Against division rival Indianapolis, the Jaguars came out firing, scoring on a 12-play, 98-yard, 7:08 opening drive. The effort was headlined by a 46-yard catch by tight end Brenton Strange and capped off by a 12-yard touchdown catch by receiver Brian Thomas Jr. With Jacksonville on the board first in front of a home crowd, it didn’t let up.

Behind a complementary performance, the Jaguars (5-2) topped the Colts (2-6) 42-7 Sunday afternoon at EverBank Stadium to remain undefeated at home this season.

“We played complementary football,” Jaguars coach Liam Coen said. “Typically when we do that, we’re getting turnovers and we’re able to get some points off of turnovers, that’s usually a recipe for success and our guys kind of sense that, they feel that and they do a nice job of capitalizing on that.”

After the impressive opening drive, Jacksonville’s offense stalled for the rest of the quarter, but quarterback Trevor Lawrence and company picked back up in the second.

Defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. gave the offense its next opportunity with just over nine minutes left in the second quarter. He recovered a fumble by Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, giving the Jaguars the ball at midfield.

The Jaguars capitalized on the field position for their second score when Lawrence found tight end Nate Boerkircher for a 31-yard touchdown.

Then, running back Bhayshul Tuten came off the right tackle, dodged defenders and ran 39 yards for the game’s third touchdown. And just like that, it was all coming up Jaguars.

Tuten had the standout performance of the day, rushing for a career-high 104 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and moving the sticks consistently. He also caught two passes for 55 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

“I thought Tuten played really well,” Coen said. “I thought he was a little more patient this game, was running through contact, was explosive in the pass as well which was nice to see.”

Chris Rodriguez Jr. made up some ground out of the backfield, too, posting 41 yards and the game’s fifth touchdown on six carries.

In the passing game, it was a quieter outing. Outside of the touchdown catches, Strange and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers made the largest impact, with two receptions apiece for 55 and 24 yards, respectively.

Lawrence finished 10 of 14 for 210 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, not having to pull much weight in the blowout victory. Jacksonville finished with 366 total yards, 183 on the ground and 183 net passing.

The explosive offensive showing was complemented by lockdown defense from start to finish. It didn’t allow Colts quarterback Daniel Jones or running back Jonathan Taylor any opportunity to get in a rhythm. Jacksonville allowed just 243 yards of total offense, 110 of them on the ground. Indianapolis avoided the shutout in the third quarter, when Jones found wide receiver Josh Downs for a 6-yard touchdown.

The most explosive defensive play came from safety Rayuan Lane III. After Lawrence was sacked by Jaylahn Tuimoloau and fumbled with 55 seconds left in the first half, the Colts got the ball at the Jacksonville 31-yard line. Lane wasn’t going to let them capitalize. He intercepted Jones’ pass intended for tight end Tyler Warren and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown to put Jacksonville up 28-0. The play gave the home team even more momentum heading into the second half.

“That kind of really broke the game open, it was a massive play to stay focused … and be able to control that ball and take it to the house,” Coen said. “He’s made a number of those plays, big plays, for us this year, and we need it.”

Lane ended the game with three tackles and three passes defended to go along with the interception.

Linebacker Branson Combs also intercepted Jones, with 13:21 left in the fourth quarter and the Colts in the red zone.

Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun was the most consistent, though. He had a team-high nine tackles and added a sack, two tackles for loss and a quarterback hit. Edge rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker also had a successful day before Walker went to the locker room with a rib injury. They combined for eight tackles and 1.5 sacks.

The defensive and red zone deficiencies seen against the Texans may have been rectified by the bye week, but penalties remain a concern. Jacksonville was flagged eight times for 65 yards, while the Colts were flagged nine times for 54.

The Jaguars have a short week ahead before they travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens on Thursday at 8:15 p.m. at M&T Bank Stadium.

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Here are five takeaways from Florida’s loss.

 1. Quarterback Question Trudges Forward

Quarterback Aaron Philo was announced as the starter a day before the Gators took the field in Atlanta, putting a brief end to the chatter surrounding the starting battle between Philo and sophomore Tramell Jones Jr. Both players were listed as questionable on Wednesday’s injury report before being cleared to play.

Philo’s start was short-lived, completing 5 of 7 passes for just 26 yards and two interceptions, his second-quarter benching. Jones took over to try to salvage the 10-point deficit the Bulldogs had built. However, despite rushing for a touchdown to continue the program’s scoring streak. Jones finished completing 18 of 25 passes for 172 yards and one interception.

Moving forward, Sumrall said he’s not yet sure who will start in Florida’s next game.

“I don’t know that I’m ready to make a decision on anything today,” Sumrall said. “I don’t know that I saw either one of them play well enough for me to go, that’s our starter forever moving forward…we still need better quarterback play.”

Regardless of the lack of playmaking, Sumrall emphasized the issues were about more than just the player behind center.

“My biggest concern right now is the people around the quarterback,” Sumrall said after the game. “If we don’t get better on the offensive line, tight end, running back and receiving, our quarterback has no shot in hell of playing really good.”

2. Offensive Struggles Across the Board

Florida’s offense put up a less-than-stellar performance, scoring just eight points while recording 54 rushing yards and 198 passing yards.

Jadan Baugh had a disappointing day, finishing with 38 yards on 17 carries and averaging just 2.2 yards per carry against Georgia’s second-ranked defense in the SEC.

The Gators’ receiving room didn’t quite pick up the slack, either. Other than a short two-point conversion catch from Baugh in the fourth quarter, Dallas Wilson notched just two receptions for 14 yards, while Eric Singleton caught four passes for 19 yards. Singleton racked up two errors throughout the game, missing a pass from Philo that was then picked off by Georgia’s Demello Jones and dropping a throw from Jones in the third quarter, ultimately forcing Florida to punt.

Bailey Stockton was a highlight for the unit, leading the receivers with eight catches for 76 yards.

“It’s frustrating for sure,” Stockton said after the game. “We’re beating ourselves every game right now. I feel like we’re good enough to beat anybody, we’ve proven that. But, we’re just beating ourselves.”

As Sumrall noted, Florida’s entire offensive unit wasn’t providing the quarterbacks with enough support, including their offensive line. Georgia notched four sacks for 19 yards, 11 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and three interceptions.

3. Penalty Issues Remain

The penalty problem has returned. Despite a better-looking performance over the last few games, the Gators notched five penalties for 60 yards in just the first half. Although the penalties might not have been game-changers, the additional lost yards did nothing but hurt an already struggling offense.

By the end of the game, the Gators finished with eight penalties for 78 yards, a stat reminiscent of their first few weeks on the field.

Georgia, on the other hand, finished with just four penalties for 32 yards.

“It’s catastrophic,” Sumrall said of the mistakes after the game.

Sumrall  then pointed to the penalty report tape the team watches on Mondays to review mistakes, before taking accountability for the 15 yards he cost the team after getting in the way of an official. His explanation?

“The head coach is a dumbass,” he said.

4. Defense shows growth

Saturday’s game was a tall task for Florida’s defensive unit. Georgia ranks first in the SEC in scoring offense, second in total offense and third in both rushing and passing offense.

But, despite allowing 27 points and 318 total yards, Florida’s defense put up a stronger showing in this game. The Gators held Georgia to just a field goal in the second half and only 101 passing yards, a new season low for Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton.

Safety DJ Coleman led the team with eight tackles (six solo) and a forced fumble, while linebackers Myles Graham and Ty Jackson notched seven tackles each. Defensive end Emmanuel Oyebadejo also grabbed Florida’s lone sack and a pass breakup.

“I feel like we’re headed in the right direction now,” Coleman said. “Everybody’s on board with the plan and we’re seeing more of the results we’ve been practicing for.”

5. Impact of Injuries

Florida’s injury report seems to grow by the week. Wide receiver Vernell Brown III was out again ahead of Georgia, marking his fifth straight week off the field. Brown was originally listed as probable earlier in the week, but after aggravating the injury again in practice, he was downgraded to questionable and ultimately ruled out before kickoff.

His talent in the Gators’ receiving room would have provided some assistance to a passing game lacking any true threat.

Despite both quarterbacks taking the field against the Bulldogs, Florida’s quarterbacks were injured before the game as well. Philo’s shoulder injury appears to have healed, but Jones’ injury, which remains undisclosed, was seemingly still impacting him ahead of the game. 

“I’m not going to go into all those injuries,” he said. “But, he’s got a real injury … that may require surgery after the year.”

The Gators return to the Swamp to take on the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday at 7:45 p.m.

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It’s the sixth consecutive win in the series for the Bulldogs, who took advantage of three Gator turnovers to score 17 points en route to a 24-0 lead at intermission. Florida committed 60 yards of penalties in the first half.

After winning the coin toss and deferring, kicker Patrick Durkin sent the ball flying for 65 yards. Georgia’s offense struggled to reach beyond the UF 43-yard line and opted for a field goal around the nine-minute mark. The kick sailed wide right and was no good.

Following inconsistency from early in this season, to a turnaround performance against Texas, the defense seemed to carry some of that momentum into the Georgia (7-1, 5-1 SEC) game early on, ending the first quarter with 20 tackles across the board.

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DJ Coleman was one of the defensive stars of the game, recording eight tackles and one forced fumble. Myles Graham logged seven tackles and helped contain Georgia’s offense from making too many explosive plays.

“I feel like we’re all headed in the right direction now,” Coleman said about the defense. “Everybody’s on board with the plan and we’re seeing more results that we’ve been practicing for.”

Coach Jon Sumrall also noticed the defense’s improvement. Pointing out that while the Gators didn’t give the performance they wanted to, the defense’s efforts weren’t put to waste.

“We’re trying to build a sustainable program for the long term, and every little thing we do matters,” Sumrall said. “There was a lot of growth from a defensive standpoint.”

Penalties, however, are still an area Florida is struggling with. Florida (5-3, 3-3) finished the day with eight penalties for 78 yards, while Georgia had four penalties for 32 yards. Dallas Wilson, Bryce Lovett and Cormani McClain were among some of the players to draw costly penalties for the team.

Sumrall has emphasized the Gators needing to play cleaner football throughout the season, and Saturday was no different. 

“We have a penalty report tape, we show the [penalties] that are egregious or self-inflicted, that are not football plays that I have a problem with,” Sumrall said. “We have to clean that up. We got to play better football.”

Aaron Philo was another sore spot for the Gators. After being announced as starter for the game on Friday, Philo only managed to throw for 26 yards and two interceptions, including a pick that led to Georgia a 28-yard field goal.

Florida brought out Tramell Jones Jr. early in the second quarter, where hope was given to Florida fans after Jones was able to connect with Bailey Stockton back-to-back for a combined 13 yards. 

After being listed as doubtful in the injury report earlier in the week, Stockton received for a total of 76 yards on Saturday, his second highest after the South Carolina game.

Stockton talked about the team needing to control what they can and continuing to practice the scenarios they can to avoid keeping their backs against the wall.

“We’re beating ourselves every game right now,” Stockton said. “I feel like we’re good enough to beat anybody, we’ve proven that, but we’re just beating ourselves right now.”

Jones finished the game completing 18 of 25 passes for a 72% completion rate with one interception. Regardless of his performance, Sumrall said the team will continue to evaluate both quarterbacks this week before deciding who gets the start against Oklahoma.

“I saw both of them do enough good things that I want to keep both of them alive and give them opportunities to grow,” Sumrall said. “I’m married to starting whoever gives Florida the best chance of being successful.”

Despite not being able to break through Georgia’s defense for three quarters, hope for Florida could still be felt in the stands when the Gators were able to stop a 36-yard pass from Georgia’s Gunner Stockton into the end zone. The hope died shortly after, however, when Georgia scored its second 1-yard rushing touchdown of the day to put the score at 17-0.

The offensive line proved to be a weak spot for the Gators, especially in the second quarter when Jones was sacked twice, one sack forcing a fumble that allowed Georgia a 66-yard touchdown return by Chris Cole. The offensive line failed to keep the pocket open enough for both Philo and Jones, forcing each quarterback to make panicked throws and jeopardize the ball.

Sumrall noted the lack of help for the quarterbacks, not just from the offensive line, but from the receivers, running backs and tight ends as well.

“If we don’t get better on the offensive line, tight end, running back and receiver, our quarterback has no shot,” Sumrall said.

Wilson, the sophomore wide receiver, struggled to make an impact by being limited to 14 receiving yards for the day. Before the Georgia game, Wilson had been averaging 57.6 receiving yards per game.

Jadan Baugh also struggled to bring his usual explosiveness to the field, after only rushing for 38 yards on 17 carries, his second lowest rushing total after rushing for 13 yards in Missouri. Florida was outrushed 217-48.

The only touchdown of the game from Florida came late in the fourth quarter. Jones found a gap in the Bulldogs’ defense and rushed two yards for the score. The Gators were able to secure the extra points after Baugh passed the ball off to Wilson for the two-point conversion. 

Afterward, Georgia was able to end the night strong, capitalizing on a 21-yard field goal to seal its victory.

The Gators will look to take a reset before they continue SEC play against Oklahoma (4-4, 2-3) back in Gainesville next Saturday at 7:45 p.m.

“That’s going to make us better, is us pick ourselves up and go back to work,” Sumrall said. “There’s a lot of things that went wrong in the game, not a lot that went right.”

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No. 4 Florida (18-2) swept Auburn in three sets (25-17, 25-20, 25-23) in extending their win streak to five.

This win against the Tigers (12-10, 2-8 SEC) improved Florida to 9-1 in SEC play, marking its best conference start since 2019 when it began 12-1.

Florida opened the first set strong with junior opposite hitter Logan King leading the way with seven kills and senior outside hitter Kamryn Chaney adding five. 

Florida held the lead throughout the set behind 19 kills to Auburn’s five in securing the first set 25-17. 

The Tigers responded in the second set, taking an early lead before the Gators tied the score at 9-9. Florida then pulled away, closing out the set 25-20. 

Florida carried its momentum into the third set with a 5-0 run.

Auburn fought back late, taking a 21-18 lead and forcing the Gators to call a timeout. 

Florida responded by tying the set at 22-22 before closing out the match with a 25-23 victory. 

Junior setter Taylor Parks continued to play a key role in the Gators’ offense after earning SEC Player and Setter of the Week honors for the first time in her career earlier this week. 

“She’s a really dynamic player that can change on a dime, like if we need to reverse it to Logan (King), front row, back row, if we need to speed up the tempo, if we need to get Alec (Rothe) above the blockers, she’s really good adjusting throughout the match and making everybody feel comfortable,” UF coach Ryan Theis told the school’s website.

Parks contributed on both sides, finishing the match with six kills, 39 assists, 10 digs and a career-high seven blocks. 

King led the Gators with 17 kills while hitting .317 and Chaney added 11 kills and hitting .297. 

Florida’s defense totaled 68 digs compared to Auburn’s 52, with four Gators reaching double digits. 

Sophomore libero Lily Hayes led the team with 14 digs, followed by Bella Lee with a career best of 13. Junior outside hitter Selena Leban added 11, while Parks finished with 10. 

Florida, which sits at the top of the SEC standings, returns to Gainesville for a 1 p.m. match Sunday against the Arkansas Razorbacks (11-10, 3-7). Coverage begins at 12:45 p.m. on ESPN 98.1-FM/850-AM and at 1 p.m. on SEC Network+. 

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Florida (6-6-4, 2-4-3 SEC) hosts Georgia (6-5-5, 3-3-3 SEC) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Donald R. Dizney Stadium in the regular-season finale. The Gators enter tied with LSU for 11th in the conference standings with nine points. The top 12 teams advance to the tournament, which runs Nov. 8-15 in Pensacola. 

Four teams are chasing the final two spots: LSU (9 points), Florida (9), Missouri (7) and Tennessee (6). Georgia has already clinched a berth. 

All three matches that decide the race kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday: Georgia at Florida, LSU at Missouri and Oklahoma at Tennessee.

“To be able to have this position at this point in the season where you control your own fate,” Florida coach Nick Zimmerman said. “What an opportunity.”

A win gives Florida 12 points, a total neither Missouri or Tennessee can reach. 

A draw puts Florida at 10 points, one more than Tennessee can reach. Missouri can match that total only by beating LSU. In that case, Florida and Missouri would finish with 10 points, ahead of LSU and Tennessee, and both would advance. 

A loss to Georgia, a Missouri win over LSU and a Tennessee draw or loss to Oklahoma would eliminate Florida. Missouri would jump to 10 points and clinch a spot. Florida and LSU would finish tied at nine points for the last spot. The first tiebreaker is head-to-head results, and LSU won the teams’ only meeting this season, 2-1 on Oct. 2 at Dizney Stadium.

Florida can lose and still advance in three ways.

First, LSU wins or draws at Missouri, and Tennessee does not win. LSU takes one spot with 10 points (a draw) or 12 (a win). Florida finishes at nine, ahead of Missouri and Tennessee, and claims the 12th spot.

Second, LSU wins or draws, and Tennessee beats Oklahoma. Florida and Tennessee would finish tied at nine points for 12th. The teams did not play this season, so the tie goes to points earned against common opponents.

Florida earned six points against the eight SEC teams both programs played (the common opponents used for the tiebreaker): a win over Alabama and draws with Mississippi State, Texas and Auburn. Tennessee earned five points against the same group: a win over LSU and draws with Mississippi State and Texas. Florida would advance.

Third, Missouri beats LSU, and Tennessee beats Oklahoma. Missouri would clinch with 10 points, and LSU, Florida and Tennessee would be tied at nine points for the last spot.

The three teams did not all play one another, and none of them beat both of the others. The tie would therefore go to results against common opponents. The four teams all three played are South Carolina, Mississippi State, Texas and Arkansas.

All three teams earned two points against that group, so the next tiebreaker would come down to goal differential after Sunday’s matches.

Florida will play without senior forward Lena Bailey. She will sit out Sunday after receiving a red card in the 88th minute of the Gators’ 1-1 draw with No. 25 Auburn on Oct. 22. Bailey scored the winning goal with 93 seconds left in Florida’s 1-0 win over then-No. 5 Alabama on Oct. 8, earning SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

For Florida, the simplest path runs through Dizney Stadium. Avoid a loss to Georgia, and the Gators can ignore the scores from Columbia and Knoxville.

“We never really talk about results…But Monday, we were just very clear with, ‘This is the reality of it.’” Zimmerman said. “You win, you get a result, then your season continues. If you don’t, then you need other things to happen.”

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Here’s how WRUF’s Gators Football beat reporters grade each unit through Week 8.

Charlie Jones’ grades:

Offense – B: Florida’s offense has been on as much of a roller-coaster ride as the team has as a whole, with the unit being representative of the team’s ceiling. The Gators’ points either come in droves or are hard to put together, with little in between throughout their games this season. While dry spells, like the combined 36 points against Missouri and South Carolina, stand out as how far the unit can dip, it is hard to overlook how strong the Gators are at their peak. Florida ranks top five in the SEC for yards per game (450.9), rushing yards per game (194.3) and points per game (39.6). Even in the pair of losses, Florida’s offense produced more than 320 yards of offense in both and a win was still within the realm of possibility after the first 30 minutes. If the Gators can convert on more of their third downs and stay as consistent as they have been at scoring once entering the red zone, expect this grade to remain or even upgrade.

Defense – D+: As impressive as the offense has been at times, the same cannot be said for the defense. Generating pressure has not been an issue for the unit, boasting 22 sacks (third in SEC). The problems have stemmed from the second and third levels, where the Gators have been burned time and time again. Florida’s susceptibility to giving up the big play has forced it down in the defensive rankings among the SEC, with the Gators ranked in the bottom three for points allowed per game (28.3). The biggest area of improvement is how Florida defends the pass, giving up an SEC second-to-last 255 air yards per game and only generating four interceptions. While first-year defensive coordinator Brad White has dialed up the right response in amping up pressure against Auburn and Texas, the offense’s firepower has clouded mistakes and the secondary remains a liability. Cornerback Cormani McClain and safeties Bryce Thornton and Lagonza Hayward will need to make sizable improvements for this grade to change.

Special Teams – A-: Comparing last year’s team to this year’s is futile, but one of the clear differences is the progress the special teams units have made. The Gators have excelled in almost every aspect of the special teams, a true testament to how important it was that former Tulane special teams coordinator Johnathan Galante followed Florida coach Jon Sumrall to the Sunshine State. Along with the addition of Galante, the slew of transfers have impacted the Gators in a big way. Running back London Montgomery has been a boon since transferring from East Carolina, returning 12 kickoffs for 300 yards and earning one SEC Special Teams Player of the Week selection. A pair of Tulane transfers in kicker Patrick Durkin and punter Alec Clark have given Sumrall exactly what he expected, with Durkin banging 44 of his 45 kicks through the uprights and Clark owning the second-highest average punt yards in the SEC with 47.4 yards per punt. Add wide receiver Vernell Brown III’s 189 return yards and two touchdowns into the mix and it is hard to find a shortcoming with the group. While the unit is not infallible, allowing a 63-yard punt return touchdown in the Texas win, it has played up to the level of a top team in the SEC.

Abigail Justice’s grades:

Offense B: Florida’s offense has shown plenty of firepower, averaging 39.6 points and 450.9 yards per game. The Gators opened the season with four consecutive wins, scoring 214 points over that stretch, including 44 points against Auburn and 52 against Ole Miss. However, that production took a hit during back-to-back losses to Missouri and South Carolina, when Florida scored just 17 and 19 points, respectively. The Gators bounced back against Texas, overcoming a 14-point deficit to secure a 27-24 road win. Florida totaled 313 yards in the victory, including 158 on the ground, while backup quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. threw two touchdown passes in his first start. The offense has demonstrated its potential, but the struggles in the two losses highlight the need for greater consistency. The Texas win was encouraging, but Florida must sustain that production to earn a higher grade

Defense C: Florida’s defense has been one of the Gators’ biggest question marks. Allowing 28.3 points per game is difficult to overlook, particularly with the unit giving up 45 points at Missouri and 38 to South Carolina in consecutive losses. Those performances exposed a defense that has struggled to consistently contain opposing offenses, putting additional pressure on Florida to keep pace offensively. The response against Texas was encouraging, as the Gators held the Longhorns to 272 total yards while recording 11 tackles for loss, five of them sacks. Florida’s ability to disrupt the backfield and limit Texas’ production showed what the defense can look like when it executes. However, one strong performance does not erase the issues that surfaced in the previous two games. Until Florida proves it can consistently get stops and limit explosive plays, the defense earns a C.

Special Teams C+: Florida’s special teams have been a mixed bag, with strong kicking and punting numbers offset by costly mistakes. The Gators have converted 11 of 12 field-goal attempts, giving them one of their most reliable areas of production. Florida has also averaged 47.4 yards per punt with a net average of 42.1 yards, outperforming its opponents in both categories. However, those strengths have not prevented breakdowns in crucial moments. Against Texas, Florida allowed a 63-yard punt-return touchdown in a game the Gators ultimately won by just three points. That mistake highlighted how one special teams lapse can shift momentum and put additional pressure on the rest of the team. While Florida’s kicking game has been dependable, the costly return allowed keeps the unit from earning a higher grade.

Lily Perkins’ grades:

Offense B: Florida’s offense kicked off the season in full force, putting forth a performance defined by a potential Heisman Trophy candidate, college football playoff hopes and a cheers of “we’re back” from Gators fans across the nation. Florida averaged 53.5 points and 532.75 yards per game, earning the Gators first 4-0 in six years. But after Florida’s 52-28 triumph against Ole Miss, the offensive performance dulled. Baugh rushed for 72 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries through both Missouri and South Carolina, while wide receiver Vernell Brown III sat on the sidelines with a knee injury and Aaron Philo was unable to establish a consistent passing game, earning a 68.1 QBR against Missouri and a 32.3 against South Carolina. The Gators showed life in their last match against Texas, taking a 27-24 road win against a top-10 team, but their overall performance remains inconsistent. They’ve shown the talent to compete with the SEC’s top teams, but back-to-back losses expose issues in their reliability. At its peak, Florida is an A-level offense, but a B is more fitting. 

Defense D: Florida’s defense has been nothing short of disappointing. Its performance has been defined by one trait: inconsistency. The Gators rank No. 13 in the SEC and No. 93 in the FBS for total defense, having allowed an average of 28.3 points per game, putting them among the conference’s worst defensive units. Back-to-back losses to Missouri and South Carolina, in which Florida allowed a combined 953 yards and 83 points, exposed the unit’s weakness in slowing down opposing matchups. While they showed signs of progress against Texas, notching  11 tackles for loss, five sacks and allowing just two third-down conversions through 10 attempts from Texas, the result doesn’t yet illustrate a long-term solution. With matchups against Georgia and the remainder of an SEC schedule ahead, Florida will need more consistent play from its defense to take winning pressure off the offense. 

Special Teams B+: Florida’s biggest issue overall looks to be consistency, and special teams has been no exception. However, the unit has given the Gators plenty of reasons to be confident. Patrick Durkin has converted 11 of 12 field-goal attempts, while Alec Clark ranks No. 12 nationally, averaging 47.4 yards per punt. London Montgomery and Vernell Brown III have also made an impact in the return game. Montgomery recorded a 74-yard kickoff return that ultimately led to a touchdown against Ole Miss, while Brown set a program record with 173 punt-return yards and two touchdowns against Campbell in Week 2. However, the unit made mistakes in Austin, allowing Texas to notch a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown, costing the Gators what could have been an early lead. Despite leaving Austin with a three-point win, the mistakes could prove detrimental against future opponents. The unit has shown it can be a key to success, but cleaning up performance and prioritizing consistency continue to be an area of improvement for Florida’s special teams.

Coverage of Saturday’s game against No. 3 Georgia (6-1, 4-1) begins at 12:30 p.m. on WRUF 98.1-FM/850-AM/103.7 HD ESPN from Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium and at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.  

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The most glaring of the ailments listed Wednesday evening are those that Florida’s quarterbacks suffer from heading into Saturday. Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. both made their way onto the list, with each’s status deemed as questionable heading into the Invesco QQQ Atlanta Gridiron Classic.

Philo is named on the availability report for the second straight game week following a shoulder injury late in the loss to South Carolina. That same injury kept the Georgia Tech transfer out of Florida’s last game against Texas and puts his status in question against a team he carries a specific distaste for.

“A lot,” Philo said when asked how bad he wanted to beat Georgia in March. Philo also said seconds later that he wanted to beat the Bulldogs “real bad,” not shying away from showing his disdain despite his girlfriend attending UGA.

As for UF’s debutant in Jones, Florida coach Jon Sumrall noted that the sophomore was dealing with “bumps and bruises” from the first start of his collegiate career. Jones completed 22 of his 35 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns in the victory against then-No. 7 Texas, though a chance for him to follow up that performance may be in jeopardy if he is too banged up to go on. While that hypothetical could become reality for either quarterback, Sumrall said he’s confident both players will be good to go.

“Both guys are available. I believe in both guys,” Sumrall said Monday. “I’m not going to name a starter today. We need both guys ready to play.”

UF’s skill players are also dealing with their wealth of injuries, as wide receiver Bailey Stockton is doubtful following his momentary exit against Texas due to an ankle injury. Running back Duke Clark is also on the list as questionable and continues to nurse an injury against South Carolina that stationed him on the sidelines in a walking boot.

Along with them, Vernell Brown III is probable and graces the injury list for the fourth straight week following his knee strain in the win against Ole Miss. While the Gators’ leading receiver is uncertain, Sumrall had optimistic thoughts on Brown’s availability for Saturday.

“I’ll put it like this: every day, the last couple weeks when he’s been running, I’m like, ‘Hey, how are you feeling today?’ Because there’s been sometimes I’ve wondered that he didn’t quite look right,” Sumrall said Monday. “Today, he looked good enough. I didn’t go up to him at all today and ask, ‘Hey, how are you feeling?’ I just let him practice, and he looked like he was feeling pretty good.”

The good injury news stops there for UF, with a key defensive player deemed out already. EDGE Jaden Robinson may miss his first game of the season with an undisclosed injury after logging 25 tackles and one sack across his first seven appearances in 2026. He is listed as doubtful to play.

On the other side, the Bulldogs are also dealing with damaged goods of their own. Georgia has already ruled three players out, as well as three players questionable for the first ranked matchup in the rivalry since 2020. Despite the injuries, the UGA enters as a 10.5-point favorite on most sportsbooks. 

Anticipation continues to build for the first Florida-Georgia meeting to take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the annual hate-fueled game moving away from Jacksonville due to EverBank Stadium renovations. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC, with coverage starting at 12:30 p.m. on the Gators Sports Network on WRUF 98.1-FM/850-AM/103.7 HD2.

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As the reconstructed team looks to turn around the program, square one started with making a statement Wednesday, which it did. The Gators took the lead in the first 26 seconds of the exhibition and never let go, trouncing Flagler College 107-54 in their final tune-up before Monday’s season opener against Bucknell.

Junior guard Kiyomi McMiller, one of the Gators’ 12 new faces, spearheaded the offense, leading the team with 27 points and adding six assists. The Penn State transfer is no stranger to posting large figures. She ranked 12th in the nation in scoring last season at 21.6 points per game.

As the Florida coaching staff looks to replace 94% of its scoring from last year’s roster, it will lean on McMiller’s athleticism and production to play a key role in a Florida offense built on speed.

“I knew I needed a guard that could get a bucket,” Reiss said. “But the real reason I wanted to coach [McMiller] was, number one, I wanted to challenge and push her to become a winner, where she could lead the program to a championship. And number two: grow her game as a passer, start to develop point guard skills of reading and really running a team.”

The offensive downpour was a team effort, though, with five Gators scoring in double figures. Florida shot 50.6% from the field and held Flagler to 30.9%. The Gators’ pressure in the paint helped establish their attack, accounting for 54 of their points. Forward Vivian Iwuchukwu was the most efficient from the field, going 5-for-7 during her 16-point night.

Reiss’ emphasis on protecting the ball clearly rubbed off on the Gators, who turned it over just eight times. Florida has averaged fewer than 16.7 turnovers a game only once in the last five seasons, so that’s a trend Reiss wants to see continue.

“Rebounding and turnovers, they’re the margin of victory in a lot of close games, and you’ve got to take care of the ball to get shots,” Reiss said. “I was a little bit disappointed in the second half; we got really lackadaisical with how we were handling the ball, some of our decisions on our passes. [Turnovers are] one of our emphasis, less than 12 every game.”

While turnovers didn’t seem to be a problem for the Gators, the same couldn’t be said for the Saints. Their 15 turnovers proved costly, as Florida scored 20 points off them.

The Gators jumped out of the gate firing, cashing in 12 points in nearly two minutes while holding the Saints scoreless. Flagler managed to put nine points on the board in the first quarter, but Florida didn’t let the Saints find their footing against its attack, ending the quarter with a 21-point lead.

Florida’s dominance on both sides of the ball continued throughout the rest of the half, and the Gators headed to the locker room up 56-19. They overwhelmed the Saints in the paint, outrebounding Flagler 58-36 for the game.

Rhode Island transfer guard Vanessa Harris set the tone down low, finishing with 18 points and 15 rebounds, including 10 of the Gators’ 27 defensive rebounds at the half. The 2026 Atlantic 10 Sixth Woman of the Year’s balanced game was a focus of the offseason.

“All summer, I’ve just been working on how I can get better, how can I improve from last year,” Harris said. “I feel like that was one of the things I wanted to improve on, just developing my overall game and not just being a scorer or not just being a defensive player. 

Harris is the only player Reiss brought with her to the Sunshine State, so the sophomore leading the way in the new system comes as no surprise. And Reiss will lean on the familiar foe to continue leading off the court as well.

“She also knows our culture,” Reiss said. “So when you’re coming to a new program, and you’ve got to hold that locker room, she knows the standard.”

The Saints found more of a stride in the third quarter, led by Nicole Carreno, who scored a team-high 22 points, but still couldn’t leave a dent in Florida’s lead, which grew to 83-39. The large margin allowed Reiss to rotate in more players from the bench, who accounted for 26 of the Gators’ points.

Sophomore guard Ja’Niya Broome, whose 22.6 points per game set a program record at South Georgia Technical College last season, showed her skills could carry over from the junior college level. Late in the third quarter, Broome drove to the basket, drew a foul and added two points, drawing cheers from the Gators’ sideline. She ended the night with eight points.

“Ja’Niya has been practicing very well,” Reiss said. “She really plays within herself. She’s a straight-line driver, can finish at the rim. She can rebound and she can shoot the three. So she’s really smart and her opportunities within the offense when she scores and she’s very patient.”

Broome wasn’t the only major contributor off the bench. Senior forward Jade Weathersby, the lone returnee from Florida’s 2025-26 roster, made her mark, playing 20 minutes and recording a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

While the Gators proved dominant, they weren’t satisfied with their second-half effort defensively, allowing 35 points and turning the ball over six times after limiting the Saints to 19 points and themselves to two turnovers in the first half. 

As the Reiss era officially gets underway on Monday with its season opener against Bucknell, the team will continue sharpening its play as it enters a schedule with eight games against top-25 opponents.

“We should have done a lot better,” McMiller said. “We’re coming to kill every single game and that’s what Coach Tammi expects and that’s what we expect for ourselves. So we’re not happy with the win, and we’re not satisfied, but we’re definitely coming to look to kill every time.”

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Defensive coordinator Brad White has a difficult history against No. 3 Georgia (6-1, 4-1 SEC). In eight seasons with the Kentucky Wildcats, White went 0-7 against the Bulldogs. No. 17 Florida (5-2, 3-2 SEC) can only hope that fortune changes Saturday.White emphasized that Saturday’s game is about the team, not his personal history. 

“I want to win every game we play,” White said. “But it’s not about me. I just want this defense to continue to grow because I know what they can be.”

Florida’s defense has grown since the start of the season. Despite inconsistency and mistakes through its first six contests, the unit turned in a stronger performance in Texas, holding the Longhorns to 272 total yards and 2-for-10 on third down. That may give Florida’s defense momentum to going into a challenging SEC opponent.

“We definitely needed [the win],” linebacker Myles Graham said Tuesday. “We knew that was how we could play…we showed flashes, but we didn’t put together a whole game yet. We needed that so we could build on it for the rest of the year.”

As Graham noted, the key will be sustaining that level of play Saturday.

Georgia’s offense will make that difficult. The Bulldogs rank third in the SEC in both rushing (197.71) and passing offense (272.14). Their production ranks second in the conference in total offense. Quarterback Gunner Stockton leads the unit and ranks second nationally in passing efficiency with 1,570 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions this season.

Despite coming off a 27-24 loss against Auburn this past Saturday, marking their first defeat this season, Georgia remains a formidable test. White pointed to Stockton’s ability to move past mistakes as one of the offense’s strengths.

“You have no doubt that he’s going to be able to put that behind him,” White said of the quarterback. “Everybody on that offense believes in him … I  was able to face him last year, I know what he can do.”

As for Florida’s offense, the challenge is similar. However, their biggest question heading into the weekend isn’t necessarily whether they can produce, but who will lead them on field

Florida’s injury report featured several key players ahead of its Oct. 17 victory over Texas, including starting quarterback Aaron Philo. Philo suffered a shoulder injury before the game, opening the door for Tramell Jones Jr. to start. Jones completed 22 of 35 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns, helping lead Florida to an upset road win. Now, with Georgia next on the schedule, the Gators’ starting quarterback remains uncertain.

During Monday’s availability, coach Jon Sumrall downplayed the need to make an early decision, saying the offense wouldn’t change regardless of who started. Wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. echoed the statement on Tuesday.  

“I’m confident in whoever comes out there Saturday,” Singleton said. “I just hope they’re ready to throw it deep.”

Another focus for Florida’s offense will be staying grounded. The Florida-Georgia rivalry brings more than an anticipated on-field matchup; it also carries the usual SEC fanfare and heightened expectations.

For a Gators team with several Georgia ties, the game may feel especially personal. Four players joined Florida from Georgia Tech’s offense, and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner coached the Yellow Jackets from 2023-25. Still, Florida’s approach remains the same as it has throughout the season: go 1-0 every week.

“It’s about execution,” Faulkner said Tuesday. “Don’t make it bigger than it is. Playing the game for a long time, it’s still the same game. Don’t forget it’s a game.”

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The Gators took the court without the services of junior guard Boogie Fland, who was out with an illness.

Taking his place in the starting lineup was Urban Klavzar, who found his stroke in the second game of the preseason. Klavzar started the preseason rusty, shooting 0-for-5 from three against Baylor. The reigning SEC Sixth Man of the Year responded with a game-high 24 points, six 3-pointers and a 50% shooting percentage from three, re-certifying himself as a surefire sniper from deep in Tuesday’s 85-68 victory.

“Just trying to stay confident, doing the same thing everyday,” Klavzar said. “Really nice to see the ball going in.”

It was a disappointing first half of basketball for Florida, which went into halftime with just a 42-40 lead against the Hatters. The last time the two programs played, Florida dominated Stetson 85-45 in 2024.

Florida struggled inside, going 13-for-22 on layups against a Stetson defense that double-teamed when the Gators entered the paint. Rueben Chinyelu had a quiet night against the Stetson defense, going 3-for-8 from the field for six points, though he did pull down eight rebounds.

The Hatters were effective getting desired matchups in the first half, with an offense featuring flurries of on-ball screens. Smaller guards consistently got matched up with Florida’s bigs, including Thiago Sucatzky, a 5-foot-10 sophomore who had 14 points in the first half. Sucatzky was the spark plug of the Hatters offense, finishing with 18 points and six assists. Alex Doyle matched him with 18 off the bench, going 6-for-9 from deep.

But in the second half, Florida came out firing, amassing a 10-point lead in less than seven minutes of play. The defense followed, holding a Hatters offense that went stagnant to 10-for-31 shooting.

Denzel Aberdeen was the powerhouse of the Gators offense with 22 points, shooting 80% from deep and 75% from the field after an 0-for-10 3-point performance against Baylor. 

“I told somebody me and [Urban] not going to miss like that again,” Aberdeen said. 

The fifth-year transfer from Kentucky added four rebounds and three assists, taking the ball up for Florida in the place of Boogie Fland. 

 “I’m glad to hear cheers instead of boos,” Aberdeen said.

The shooting struggles that appeared against Baylor were mostly silenced in the final tune-up game of the preseason as the Gators shot 40.7% from 3-point range and 50.8% from the field. But when the game stopped and the referee passed the ball to a Gator at the free-throw line, fans witnessed much the same.

Florida shot 8-for-15 from the line to Stetson’s 7-for-9. After shooting 22-for-35 against Baylor, the Gators are starting a trend of not capitalizing on shots from the line, shots that are properly nicknamed: free.

A team known for paint and board dominance, Florida only outrebounded Stetson 40-36, giving the Hatters 16 offensive rebounds and 10 second-chance points. 

“We lost some one-on-one battles that we usually win,” coach Todd Golden said. “Rebounding is something we have to monitor really closely here, losing Micah [Handlogten], that impacted that a lot.”

After a Baylor exhibition that saw nine players hit the court, coach Todd Golden searched for depth on the Gators bench, using Artūras Butajevas, Domen Petrovič and Alex Lloyd for the first time this season. Golden mixed the players in with the starting lineup, and although their role was minimal, the three combined for four points. Eleven Gators played, but Stetson’s bench outscored Florida’s 28-4.

“[Butajevas] is one that we think could really come on and give us some good minutes,” Golden said. “I probably should’ve given him a little more time.”

Throughout the preseason, the workload of the starting lineup never slowed down. Against Baylor, which went to overtime, all five starters played over 33 minutes, with Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon playing 38 each. It was much the same against Stetson, as every starter played at least 30 minutes aside from Condon, who played 29.

The Gators have just six days before the first game of the season against No. 14 Miami at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, the same place where the Gators lost in the round of 32 to Iowa last season. Jai Lucas, a former player for the Gators, is the head coach of the up-and-coming Hurricanes, hoping to give an early challenge to the team with the highest expectations in the country.

“Now is the regular season, no more practice games,” Aberdeen said. “We got to step it up because we got a really good team coming next week.”

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