Roberts Runs Away, Missouri Routs Florida 45-17

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Jamal Roberts ran for 211 yards and three touchdowns, Austin Simmons threw for 340 yards, and No. 25 Missouri handed No. 8 Florida its first loss of the season, 45-17, Saturday at Faurot Field.

Florida defensive end Emmanuel Oyebadejo (99) pressures Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons, one of the few times Simmons felt heat Saturday. UAA Photo

Graphic by GatorBait Media; stats from ESPN

Florida’s official account posted the final from Columbia: @GatorsFB on X

Florida arrived 4-0 and fresh off a 52-28 rout of Ole Miss. It left 4-1 and 2-1 in the SEC with its lowest point total of the season and a 35-point avalanche to answer for.

35 unanswered

The game was tied 10-10 after Aaron Philo found Dallas Wilson for a 12-yard touchdown with 4:26 left in the first half. Missouri scored the next 35 points.

Simmons hit Caleb Goodie Sr. for a 31-yard score with 2:05 left in the half, and Blake Craig drilled a 50-yard field goal with 3 seconds left to make it 20-10 at the break. Roberts capped the first drive of the third quarter with a 5-yard touchdown run, and Craig added a 52-yarder.

Then Roberts broke the game open. His 77-yard run in the final minute of the third quarter set up his 1-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, and Simmons hit Cayden Lee for the two-point conversion. After a Florida punt, Roberts went 80 yards on Missouri’s next snap to make it 45-10 with 13:33 left.

Backup quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. completed all five of his passes for 86 yards late, including a 42-yard touchdown to TJ Abrams with 47 seconds left.

No ground game

Jadan Baugh (13) at the goal line against Ole Miss on Sept. 26. File photo by Chris Spears, GatorBait Media

The run game that powered Florida’s 4-0 start never got going. Jadan Baugh finished with 13 yards on 12 carries, and the Gators ran for 42 yards as a team. Missouri outgained Florida 560-325.

Philo completed 21 of 34 passes for 197 yards and the touchdown to Wilson, who caught four passes for 66 yards. Florida converted 6 of 16 third downs and was flagged eight times for 80 yards. Neither team turned the ball over.

Simmons completed 23 of 30 passes, and Lee caught eight for 110 yards. Craig kicked field goals of 32, 50 and 52 yards.

What’s next

Florida returns to Gainesville to face South Carolina on Oct. 10, then travels to No. 1 Texas on Oct. 17.

Editor’s note: Quick postgame report from the GatorBait desk. Stats from ESPN. Full analysis from Franz Beard and Buddy Martin to come.