Reality Check: What Florida’s First Loss Exposed, and the Road Ahead

The unbeaten start is over. What Florida does with the next four weeks will decide whether Saturday in Columbia was a stumble or a warning.

No. 25 Missouri beat No. 8 Florida 45-17 at Faurot Field, scoring 35 straight points after a 10-10 tie. The Gators fell to 4-1 and 2-1 in the SEC. Here is what the night exposed and what comes next.

The trouble spots

Stopping the run. Missouri ran for 220 yards, and Jamal Roberts accounted for 211 of them, with three touchdowns and an 80-yard run in the fourth quarter. Florida’s defense also gave up 340 passing yards to Austin Simmons. Missouri finished with 560 total yards.

Running the ball. Florida managed 42 rushing yards. Jadan Baugh, who scored three times in the 52-28 win over Ole Miss a week earlier, never got loose, and that left Aaron Philo throwing from behind. Philo finished 21 of 34 for 197 yards and a touchdown.

Third downs and flags. The Gators converted 6 of 16 third downs and were penalized eight times for 80 yards. The one positive in the box score: no turnovers.

The road from here

There is no soft landing. South Carolina comes to The Swamp on Saturday, Oct. 10. Florida goes to Texas on Oct. 17, then gets its open date before facing Georgia in Atlanta on Oct. 31 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC).

November brings Oklahoma at home on Nov. 7, a trip to Kentucky on Nov. 14 and Vanderbilt at home on Nov. 21. The regular season ends Friday, Nov. 27, at Florida State (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC).

After the 4-0 start, Jon Sumrall said this week, “I’m not celebrating anything,” according to The Independent Florida Alligator. The Gators get their first chance to respond to a loss against South Carolina next week.

Editor’s note: Statistics are from ESPN’s box score. Postgame quotes and analysis from Franz Beard and Buddy Martin are coming. Game story: “Roberts Runs Away With It: No. 25 Missouri Routs No. 8 Florida 45-17.”