For a half, we got the Gators we expected the entire season
Despite a decimated receiving corps and despite too many injuries on the defense the first half Florida Gators were the team we thought we had at the beginning of the season. The offense did its part with three touchdowns in three trips to the red zone. Defense did its part with two stands in the red zone that forced Ole Miss to kick field goals and an interception by Jayden Woods that set up a 5-yard TD drive. Special teams did its part with a 38-yard field goal by Trey Smack at the end of the first half.
Florida 24, Ole Miss 20. Oh, if the game could have ended then.
Then came the second half and Florida’s depth played a big part in what became a 34-20 loss that doomed the Gators (3-7, 2-5 SEC) to their fourth losing season since 2020 and gave Lane Kiffin his third consecutive season of at least 10 wins at Ole Miss (10-1, 6-1 SEC).
There was plenty to like about these Gators in the first half. They took chances going downfield in the passing game. There was a 47-yard pass to TJ Abrams in the first quarter, a 57-yard DJ Lagway to J Michael Sturdivant touchdown pass in the second and a terrific 18-yard completion from Lagway to Abrams after a fumbled snap. Even in the third quarter there was a Lagway to Tony Livingston pass that went for 38 yards as Livingston tightroped the sideline.
The second half was more a case of a lack of depth catching up with the Gators than anything else. Despite Lane Kiffin constantly running in fresh troops the defense bent plenty but broke only once. Ole Miss earned one TD and that had everything to do with Kewan Lacy breaking through the line and racing 59 yards before he was stopped short of the goal. That put Ole Miss ahead 27-24. There was a second Ole Miss touchdown but it was a late game fourth quarter gift when the Gators were desperately trying to move the ball out of the shadow of their own goal posts.
Two other times Ole Miss got inside the Florida five only to get stuffed at the two in the third quarter, at the three in the fourth.
The Gators had a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter after Ole Miss had taken the lead, but on the 11th play of a drive that got them to the Ole Miss 30, Lagway had a pass tipped at the line and into the hands of Ole Miss linebacker Suntarine Perkins.
It was a loss and there are no moral victories in a season gone south. It’s a bottom line game and the bottom line is seven losses. It’s great to say next man up, but even those teams at the top of the SEC would have difficulties winning if they endured the number of injuries that have reduced the Gators to a shell of the team that was expected to win a lot of ball games.
There are two ways to look at the remaining two home games – Tennessee on Saturday and Florida State the following weekend. One is that this nightmare of a season can conclude mercifully and the folks who write the checks can aggregate the funds it will take to make a Godfather offer to Lane Kiffin. The second is that the Gators can see if they can string four halves of football together equal to or greater than what we saw Saturday night in Oxford.
I want Lane Kiffin as the next football coach at Florida, but I also want to see the Gators give the Vols and the Seminoles more than they bargained for. That’s not too much to ask, is it?
Associated Press top 25: 1. Ohio State 10-0; 2. Indiana 11-0; 3. Texas A&M 10-0; 4. Georgia 9-1; 5. Ole Miss 10-1; 6. (TIE) Oregon 9-1; Texas Tech 10-1; 8. Oklahoma 8-2; 9. Notre Dame 8-2; 10. Alabama 8-2; 11. BYU 9-1; 12. Vanderbilt 8-2; 13. Utah 8-3; 14. Miami 8-2; 15. Georgia Tech 9-1; 16. Southern California 8-2; 17. Texas 7-3; 18. Michigan 8-2; 19. Virginia 9-2; 20. Tennessee 7-3; 21. James Madison 9-1; 22. North Texas 9-1; 23. Missouri 7-3; 24. Tulane 8-2; 25. Houston 8-2
AFCA Coaches top 25: 1. Ohio State 10-0; 2. Indiana 11-0; 3. Texas A&M 10-0; 4. Georgia 9-1; 5. Oregon 9-1; 6. Ole Miss 10-1; 7. Texas Tech 10-1; 8. Oklahoma 8-2; 9. Notre Dame 8-2; 10. Alabama 8-2; 11. BYU 9-1; 12. Georgia Tech 9-1; 13. Vanderbilt 8-2; 14. Utah 8-3; 15. Miami 8-2; 16. Southern California 8-2; 17. Michigan 8-2; 18. Texas 7-3; 19. Virginia 9-2; 20. Tennessee 7-3; 21. Missouri 7-3; 22. James Madison 9-1; 23. North Texas 9-1; 24. Houston 8-2; 25. Tulane 8-2
SEC FOOTBALL
(Associate Press Rankings)
No. 10 Alabama (8-2, 6-1 SEC): Despite the loss to Oklahoma, Alabama needs only to beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl to make it to the SEC Championship Game. Bama beat Georgia in Athens and owns the tiebreaker. Saturday: Eastern Illinois (3-8)
Arkansas (2-8, 0-6 SEC): The Razorbacks have lost eight in a row. They were held to 340 yards by LSU, their lowest total of the season. Saturday: at Texas (7-3, 4-2 SEC)
Auburn (4-6, 1-6 SEC): Cam Newton’s advice on the next Auburn football coach: “Number one, find yourself somebody who can recruit. You can’t go to the Kentucky Derby with donkeys. Need a stallion.” Saturday: Mercer (9-1)
No. 4 Georgia (9-1, 7-1 SEC): That Georgia is playing so well has a lot to do with the Gunner Stockton’s development. He has thrown 19 TDPs with only three interceptions and he has run for 350 yards and eight more scores. Saturday: Charlotte (1-9)
Kentucky (5-5, 2-5 SEC): The Wildcats need to only one of their final two games to become bowl eligible. Their recent improvement has probably punched Mark Stoops’ ticket as the UK coach in 2026. Saturday: at No. 12 Vanderbilt (8-2, 4-2 SEC)
LSU (6-4, 3-4 SEC): Backup QB Michael Van Buren, filling in for injured Garrett Nussmeier, led the Tigers to a win over Arkansas when he directed a 12-play, 92-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter. Nussmeier was a pre-game scratch because of a lingering abdominal injury.
Mississippi State (5-6, 1-6 SEC): Although Mike Elko of Texas A&M is a mortal lock to be SEC Coach of the Year, Jeff Lebby should get consideration for the job he’s done with Mississippi State. The Bulldogs have won three more games than last year and with a break or two could easily be sitting 7-4.
No. 23 Missouri (7-3, 3-3 SEC): Ahmad Hardy carried 25 times for 300 yards and three touchdowns against Mississippi State. He leads the SEC and the nation in rushing with 1,346 yards. Saturday: at No. 8 Oklahoma (8-2, 4-2 SEC)
No. 8 Oklahoma (8-2, 4-2 SEC): The Sooners gained only 212 yards but still beat Alabama because the defense forced three turnovers including a pick six and a late fumble that killed off Alabama’s chances to pull out the game. Saturday: No. 23 Missouri (7-3, 3-3 SEC)
No. 5 Ole Miss (10-1, 6-1 SEC): Kewan Lacy carried 31 times for 224 yards and three touchdowns in the Rebels’ 34-24 win over Florida. Lacy leads the SEC and is tied for the national lead in touchdowns with 19.
South Carolina (3-7, 1-7 SEC): For a half we saw the South Carolina we expected to see all year as the Gamecocks built a 30-3 lead over Texas A&M. Then came the second half and total collapse on both sides of the ball. The Gamecocks had 312 yards of first half offense, but only 66 in the second half. The defense allowed 371 second half yards after giving up only 132 in the first half. Saturday: Coastal Carolina (3-7)
No. 20 Tennessee (7-3, 3-3 SEC): Sophomore DB Boo Carter, suspended for the New Mexico State game, is no longer with the team as per an On3 report. Carter had 25 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. Saturday: at FLORIDA (3-7, 2-5 SEC)
No. 17 Texas (7-3, 4-2 SEC): Any chance the Longhorns have of making the College Football playoff depends on winning the last two games. Arkansas should be a no-brainers, but beating the Aggies at home Thanksgiving weekend could swing votes their way to make it as an at-large team. Saturday: Arkansas (2-8, 0-6 SEC)
No. 3 Texas A&M (10-0, 7-0 SEC): The Aggies rewarded HBC Mike Elko with a six-year contract extension that will pay him in excess of $10 million a year. Saturday: Samford (1-10)
No. 12 Vanderbilt (8-2, 4-2 SEC): The Commodores could set the all-time schook record for wins in a season if they can beat Kentucky and Tennessee in the final two games of the season. Saturday: Kentucky (5-5, 2-5 SEC)
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PICTURE
ACC: There is a 4-team logjam at the top between Georgia Tech (9-1), Virginia (9-2), Pittsburgh (7-3) and SMU (7-3), all with one ACC loss. Pitt at Georgia Tech is a Saturday elimination game for the loser. If Georgia Tech wins it’s in the ACC championship game. If Pitt wins there is still Miami to deal with in two weeks. Virginia only has Virginia Tech to deal with in two weeks. SMU still has to play Louisville and California. Prediction: ACC championship game winner, nobody else.
Big Ten: Ohio State (9-0) and Indiana (10-0) are on a collision course to play in the Big Ten championship game. The question on everyone’s mind is will the Buckeyes be undefeated. They have to play Michigan (8-2), whom they haven’t beaten since 2019. Oregon (9-1), Southern Cal (8-2) and Michigan all have only one loss in league play. Oregon and Southern Cal play in two weeks, so one of them will be eliminated. Michigan has to play Ohio State. Win and the Wolverines probably get in. Lose and they’re out. Prediction: Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon.
Big 12: Texas Tech (10-1) has clinched the league championship game. BYU (9-1) can make the championship game with wins over Cincinnati and UCF. If the Cougars win two and then beat Texas Tech in the championship game, then there is a chance for two Big 12 teams. Prediction: Texas Tech
SEC: Texas A&M (10-0), Georgia (9-1) and Ole Miss (10-1)
Notre Dame: The Irish are 8-2 with two easy games to go. They’ll win, get in the playoff and spark another debate about how unfair it is that ND doesn’t have to play in a conference championship game. Prediction: Notre Dame
Group of Five
South Florida (7-3) has played its way out of the picture. If North Texas (9-1) wins its last two and then wins the conference championship game that should seal the deal as the Group of Five rep. Tulane (8-2) seems the most likely American championship game opponent. Should the Mean Green falter it would open the door for James Madison (9-1) of the Sun Belt, provided of course that the Dukes win three more games. Nobody is paying attention to San Diego State (8-2) which actually might be the best team in the Group of Five. Prediction: North Texas
As one of the press corp. correctly stated - the second half was called by a temporary OC that is too much like CBN. He got scared and reverted to Billy ball.
Saw life, hope, imaginative play-calling and plenty of character from a seriously outmanned Gator team. I believe by December 1 Lane Kiffjn will be lighting the fire within our program. Hope you’re getting back on your feet, as well.