Florida vs South Carolina: Rain Could Turn Homecoming Into a Mud Bowl

The rain in Spain may indeed fall mainly on the plain, but Saturday there is a very good chance the rain in Gainesville will fall on Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, which could turn the Gators' game with South Carolina into a slip sliding wet grass mess. The latest out of Las Vegas has 16th-ranked Florida (4-1, 2-1 SEC) favored by 11.5 points against a South Carolina (2-3, 0-3 SEC) team still reeling from last week blowing a 17-0 lead and losing to Kentucky in overtime.

The visiting Gamecocks don't lack for talent, especially on offense. The numbers bear that out. South Carolina ranks third in the SEC in total offense — 491 yards per game, 256 on the ground and 235 through the air — but the Gamecocks struggle to put teams away. However, the Florida defense the Gamecocks will face is coming off a game in which Missouri threw for 340 yards and ran for 220 while lighting up the scoreboard for 45 points. South Carolina offensive coordinator Kendal Briles has to see this as an opportunity for the Gamecocks to move the ball and put points on the board.

This is where the rain might come into play in a frustrating way for the Gators. South Carolina does run the football well, which typically is a necessity for winning in rainy conditions with a soggy field. Complicating matters for the Florida defense is quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who is averaging 7.38 yards on designed runs and scrambles.

Can the Florida defense contain the running game and keep Sellers in the pocket?

"When he [Sellers] gets out of the pocket he's really dangerous," Florida defensive coordinator Brad White said. "You saw the run against Kentucky when they had him for a sack in the backfield. He escapes and then he goes for 70-whatever to set up a score."

Sellers' dual threat ability makes running back Matt Fuller even more dangerous. He's run for 433 yards (6.1 per carry). Backup Jabree Coleman is a breakaway threat who averages 8.65 per carry. These guys on a field made slick by the rain will be a challenge, particularly if South Carolina can get the lead and then play keep away by running the ball down the Gators' throats.

The Gators proved in SEC wins over Auburn and Ole Miss that they are very good when they have the lead. The rain that could benefit South Carolina's run game could have the same effect on Florida.

And, this is the type of game where getting the lead and holding it with the run could be the key to winning. The odds of Florida winning are much greater if the Gators can pick and choose when to throw because they've got the running game going.

If UF is behind and forced to throw, things could be a bit dicey. When the Gators fell behind Missouri last week and were put in a must throw situation, they performed rather poorly. Aaron Philo struggled to find receivers open downfield, so the dink and dunk approach was good for only 5.8 yards per pass attempt. It's rare to win games when averaging less than 7.0 yards per attempt against SEC defenses.

"We've got to be able to run football," Florida offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner said. "It was kind of the way the [Missouri] game unfolded. Probably got away from it in the second half when you get down. We're not built for that right now, right?"

Throwing the ball will be a necessity as well, but if the Gators can get Jadan Baugh and Duke Clark untracked in the running game, it will allow Faulkner to pick and choose when he wants Philo passing. It has been raining all week in Gainesville, so Philo has had opportunities to work with a wet ball in practice.

"The good thing is we've got rain early this week and you just go out in the rain and do it," Faulkner said.

INJURY REPORT

South Carolina: DB Jalewis Solomon, WR Jayden Sellers, EDGE Koby Sakyi-Prah and OL Josiah Thompson out; WR Mazeo Bennett Jr. and OL Carter Miller questionable; and DB Quay'sheed Scott, EDGE Julian Walker and DL Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy doubtful.

FLORIDA: WR Vernell Brown III and RB/KR London Montgomery questionable; S Bryce Thornton and CB Dijon Johnson probable.

COUNTDOWN TO FIRING DAY: OCTOBER 8, 2026 EDITION

EXTINCT SPECIES LIST

A lot of nervous people in Columbia, South Carolina. Stay tuned if South Carolina goes belly up in Gainesville.

ON LIFE SUPPORT

Shane Beamer, South Carolina: The knock on Beamer is he beats the non-conference teams he's supposed to beat then goes into the tank against the SEC. The hire of Kendal Briles has done wonders for the offense, but the defense stinks and the Beamers are 0-3 in SEC play. A Saturday loss combined with the schedule that is ahead spells the end of Beamer Ball in South Carolina, maybe as early as this weekend if the loss to the Gators is a blowout.

Mike Norvell, Florida State: There is bad news and here is bad news for FSU. First the bad news. The Seminoles could actually beat Louisville which could be playing without its starting QB. Now for the really bad news, a win will make the Seminoles 4-2 which gets Norvell closer to you can't touch me territory. Six or seven wins combined with his buyout means Norvell is close to untouchable status for the remainder of this year. They want Norvell gone. The bad news is he's liable to get to six or seven wins and force Richmond to keep him at least around another year.

Dave Doeren, North Carolina State: The Wolfpack are 3-2 and the next three are all winnable games. Doeren's history is 7-5 or 8-5. The fans want championships not another trip to scenic Birmingham or Shreveport.

Mike Locksley, Maryland: The last thing a coach whose team has lost three straight and has given up 102 points combined in the last two is a trip to the Horseshoe. After Ohio State delivers a ritual beatdown Saturday odds are that Locks won't be the head coach of the Turtles on Monday.

Greg Schiano, Rutgers: The good news is Rutgers cannot lose this week but that's only because it's an open date. Next week the Scarlet Knights travel to Maryland, where they might be facing a team with a brand new head coach. It's probably the last chance Rutgers (1-4) has a chance to win. Schiano is actually a good coach, but Rutgers is the football equivalent of a toxic waste dump.

Bill O'Brien, Boston College: The Eagles are 2-3. That's the good news. The bad news is any win from here on out will be a major upset. OB is a good coach, but like Schiano at Rutgers, he's coaching at a place that is light years beyond the reach of the living. No chance of losing this week. Open date.

Bill Belichick, North Carolina: For three quarters the Fighting Belichicks had a chance against mighty Notre Dame. Unfortunately games last four quarters and by the time the final 15 minutes rolled around UNC was gassed. The Tar Heels are 2-2 and a 6-win season is do-able. That might keep the boosters from demanding a new coach.

ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST

Dell McGee, Georgia State: The Panthers are off to a surprising 4-1 start and they're averaging 39 points per game. There are two or three winnable games on the remaining schedule. A 7-5 record certainly seals the deal that he will be back next year, but 6-6 could do it.

Deion Sanders, Colorado: Prime Time is always good for sound bites and attention. The folks in Colorado wish he was good for more wins. The Buffs are 2-3 with three straight losses. Next two are Utah and (at) Oklahoma State. Once the record goes to 2-5, the clock starts ticking for Deion.

Dave Aranda, Baylor: Here's a shocker for you. DJ Lagway threw four TD passes last week without an interception. The Bears have won four straight and they have a week off to get ready for TCU, which is struggling. There are at least three very winnable games on the schedule. If DJ can remember to throw to people wearing the same color shirt as he's wearing, the Bears could easily get to eight wins this year. DJ couldn't save a coaching job last year, but he might save Dave Aranda's.

Lincoln Riley, Southern Cal: Yes, the Trojans are 5-1, but it's the same old, same old for every Riley-coached team. They can score points and lots of them. They can give up points and lots of them. The faithful believe the Trojans should be in the hunt for a national title every year, so they are growing weary of Riley's all offense, no defense approach.

Butch Jones, Arkansas State: If Butch can find a way to get the Red Wolves to a fourth straight bowl game and maybe a third straight bowl win, the faithful will be happy. Jonesboro, Arkansas isn't exactly the garden spot of the earth so winning seasons, even the 7-6 type, should be celebrated.

Brent Venables, Oklahoma: Yes, they gave him a contract extension but that was when folks thought the Sooners were going to have an offense capable of scoring points against an all-star team from a convent. It's unlikely he gets canned this year, but it's possible if the Sooners go in the tank. There is no Plan B for the offense.

Dabo Swinney, Clemson: The folks at IPTAY aren't happy campers, but unless they take out their brains every evening to play with them, they'll do their best to let Dabo leave Clemson on his own terms. He's 10 wins away from 200. Once he gets to 200, he's fair game to be fired or to announce he's riding off into the sunset.