Could this be the final game in a UF jersey for Jac Caglianone?

Think of Florida’s 2 p.m. elimination game with North Carolina State in the College World Series today as must see television. Not only is it the Gators’ chance to keep their season alive and the wild dream of winning a national championship, but it could be the very last time Jac Caglianone suits up for UF.

If UF (34-29) wins, then Caglianone’s time in a Florida uniform will extend at least one more game. If the Gators lose, the season is over and Caglianone will be waiting a few weeks for the Major League Baseball Draft where he seems a lock to be drafted anywhere from No. 1 to No. 4.

Caglianone will get the start on the mound today against a North Carolina State (38-22) team that hits the ball for average (.294) and power (100 home runs). It will be imperative for Caglianone (5-2, 4.71 ERA) to throw strikes because North Carolina State is a patient team that doesn’t strike out much (391 times) draws a lot of walks (329) and has a .399 on base percentage. The Wolfpack’s power is concentrated among third baseman Alec Makareawicz (.380, 23 HR, 82 RBI), catcher Jacob Cozart (.308, 19 HR, 54 RBI) and first baseman Garrett Pennington (.350, 18 HR, 65 RBI).

The Gators will likely be facing either Dominic Fritton (3-6, 7.35 ERA) or righty Logan Whitaker (3-1, 6.06 ERA). Wolfpack coach Elliot Avent said Sunday that he is leaning toward Fritton since Florida’s top two power hitters – Caglianone and Colby Shelton – are lefty hitters. Plus, Texas A&M lefties Justin Lamkin and Evan Aschenbeck allowed just four hits between them Saturday night while striking out 10 Gators.

Both Florida and North Carolina State suffered heartbreaking losses Sunday. Kentucky got a walk-off home run to beat the Wolfpack, 5-4, while Texas A&M right fielder Jace LaViolette robbed Cade Kurland of what would have been the go-ahead home run in the ninth of a 3-2 loss to the Aggies.

It’s elimination day for both teams, so when it comes to pitching Monday, it will be an all hands on deck situation. It is in Florida’s favor that Caglianone was the Sunday starter in a season in which he was often the difference-maker in the Gators either winning a series or avoiding a sweep. Caglianone, who is hitting .414 with 33 homers and 68 RBI, is hitting .377 with eight home runs in games in which he is the starting pitcher.

Sunday’s scores

No. 8 Florida State (48-16) 7, No. 12 Virginia (46-17) 3; Virginia eliminated

No. 1 Tennessee (57-12) 6, No. 4 North Carolina (48-15) 1

Monday’s games

2 p.m.: FLORIDA (34-29) vs. No. 10 North Carolina State (38-22), elimination game

7 p.m.: No. 2 Kentucky (46-14) vs. No. 3 Texas A&M (50-13)

Tuesday’s games

2 p.m. No. 4 North Carolina (48-15) vs. No. 8 Florida State (48-16)

7 p.m. Winner Florida-NC State vs. loser Kentucky-Texas A&M

Gearing up for the MLB draft

Graduates: Dale Thomas, Tanner Garrison, Tyler Shelnut, Armando Albert, Jalen Guy

Draft-eligible Gators: Jac Caglianone, Ty Evans, Colby Shelton, Luke Heyman, Michael Robertson, Pierce Coppola, Ryan Slater, Blake Purnell, Ty Evans, Fisher Jameson

Gators among the MLB.com top 200 prospects

3. Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, UF: Most mock drafts have him going either No. 4 or No. 5, but it shouldn’t be a surprise if he No. 1 or No. 2. He’s going to be worth upwards of $9 million. He ain’t coming back.

30. Kellon Lindsey, SS (Wauchula, FL Hardee County): He’s considered the fastest player, at least among high school kids, in the draft. He has accepted an invitation to the MLB Combine. Some mock drafts have him going as high as No. 25. Expect him to sign.

97. Jackson Barberi, RHP (Snellville, GA Brookwood): Consistent 94 mph fast ball and good command of the strike zone. Could go first 10 rounds but seems very committed to UF.

135. Colby Shelton, SS, UF: He’s moved up a lot of boards even though his strikeout ratio is concerning. He’s just a sophomore eligibility-wise so he has real leverage since he can be drafted two more times. If he doesn’t like the team or the money he can come back.  

155. Brendan Lawson, SS (Toronto, Canada/Lexington SC P27 Academy): Lefty hitter with a big bat. If he isn’t picked first six or seven rounds, figure he’ll forego the draft. Could be the answer at third base next season.

159. Joshua Whritenour, RHP (Tampa, FL A3 Academy): Regularly hits 95 on the gun with a wicked slider. Starting to throw a splitter. Could go first four or five rounds.

193. Brandon Neely, RHP, UF: He’s made himself a ton of money in the last month. He can come back to UF so he has some leverage. Closers who can go multiple innings are hard to find so figure first four rounds.

Gators among the ESPN top draft prospects

5. Jac Caglianone, 1B/ LHP, UF

33. Kellon Lindsey, SS (Wauchula, FL Hardee County)

59. Colby Shelton, SS, UF

146. Joshua Whritenour, RHP (Tampa, FL A3 Academy)

154. Brendan Lawson, SS (Toronto, Canada/Lexington, SC P27 Academy)

Gators among Perfect Game top 400 draft prospects

1. Jac Caglianone, 1B/ LHP, UF

40. Kellon Lindsey, SS (Wauchula, FL Hardee County)

49. Colby Shelton, SS, UF

121. Joshua Whritenour, RHP (New Port Richey, FL/Tampa, FL A3 Academy)   

153. Brendan Lawson, SS (Toronto, Canada/Lexington, SC P27 Academy)

167. Schuyler Sandford, RHP (St. Augustine, FL Bartram Trail): He has been invited to the MLB Combine but probably projects outside the top 10 rounds, so likely he’ll be at UF.

176. Jackson Barberi RHP (Snellville, GA Brookwood)

238. Ty Evans, OF, UF: Hits with real power, good in the field, but average arm for RF. If he goes, he’ll be moved to LF. Broke his wrist against Kentucky in the regular season. Has a year of eligibility so he has some leverage, but he needs to go if he’s taken before the 12th round.

250: Pierce Coppola, LHP, UF: He’s still coming back from two injuries that cost him the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Plenty of eligibility so he has lots of leverage. Probably 100 percent that he will be back.

298. Brandon Neely, RHP, UF

319. Aidan King, RHP/3B (Bryceville, FL/Orange Park, FL Bishop Snyder): Skinny kid who needs to fill out his body. Throws low 90s. Lefty hitter who plays a good defensive third base.

333. McCall Biemiller, LHP (Tampa, FL Jesuit): He’s from a school that has been a UF pipeline. Projects outside the top 10 rounds and is strongly committed to UF. Fast ball consistently hits 94.

Future Stars Series top draft prospects

4. Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP

28. Kellon Lindsey, SS (Wauchula, FL Hardee County)

81. Colby Shelton, SS, UF

105. Joshua Whritenour, RHP (Tampa, FL A3 Academy)

112. Jackson Barberi, RHP (Snellville, GA Brookwood)

178. Brandon Neely, RHP, UF

248. Brendan Lawson, SS, (Toronto, Canada/Lexington, SC P27 Academy)

258. Luke Heyman, C, UF: Has great power, but a high strikeout ratio. He’s improved tremendously behind the plate and has an exceptional arm. Two years of eligibility so he’s got leverage. Figure he’s back.

278. Pierce Coppola, LHP, FL  

363. Schuyler Sandford, RHP (St. Augustine, FL Bartram Trail)

379. McCall Biemiller, LHP  

UF SOFTBALL: Gators add All-CAA pitcher Kara Hammack

Tim Walton has added solid pitching depth by signing right handed pitcher Kara Hammack from UNC-Wilmington. A two-time All-Colonial Athletic Association selection, Hammack was 17-6 in 2024 with a 1.60 ERA. Not a strikeout pitcher, she pitches to contact. Opposing batters hit .219 off her in 2024. For her career, she is 37-19 with a 1.80 ERA in 372-2/3 innings in the circle. Hammack has one year of eligibility remaining.

UF BASKETBALL: It could be a good week for Todd Golden

It could be an outstanding week for Florida basketball as Todd Golden is expected to sign Jeremiah Johnson (6-3, 170, Oklahoma City, OK/Phoenix, AZ PHHoenix Prep), who was released from his Oklahoma State letter of intent when OSU changed coaches. In his final season of high school basketball, Johnson averaged 18.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. A 4-star recruit, Johnson is comfortable on the wing or as the primary ball handler.

Golden spent a lot of time last week with CJ Ingram (6-5, 195, Hawthorne, FL), son of former Gator tight end and local sports legend Cornelius Ingram. Like his dad, who was a high school All-American as a quarterback and basketball player at Hawthorne, CJ is a top prospect in both sports. As a QB he has led Hawthorne to consecutive state championships. He’s being heavily recruited by Billy Napier as a wide receiver. In basketball, CJ averaged 24 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.7 steals per game.

CJ is expected to choose basketball and a commitment to Florida seems imminent.

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: There is a distinct possibility the Big 12 will be changing names. There is an offer on the table for the Big 12 to sell a stake in the conference to Allstate or to a private equity firm willing to put $1 billion on the table. The Allstate 12 or Allstate Big 12? Like it or not, it could happen.

Under its current media deals, the Big 12 will be distributing something like $32 million a year to its 16 members. To a school like UCF, which was surviving on less than $10 million in media money when it was in the American Athletic Conference, the $22 million bump probably seems like all the money in the world, but it pales in comparison to what the SEC and Big Ten will be paying out in the future. Now that Texas and Oklahoma are in the SEC, the media money should be in the neighborhood of $75 million for a couple of years, at which time there will be a re-assessment – and expected large increase – due to ratings. The Big Ten has its mega deal with Fox, CBS and NBC to distribute among 18 teams.

That leaves the ACC, which is dealing with disgruntled Florida State and Clemson, who claim they can’t be expected to compete for championships against the SEC and Big Ten with the current media deal that saw more than $40 million distributed recently. All ACC schools have a grant of rights contract that runs through 2036, which is what FSU and Clemson are trying to beat. Perhaps the ACC’s only chance to salvage FSU and Clemson remaining in the league will be to follow the Big 12 lead. FSU is already looking into private equity as a way to raise cash for its program that could lag as much as $30 million behind Florida and SEC schools in the next two years.

Now that the NCAA, in its infinite wisdom, has settled an anti-trust lawsuit with the United States House of Representatives, every school in Division I is going to be hit with expenses that are going to strain the budgets of even members of the SEC and Big Ten. Corporate sponsorships and private equity may take college sports down a dangerous path moving forward, but many schools will look at this as having no other alternative.

Could this lead to college football jerseys resembling the European soccer jerseys with all sorts of corporate logos plastered all over them? Imagine this on the red and black jerseys of our fine friends up in Athens: Chico’s Bail Bonds.

It could happen.