading rusher, ended his five-game streak of 100-yard games and sent him to the sideline forlorn and frustrated.

Without Baugh setting the tone, Florida’s offense floundered.

The Gators entered the day averaging 53.5 points — second nationally — but scored their fewest points at Missouri since a 45-16 loss in 2017 under interim coach Randy Shannon. Florida’s 532.5 yards per game ranked fifth, but the Gators finished with just 325 yards — 94 of them on a late touchdown drive with the game out of reach.

Missouri targeted Baugh from the jump, tackling him for losses on four of six carries during the opening drive. The No. 16 Gators (4-1, 2-1 SEC) still managed a field goal, but lost their chance for seven points when quarterback Aaron Philo didn’t see Duke Clark wide-open on a screen pass on third-and-goal from the 3.

Forced to shoulder the offense without the threat of a run game and under consistent pressure behind a leaky offensive line, Philo finished a modest 21-of-34 for 197 yards and a touchdown for a season-low passer rating of 120.1 — 62 points below his season average entering Saturday.

“The way we’re built, we do not need to be living in a drop-back pass game the entire game,” Sumrall said. “We need to play complementary football. We need to be able to stay on schedule.”

Baugh had kept the Gators ahead of the chains during their 4-0 start and rise to No. 8 in the national rankings.

Along the way, he rushed for league-leading 600 yards and a nation-best 11 touchdowns to put himself squarely in Heisman conversation.

Missouri beat Florida to the punch up front, closed running lanes and forced Baugh to bounce outside, where the Tigers swarmed him.

“They forced us to take the ball where we didn’t really want to take it,” Sumrall said. “We might have missed one or two runs as well, but I think they did as good job as anybody I’ve seen in how they attacked us.”

Defensive coordinator Corey Batoon, who was at South Alabama during Sumrall’s two seasons at Troy (2022-23), also benefited from the absence of Florida leading receiver Vernell Brown III.

A knee injury sidelined Brown and left offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner without a critical piece to his attack. The 5-foot-11, 178-pound sophomore excels on screen passes because of his ability to run after the catch, while also offering a down-field threat.

“It affects you for sure,” Sumrall said. “He’s a guy that I think can execute a lot of different things for us offensively that can stretch the defense out. When you take him off the field, maybe there’s some things that we don’t do as well without him out there.”

Brown was medically cleared to practice Monday, Sumrall said, but also didn’t fully participate. His status for Saturday’s homecoming visit from South Carolina (2-3, 0-3) will be determined as the week progresses.

“He has the ability to run, but he’s just got to see how confident he is in cutting it loose,” Sumrall said.

Meanwhile, senior receiver Eric Singleton Jr. continues to return to full health from a high-ankle sprain suffered during the opening series of the Gators’ Sept. 5 win against Florida Atlantic.

Singleton played just 22 snaps last Saturday and managed just one catch for nine yards and lost seven on an end-around.

“He fought through maybe not being anywhere near 100 percent,” Sumrall said. “But we need to get him back healthy.”

The Gators also need Baugh at his best to bounce back against struggling South Carolina before an Oct. 17 visit to No. 1 Texas and Oct. 31 date with No. 2 Georgia in Atlanta.

The 21-year-old, a likely future first-round NFL draft pick, hopes he can ignore his phone the rest of the season. Sumrall is confident Baugh will do whatever it takes to get back on track.

“You have a great appreciation for guys that want to step up and go, ‘Hey, we’re going to get this fixed. I want to take ownership of my part of this,’” Sumrall said. “It speaks to their character.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Up next

What: South Carolina (2-3, 0-3 SEC) at UF (4-1, 2-1)

When: 12:45 p.m., Saturday

Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville

TV: SEC Network

Favorite: Florida by 14.5  points

Here are five things we learned:

Defenses have blueprint to slow UF

Buster Faulkner had defenses on skates all season. Then wheels came off of his attack Saturday.

The Gators’ offensive coordinator can expect opponents to load the box against Baugh, daring the Gators to beat them through the air and potentially eliminating the play-action threat that fuels the downfield passing game.

Quarterback Aaron Philo hasn’t consistently shown the arm talent to pick apart defenses. At Missouri, his ability to read defenses and anticipate deserted him. On Florida’s opening series, Philo failed to see Duke Clark wide open on a screen on third-and-goal.

“Duke’s the throw there, and he just felt like the pressure, he couldn’t see Duke,” Sumrall said. “Sometimes, you just got to let it rip, and he’ll learn from it. I don’t think it was his best.”

Florida’s offensive line, seemingly much-improved, was knocked on its heels all day. Baugh couldn’t find openings and was stuffed whenever he bounced outside.

Faulkner has a deep catalogue of plays, but scheme can compensate for only so much if the O-line loses at the point of attack and Philo can’t punish defenses for crowding the box.

Faulkner now goes back to the drawing board.

Line of scrimmage play won’t cut it

Florida wilted against Missouri’s physicality up front on both sides of the ball. In a league where games are won on the line of scrimmage, the Gators had no answer.

The Tigers tackled SEC leading rusher Jadan Baugh in the backfield four times on the opening series, immediately grounding Florida’s high-flying offense. Baugh finished with 13 yards on 12 carries, while the Gators managed 42 yards rushing and just two runs of at least 10 yards.

“It was frustrating for him,” Sumrall said. “It was frustrating for all of our guys.”

Missouri bottled up an offense averaging 53.5 points in September, second nationally, while exposing a defense already with questions at the point of attack and on the back end.

Tigers quarterback Austin Simmons torched the Gators with touchdown throws of 47 and 31 yards during a 340-yard day. The former Florida commit from Pahokee repeatedly found time to scan the field as Florida’s pass rush failed to disrupt him.

Tailback Jamal Roberts ran for 211 yards. With the game already out of reach, he scored on an 80-yard touchdown run that provided Missouri’s final points. Earlier, he ripped off a 77-yard run to set up his 1-yard scoring plunge for a 38-10 lead.

The explosive runs left the Gators’ D reeling.

“We just gave them two gifts,” Sumrall said.

Florida now has plenty to fix with South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers next. He totaled 373 yards, including 147 rushing, during an overtime loss to Kentucky on Saturday.

All is not lost

Everybody would have taken 4-1 when the schedule came out for Sumrall’s first season.

The Gators were expected to take some lumps this season, with their head coach bracing for them.

“I’ve seen the warts,” he said. “They’ve been there. We haven’t looked like a complete football team at any moment to me yet.”

A fast start and rise to No. 8 in the rankings camouflaged Florida’s flaws. Even the Gators’ best coaches were unable to bypass inevitable growing pains.

After starting 5-0, Steve Spurrier’s 1990 Gators were routed 45-3 at Tennessee. Urban Meyer’s first team was 4-0 until a 31-3 beatdown at Alabama.

The ’90 Gators went on to finish with the SEC’s best record, but were ineligible to win the conference title or receive a bowl bid because of NCAA sanctions. Meyer’s Gators finished 9-3, with losses at LSU and South Carolina during his first season.

Meyer told the Sentinel in August the third loss was his program’s turning point ahead of its 2006 national championship season.

Even with a win against South Carolina during homecoming Saturday, an Oct. 17 visit to No. 1 Texas and Oct. 31 date with No. 2 Georgia in Atlanta have 4-1 feeling like 5-3.

All eyes will be on the Gators’ response.

Whatever happens, Sumrall appears to have hired a good staff, put in a much-improved strength program, recruited well and reinvigorated donors and fans.

The Gators appear on the path to long-term success.

No quick fix for secondary

Veteran safety Bryce Thornton’s injury during warm-ups left Florida without a fourth-year starter to direct traffic and make tackles. Florida also was without senior cornerback Dijon Johnson, one of their best players in coverage.

Neither absence necessarily would have changed the outcome, given the secondary’s shortcomings all season, but certainly exacerbated the problems.

On Simmons’ 47-yard touchdown, sophomores Ben Hanks Jr. and Drake Stubbs were looking toward the sideline for the play call as Missouri’s Donvoan Olugbode sprinted past them before catching a pass with no one around. Later, Caleb Goodie Sr. separated from sophomore J’Vari Flowers and caught an over-the-shoulder strike from Simmons in the back of the end zone.

As the game continued to slip away from Florida, Roberts wasn’t touched as he broke free on his two long runs.

The Gators’ struggles in coverage, though, are the primary concern.

FAU threw the ball effectively in the opener; Auburn’s Byrum Brown made big plays through the air to keep the Gators within striking distance; and Mississippi’s Trinidad Chambliss led two scoring drives lasting less than two minutes.

Simmons was even better, further exposing Florida’s cornerbacks.

With Norris, Texas’ Arch Manning and Georgia’s Gunner Stockton looming, limiting explosive plays will be paramount.

“We have to win some one on ones out there on the perimeter, which we are not doing enough of right now,” Sumrall said.

Singleton didn’t make anyone forget VB3

With Brown, the team’s leading receiver, sidelined by a knee injury, the stage was set for Singleton.

Yet he finished with one catch for nine yards and lost seven yards on an end-around as Florida struggled to create explosive plays of its own.

Singleton’s potential is undeniable. In three seasons before transferring to Florida, he recorded 2,002 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.

But a high-ankle sprain against Florida Atlantic sidelined him after the first series of the opener. He returned in the second half of last week’s rout of Ole Miss and immediately showed what Florida had been missing, drawing a pass interference down field and catching a 38-yard pass to set up a score.

A larger role seemed to be in store at Missouri with Brown out. Instead, Brown’s absence was glaring.

Until a late touchdown drive with the game out of reach, a 24-yard catch by Dallas Wilson was Florida’s only completion longer than 20 yards. Brown had five such catches during the first three games.

Brown’s status will be closely watched this week. If the sophomore star is unavailable again, Singleton will need to fill the void.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Up next

What: South Carolina (2-3, 0-3 SEC) at No. 16 UF (4-1, 2-1)

When: 12:45 p.m., Saturday

Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville

TV: SEC Network

Favorite: Florida by 14.5 points