The Gators will need a repeat of their defensive effort vs. UCF to beat Tennessee (Photo by Chris Spears) A few thoughts to jump start your Tuesday morning: It was just a couple of weeks ago that the Tennessee Vols were being talked up as a national championship contender. Three games, three blowouts. The Vols had it all going for them. Then came two road trips, a sputtering offense and a loss to unranked Arkansas.   Suddenly, the Vols look quite vulnerable. Is it a case of the Vols are monsters at home,  quite beatable on the road? Or have they been exposed?   Either way, Florida’s task is quite simple Saturday (7 p.m., ESPN) when the Gators (3-2, 1-1 SEC) take on the 8th-ranked Vols (4-1, 1-1 SEC) at Neyland Stadium – No turnovers, pass protect, stuff the run and eliminate the big plays in the passing game. For the first time in quite awhile against a Division I opponent, the Gators were rock solid in every phase when they took down UCF, 24-13.   The question that should be on everybody’s mind is can they do it two weeks in a row?   Meanwhile, Tennessee’s blur offense has been slowed to a creep at Oklahoma and Arkansas. The Vols were averaging a point a minute in their first three games. They scored two touchdowns, kicked three field goals and got a safety in a 25-15 win over Oklahoma in Norman. Against Arkansas, the Vols were held scoreless in the first half for the first time since 2019 when the Gators built up a 17-0 lead at the half and cruised to a 34-3 win at The Swamp.   Tennessee lost two of its next three games after losing to the Gators in 2019, then the Vols caught fire and went on to win their next six games to finish 8-5. Florida finished 11-2 that year and the Gator defense wound up 9th nationally overall, 7th in scoring defense and 8th against the run. The Gators forced 33 turnovers and sacked opposing quarterbacks 47 times.   Florida’s defense is nowhere close to those 2019 numbers, but their Saturday night performance against UCF offered a ray of hope that the Gators are improving. Playing at Neyland Stadium the Vols are likely to be better offensively than they’ve been the past two weeks, but can the Gators keep them from revving up and going beast mode?   Over on the other side of the ball, the Gators have to give Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway time to throw the football. In the past two games, the two have combined to complete 47-56 passes (83.9 percent) for 506 yards (9.03 per attempt) and four touchdowns without an interception. The UF offensive line hasn’t allowed a sack in either of the last two games, and only five all season, which ranks second in the SEC.   Whether Tennessee’s offense has soured or just suffering road woes, Florida’s task doesn’t change. No turnovers, pass block, stuff the run and keep big plays in the passing game to a minimum. Do those things and the Gators have a real chance to win. Associated Press top 25: 1. Texas 5-0; 2. Ohio State 5-0; 3. Oregon 5-0; 4. Penn State 5-0; 5. Georgia 4-1; 6. Miami 6-0; 7. Alabama 4-1; 8. Tennessee 4-1; 9. Ole Miss 5-1; 10. Clemson 4-1; 11. (TIE) Iowa State 5-0 and Notre Dame 4-1; 13. LSU 4-1; 14. BYU 5-0; 15. Texas A&M 5-1; 16. Utah 4-1; 17. Boise State 4-1; 18. (Tie) Indiana 6-0, Oklahoma 4-1 and Kansas State 4-1; 21. Missouri 4-1; 22. Pittsburgh 5-0; 23. Illinois 4-1; 24. Michigan 4-2; 25. SMU 5-1   AFCA Coaches top 25: 1. Texas 5-0; 2. Ohio State 5-0; 3. Oregon 5-0; 4. Georgia 4-1; 5. Penn State 5-0; 6. Miami 6-0; 7. Alabama 4-1; 8. Ole Miss 5-1; 9. Tennessee 4-1; 10. LSU 4-1; 11. Clemson 4-1; 12. Notre Dame 4-1; 13. Iowa State 5-0; 14. Texas A&M 5-1; 15. BYU 5-0; 16. Oklahoma 4-1; 17. Utah 4-1; 18. Missouri 4-1; 19. Kansas State 4-1; 20. Indiana 6-0; 21. Michigan 4-2; 22. Boise State 4-1; 23. Illinois 4-1; 24. Pittsburgh 5-0; 25. SMU 5-1   SEC FOOTBALL No. 7 Alabama (4-1, 1-1 SEC): Defensive lineman Jeheim Oatis, who has started 13 games in his Bama career, is taking a redshirt to enter into the transfer portal. Next Saturday: South Carolina (3-2, 1-2 SEC)   Arkansas (3-2, 2-1SEC): QB Derek Singleton was selected SEC Freshman of the Week for his role in the Razorbacks’ upset win over Tennessee. David Carmona was selected SEC Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week. Next Saturday: Open   Auburn (2-4, 0-3 SEC): The bad news is Auburn has lost three straight games. The even worse news is Hugh Freeze is sticking with Payton Thorne at QB. Next Saturday: Open   No. 5 Georgia (4-1, 2-1 SEC): Trevor Etienne had his best game in a Georgia uniform against Auburn, running for 88 yards and two touchdowns while catching six passes out of the backfield for 36 yards. Next Saturday: Mississippi State (1-4, 0-2 SEC)   Kentucky (3-2, 1-2 SEC): Despite Vanderbilt’s stunning, 40-35, win over then No. 1 Alabama, Kentucky opens as a 12.5-point favorite over the Commodores. Next Saturday: Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-2 SEC)   No. 13 LSU (4-1, 1-0 SEC): LSU’s defense ranks 14th in the SEC, but their 353.6 yards allowed per game represents an improvement of 63 yards per game. Next Saturday: No. 9 Ole Miss (5-1, 1-1 SEC)   Mississippi State (1-4, 0-2 SEC): Next Saturday: at No. 5 Georgia (4-1, 1-1 SEC) No. 21 Missouri (4-1, 1-1 SEC): Against the Aggies, QB Brady Cook completed only 13-31 passes for 186 yards and a TD. Cook was sacked six times.  Next Saturday: at UMass (1-5)   No. 18 Oklahoma (4-1, 1-1 SEC): The Sooners are expected to give freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. his second straight start at quarterback. Next Saturday: No. 1 Texas (5-0, 1-0 SEC) in Dallas   No. 9 Ole Miss (5-1, 1-1 SEC): Suntarine Perkins was selected SEC Defensive Player of the Week and Walter Nolen was selected SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week.    Next Saturday: at No. 13 LSU (4-1, 1-0 SEC)   South Carolina (3-2, 1-2 SEC): The Gamecocks have allowed 22 sacks, worst in both the SEC and the nation. Next Saturday: at No. 7 Alabama (4-1, 1-1 SEC)   No. 8 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC): In their first three games this season, the Vols gained 1,918 yards and scored 191 points. In their last two, the Vols have gained 677 yards while scoring 44 points. Next Saturday: FLORIDA (3-2, 1-1 SEC)   No. 1 Texas (5-0, 1-0 SEC): Quinn Ewers, out the last two games with an injury, took reps with the first team offense last week. While Ewers was out, Arch Manning completed 41-60 passes for 583 yards and four touchdowns. Next Saturday: No. 18 Oklahoma (4-1, 1-1 SEC) in Dallas   No. 15 Texas A&M (4-1, 3-0 SEC):  Conner Weigman, in his first game back in three weeks, completed 18-22 passes for 276 yards. He also ran for 33 yards … Punter Tyler White was selected SEC Special Teams Player of the Week. Next Saturday: Open   Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-2 SEC): QB Diego Pavia was the SEC Offensive Player of the Week for leading the Commodores to their upset win over Alabama. Gunnar Hansen was selected SEC Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week, Miles Caper was selected SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week and placekicker Brock Taylor was selected SEC Co-Special Teams of the Week. Next Saturday: at Kentucky (3-2, 1-2 SEC)   AROUND THE STATE Florida Atlantic (2-3, 0-1 American): The Owls lead the AAC in pass defense, giving up just 134.4 yards per game. Next Saturday: North Texas (4-1, 1-0 American)   Florida International (2-3, 1-0 Conference USA): The Panthers are 20-point underdogs against Liberty Tuesday night. Next Tuesday: at Liberty (4-0, 2-0 Conference USA)   Florida State (1-5, 1-4 ACC): The Seminoles have yet to gain at least 300 yards in a game this season. In the loss to Clemson, FSU gained only 250 yards. FSU ranks next to last nationally in rushing, averaging just 58 yards per game. Next Saturday: Open   No. 6 Miami (6-0, 2-0 ACC): Miami rallied to a 39-38 win over California despite trailing 35-10 in the third quarter … QB Cam Ward has thrown for 2,219 yards and 20 touchdowns. Next Saturday: Open   South Florida (2-3, 0-1 American): The Bulls are 6-point underdogs at home for Saturday’s game with Memphis … South Florida ranks dead last in the AAC in pass defense. Next Friday: Memphis (4-1, 1-0 American)   UCF (3-2, 1-1 Big 12): UCF is a 3.5-point favorite for Saturday’s game with Cincinnati. Saturday: Cincinnati (3-2, 0-1 Big 12)   COUNTDOWN TO FIRING DAY: WEEK FIVE  On Life Support Billy Napier, Florida: Was the win over UCF a sign that the great turnaround has begun or, as Buddy Martin calls it, a stay of execution? The Gators are in Knoxville Saturday. A win will shock the world. A blowout loss and things could be ugly.       Stan Drayton, Temple:   Shirley Temple is 1-5, but Saturday the Owls play Tulsa, which is winnable. Maybe.   Sonny Cumbie, Louisiana Tech:   Lousy Tech is 1-3, but the next three games are winnable. If he wants to save his job, Sonny-boy has to win all three.   Joe Moorhead, Akron:   The Zips are 1-5 and there isn’t a winnable game left on the schedule. Maybe Joe can get a job as an OC somewhere. He’s good at that.   Will Hall, Southern Miss:   The situation is grim and that’s looking on the bright side. If they had any money at Southern Miss he would already be gone.   Mike Bloomgren, Rice:   The Owls are 1-4. If Bloomgren wins three of the next eight he probably survives. Firing is such a messy thing at a school whose average SAT scores are stratospheric.   Mike Neu, Ball State: The Cards almost won a game, which is a serious improvement since they lost the one before that by 56. Neu is 38-59. Time to get the Sharpie and cardboard out to write a “Will coach for beer” sign.   Dave Aranda, Baylor: The Bears need four more wins to become bowl eligible and even then it will be a dicey situation for a guy who was once thought to be the coaching equivalent of the next great thing.   Endangered Species List Hugh Freeze, Auburn: The natives are really, really restless, asking themselves who told Hugh Freeze Payton Thorne could play QB in the SEC? Auburn is 2-4 with maybe one more winnable game on the schedule. He probably survives, but next year he’ll be on a choker leash.       Mike Houston, East Carolina: He lost to Charlotte, not exactly conducive for long term job security. He’s 3-3 this year and he needs a 4-2 finish.   Clay Helton, Georgia Southern: A big game this week with Marshall. It’s in Statesboro so the Eagles could move to 4-2. He should get six wins. Seven is entirely possible.      Jim McElwain, Central Michigan: Old Yeller needs three wins to stay gainfully employed, but four would make it nearly impossible to dismiss him.   Don Brown, UMass: The Minutemen are 1-5. They really can’t afford to fire Brown. They really can’t afford to put any money into the football program, either.   Mike Norvell, Florida State: The good news is QB DJ Uigalelei broke his finger and is out awhile. The bad news is nothing changed with Brock Glenn at QB. FSU still stinks.   ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Roland Thornqvist announced his retirement as the coach of Florida’s women’s tennis team Monday. Thornqvist led the Florida program for 23 years, winning four NCAA titles, 11 SEC regular season championships and 10 SEC Tournament championships. The Gators were NCAA runners-up twice and made it to the semifinals an additional five times.   After two seasons as the head coach at Kansas and three at his alma mater, North Carolina, Thornqvist took over the Florida program from legendary Andi Brandi. He finishes his Florida career 472-90 overall, 211-31 in SEC play.   Associate head coach Jeremy Bayon will serve as the interim head coach while athletic director Scott Stricklin initiates a national search for a replacement for Thornqvist.

You could feel the old Swamp vibes buzzing, if only for the 30 minutes when Napier’s team woke up the echoes, even if turns out to have been Fool’s Gold. GAINESVILLE – So this is what it’s like to follow a winning football team again, even if just a tad over .500? It’s been a long drink of water since Gator fans felt this way. But on the same Saturday that the mighty had fallen elsewhere, as the SEC was littered with shocking out outcomes, perhaps the Gators were inspired  with a half-glass-full of hope. You could feel the old Swamp vibes buzzing, if only for the 30 minutes when Napier’s team woke up the echoes, even if turns out to have been Fool’s Gold. Damn, it felt good -- those flashbacks when Florida was Florida. Hey, when you are parched on a desert, even just a sip of water is heaven. There was joy again in Hogville. At least for a half when Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway had the offense humming and Gus Malzahn’s attack was on mute. Then it flipped and Napier went on snooze control. There were some defensive gems – a pass rush that made key stops and rung up five sacks of KJ Jefferson. But was that enough? For the first time in SEC history, two Top Five teams lost to unranked teams. And by the way, other surprises — to wit: • #1 Alabama loses to Vanderbilt • #4 Tennessee loses to Arkansas • #9 Missouri loses to Texas A&M • #10 Michigan loses to Washington • #11 USC loses to Minnesota • #22 Louisville loses to SMU   I’m not saying Napier did enough to save his job, but we gained some perspective on how quickly fortunes can change. And give Billy some credit. This time he and his players promised things would be different, and they were – especially on defense.    We saw some pressure, composure, playmaking and the intelligence to stay in their lanes, the elimination of stupid penalties (although eight is too many), third and fourth down stops, QB sacks and a game-clinching interception by Bryce Thornton.    Napier summed it up concisely:   “I think defensively, to hold this group to 108 yards rushing and to have really got after the quarterback a little bit, two big fourth down stops and we were really good on third down, you know, so I think defensively, (we) took some steps in the right direction. We played a good half of football on offense. Felt both quarterbacks were really sharp. We had good balance. I thought that overall we played some good situational football before the half and then we sputtered a little bit. They had the ball quite a bit in the second half and I think we had three real possessions and we struggled to move it.”   Many of my colleagues will be critical of the way Napier sat on his 24-3 halftime lead like a mother hen tending to hatchlings, to a point of allowing Malzahn back in the game. And that’s a valid point – he played not to lose. However, when the nest has been bare for a long time, one might understand why he would be cautious.   I prefer to focus on these positives for the moment, given highlights have been sparse lately:   Once again, the QBs were super accurate, took care of the football, garnered 359 yards of offense as Mertz went 19x23 and Lagway was 4x4, including a 32-yard strike to Chimere Dike that set up a score.   So the road ahead looks rocky, but it is also a plague shared by some of the heavyweights who have lost their punching power. Would you believe at the moment the 2-0 Texas A&M Aggies look like the best team in the power-laden SEC?   Does this also mean Florida and Vandy are no longer the SEC punching bags? Napier waxed hopeful: “Now that they've been out there and no had some success, they'll want to work harder in the future, so we, I don't know, we had a ton of young players that played for sure, but, again, I think we have 20 seniors maybe, so there's a bunch of players out there that are in their first, second, third, fourth year.”   Sounds like a hopeful man, but not yet with a plan that could spare him.

If UF terminates Billy Napier when will it happen and who will replace him (Photo by Chris Spears) Dilemma: A situation that requires a choice between options that are or seem equally unfavorable or unsatisfactory.   This is what we have at the University of Florida when it comes to Billy Napier and the football program. We have a football coach – Billy Napier – that everyone agrees is a nice, high character man who has transformed the locker room culture but hasn’t transformed the football team into one that wins on the field. We also have boosters and a fan base that have given up on the hope that Napier can turn the Gators around. Eight straight losses to Division I teams will do that to you.   Napier believes he can still win at Florida. As of Wednesday night at his midweek press conference, Napier was planning to take the Gators to Starkville to face Mississippi State. He still sees a pathway to a fourth year on the job at UF.   That’s in contrast to both boosters and a large chunk of the fan base who not only want him gone but wonder why he wasn’t fired last Saturday when the Gators were clocked by Texas A&M. It wasn’t just the loss to the Aggies that got the boosters and fans riled. It was the way the Gators lost. It was too much like too many losses the previous two seasons. Everyone bought into an improved team in 2024 but if they’ve taken one step forward, it seems they’ve taken two steps backward.   Hence the dilemma for the higher ups at Florida who ultimately make the tough decisions: Do you placate the people who write the big checks by canning Napier as soon as possible or do you play the waiting game, knowing that as bad as things seem now, they could get worse, or Napier can rally the team to win five more games to make the Gators bowl eligible?   The Gators 5.5-point favorites to get their first Division I win since October 14, 2023 (41-39 over South Carolina) Saturday at Mississippi State. Then there is a bye week followed by UCF at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. It is entirely possible the Gators win the next two games which would put them halfway toward bowl eligibility. Losing to Mississippi State would seem to make firing Napier an easy decision since the Bulldogs are considered in worse shape than the Gators and there is a free week to get the coaching situation in order to get through the last eight games. Winning in Starkville, however, adds to the dilemma. Do you fire a coach after he’s won knowing that he has a bye week to get ready for another game that he’s capable of winning?   The optics after winning two in a row would seem to tilt things favorably for Napier, especially if the higher ups have decided to wait it out to see if he can get the Gators bowl eligible. But even if the Gators win the next two, the optics of the next six games provide an abysmal outlook – at No. 6 Tennessee; Kentucky, which had Georgia on the ropes; No. 2 Georgia in Jacksonville; at No. 1 Texas; No. 16 LSU and No. 5 Ole Miss.     If the Gators could reach out and touch bowl eligibility after that stretch of games would it prove to those intent on seeing him fired that he’s got the team on the right track? On the other hand, if there is a serious beatdown in Knoxville followed by a loss to Kentucky, it would create a firestorm among the boosters certain to bring up that old quote from Jeremy Foley: “What should be done eventually must be done immediately.”   So the Florida administration finds itself in the midst of a dilemma for which there is no satisfactory solution. Few will argue that Napier can’t and won’t be long for this job and that it is a matter of when not if he’s gone, but do you do it now or do you wait? The dilemma is when to pink slip him and move on.   That leads to Florida’s second dilemma and this one might make the first one seem like a problem easily solved by the best and brightest in a Romper Room classroom. When Napier goes, a new coach will be required, one who can reverse the downward spiral the Gators have been in since Marco Wilson chunked a shoe against LSU in 2020. Since then, Florida is 18-25 overall, 11-23 against teams from power conferences. Napier is 12-16 overall, 8-15 against teams from power conferences. But who to hire?   There are calls to back a Brinks Truck up in Urban Meyer’s driveway on Longboat Key and make him a Godfather offer, but Meyer says that ship has sailed. He doesn’t want to coach again and deal with a transfer portal that combined with NIL would kneecap him. He’s a bit too old school for today’s players who are too eager to bolt for the highest bidder. Also, he loves living in Sarasota where he can cruise out into the Gulf on his 38-foot Sea Ray. He gets his football fix on weekends at Fox, a well-paying gig that keeps him involved in the game while still allowing the time with Shelley, kids and grandkids.   Barring a miracle of burning bush proportions, scratch Meyer off the list of potential replacements.   Next on the list and the people’s choice is Lane Kiffin, who wears a visor because Spurrier was his coaching idol when he was coming up through the ranks. Lane’s wife is the former Layla Reaves, daughter of Gator great John Reaves. Florida has always been his dream job but there is this teensy little problem – Ole Miss. Kiffin has turned Ole Miss into a legitimate national power whose 2024 schedule gives him a realistic chance to not just win the Southeastern Conference championship but make a deep run in the College Football Playoff. The Rebels don’t have to play Texas, Tennessee or Missouri in the regular season and they get Georgia at home.   Here are the important dates to remember when considering the possibility Lane Kiffin would come to Florida. December 4 is the start of the early signing period, three days ahead of the Southeastern Conference Championship Game. If Ole Miss goes 11-1, which is entirely possible then the Rebels will almost certainly be in Atlanta December 7. If the Rebels win 10 games they are a lock for the CFP which begins on December 20. The quarter-finals are New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day with semifinals set January 9-10 and the championship game on January 20.   If the Rebels lose three games in the regular season, there is a real chance Kiffin will be available. Lose two or fewer and he’s in the playoff.   Two things to consider: (1) There is no way Lane Kiffin will walk out on his team if Ole Miss is in the playoff; and (2) the early signing period is a problem for Florida, which could whiff completely on a recruiting class if there isn’t a head coach in place prior to December 4.   On the assumption Lane Kiffin won’t be available and Florida is determined to hire a head coach who is enjoying success at a power conference program, the list narrows. There are good coaches out there, but which ones would leave a successful program to pick up the pieces at Florida, which will have gone through four head coaches since Meyer walked away from the UF job in 2010?   Here are a few names that seem to meet the criterion of success at a power conference program:   James Franklin, Penn State: He is 52 years old with a career record of 114-54 overall, 90-39 at Penn State where he has four 11-win seasons and one Big Ten championship. He has a salary of $8.5 million, buyout of $2 million. At Vanderbilt, he went to three bowl games in three years with back-to-back 9-win seasons, unheard of at Vandy. Penn State is currently 2-0 and ranked 10th. The schedule says 10-2 or better.   Jeff Brohm, Louisville: Brohm is 53, coaching at his alma mater where he is 12-4 with a $5.555 million salary. His buyout is only $1 million. The Cardinals are currently 2-0 and ranked 19th. Prior to Louisville, Brohm won two Conference USA championships at Western Kentucky (30-10 record), then went 36-34 at Purdue where he won a Big Ten West title. Louisville has road trips to Notre Dame, Boston College, Clemson and Kentucky remaining on the schedule with a home game against Miami.   Chris Klieman, Kansas State: Klieman is 57 years old and in his sixth season at K-State where he’s paid, $4.75 million with a $6 million buyout. Klieman is 42-24 at K-State where the Wildcats are currently ranked 13th. Klieman came to K-State after winning four D1AA national championships at North Dakota State where he compiled a 69-6 record. Klieman won the 2022 Big 12 championship. The Wildcats have games remaining on their schedule at BYU and Iowa State and home games with Kansas and Oklahoma State.   Lance Leipold, Kansas: Leipold is 60 and in his fourth season at Kansas where he makes $5.75 million with a $6 million buyout. When he took over, KU was the worst program in college football but he’s 18-23 (9-4 last year) and has taken the Jayhawks to consecutive bowl games. Leipold was 109-6 with six DIII national championships at Wisconsin-Whitewater. He turned the program around at Buffalo where he went 37-33. At Kansas this year, the Jayhawks are 1-2 with the two losses by a combined nine points. Among the games remaining on the schedule are road trips to Kanbsas State and Brigham Young and a home game with Iowa State.   Rhett Lashlee, SMU: As a high school quarterback, his coach was Gus Malzahn. He is 41 years old and in his third year as the head coach at SMU, where he is paid $3.5 million. As an assistant he was Malzahn’s GA at Auburn, worked for Gus at Arkansas State and again at Auburn, and was the offensive coordinator at Miami under Manny Diaz and at SMU under Sonny Dykes. He is 20-10 at SMU including an 11-3 record last season when he won the American Athletic Conference title. SMU is a new member of the ACC this year.   Jedd Fisch, Washington: Fisch is a 48-year-old graduate of the University of Florida and former Steve Spurrier graduate assistant (1999-2000), whose salary at Washington is $7.7 million with a $10 million buyout. At UF his roomie was Howie Rosenbaum, the general manager of the Philadelphia Eagles. Fisch has worked as a college assistant for Jim Harbaugh and Jim Mora Jr. In the NFL, he’s worked for Mike Shanahan, Sean McVay and Bill Belichick. He is 19-22 as a college head coach. He turned around a dreadful Arizona program in three years, winning 10 games in 2023. He was Kalen DeBoer’s successor at Washington.   Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State: Gundy is 57 and in his 20th season as the head coach at Oklahoma State where he is 169-79 with one Big 12 championship. Gundy, a former Oklahoma State quarterback during his playing days, is paid $7.675 million. The Cowboys are currently ranked 14th nationally with a schedule that should result in 10 or 11 wins. Gundy offenses have averaged 400 or more yards in 18 of his previous 19 seasons.   Matt Campbell, Iowa State: The Cyclones are currently 20th-ranked under Campbell, who is paid $4 million and has an approximate $7 million buyout. Campbell is 44 years old, 55-48 and in his ninth year at Iowa State. He’s 90-63 for his career. As a player at Mount Union, Campbell was a starter on four DIII national championship teams. He won two more national championships at Mount Union as an assistant.

Chimere Dike gets yards after the catch against UCF (Photo by Chris Spears) Let’s start with the obvious. The Florida Gators (3-2) got a win they so desperately needed Saturday night at The Swamp. They didn’t go the white knuckles route nor did it require a shootout to beat UCF, 24-13. Once the game got to the second half, you could even say this was about as boring as it gets, but boring wins count just the same as the ones that leave you thinking your heart has launched from your chest and stuck in a thumping glop on the nearest wall.   If this had been a normal Saturday in the Southeastern Conference, message boards would have gone off the charts with nephews posting their uncle four times removed has inside information that Scott Stricklin is bowing to the pressure of go-zillionaire boosters ready to pull the plug on Billy Napier. But this wasn’t a normal Saturday.   Nowhere close.   The fact that perennial bottom feeder Vanderbilt, which had never beaten a top five team in its history, kneecapped No. 1 Alabama, 40-35, and Arkansas, whose coach always seems to be mentioned in the same breath as Napier on the hotseat lists, bushwhacked No. 4 Tennessee, 19-14, should have sent a ray of hope rippling through the Gator Nation. If Vandy can rise up and do a number on the No. 1 team in the nation and Arkansas can make Tennessee’s speed dial offense go back to the days of telephones with rotator dials is it possible the Gators can somehow salvage a season that nearly everyone has written off?   Consensus among the media Saturday night was UCF represented Florida’s last and only chance to get a win before the annual Florida State debacle on the last Saturday of November. By then, of course, Napier would be asking Jimbo Fisher for investment advice. At least that was consensus.   But, a funny thing happened on the way to disaster and the next nail in Billy Napier’s coaching coffin. The Gators got a win, which wasn’t entirely unexpected, but Florida’s defense actually showed up. That’s shocking enough that it should be repeated. Florida’s defense not only showed up but actually played quite well. In Napier’s 30 games on the job, we haven’t had many opportunities to say that.   Post game, Napier credited the bye week for making some necessary adjustments with the defense. Adjustments, great practices and complete buy-in by the team were talked about during the week prior to UCF.   So when edge rusher Jack Pyburn talked to the media Wednesday evening, it was as if he was channeling his inner Nostradamus. Pyburn said, “I'm telling you, I think there will be a different mentality when this defense especially steps on the field on Saturday.”   There was a different mentality that was abundantly clear because the Gators played confident, aggressive defense. The Gators stuffed UCF’s run game, holding the Knights to 108 yards and 2.7 yards per carry. They got after UCF QB K.J. Jefferson for five sacks. The combination of pressure on Jefferson and coverage limited the Knights to 165 passing yards. Of UCF’s four big pass plays, only one traveled more than 10 yards downfield, the others were all about running after the catch. The Gators held the Knights to 4-13 third down conversions, 0-2 on fourth down and Bryce Thornton picked off a Jefferson pass. Mistakes and missed tackles were held to a minimum.   The end result had to feel like sweet revenge for players who walked off the field dejected last year when K.J. Jefferson passed and ran Arkansas to an overtime victory. Given a second chance to face Jefferson albeit this year for UCF, the Gators spent the game in his face. The Gators hit Jefferson early and often, keeping him bottled up in the pocket. The secondary did its part so well that Jefferson rarely had receivers getting any measure of separation.   Granted, this was UCF, which should not be mistaken for Miami or Texas A&M, but the Knights run a funky scheme and their top two running backs have an extra gear once they get to the second level. Backs who get to the second level have been a stiletto in the Gators’ defensive hearts all season long, but Saturday UCF was able to squeeze off only three running plays that exceeded 10 yards. Miami, Texas A&M and even Mississippi State were able to constantly gash the Gators for big gains once they got past the line of scrimmage.   Overall, it was Florida’s best defensive performance of the year. UCF is going to struggle to become bowl eligible but the Knights do have some good skill people and the Gators held them in check better than any team has so far this year. That’s marked improvement over the team that Mississippi State pounded for 240 ground yards just a couple of weeks ago.   Can the Gators build off UCF and play an improved style of defense on Saturday against Tennessee in Knoxville? It will take Florida’s best defensive game of the season to leave Neyland Stadium with a win, but it should be noted that both Oklahoma and Arkansas have made the Tennessee offense rather pedestrian. Take away a 53-yard run by Tennessee and Arkansas held the vaunted UT running game to 3.5 yards per carry. Tennessee’s touted freshman QB Nico Iamaleava averaged only 5.6 yards per attempt. That highly regarded O-line gave up four sacks and enough pressures that Iamaleava was forced into numerous bad decisions.   Offensively against UCF, the Gators had an exceptional opening drive in the first quarter (15 plays, 75 yards and a TD), a great second quarter (17 points) and they didn’t allow a sack or turn the ball over. The second half was way too conservative to the point of being far too predictable. Some of that had to do with UCF keeping the clock moving by grinding away three and four rush yards per play. That kept the Florida offense off the field, but even so, the Gators played the entire second half like a team trying to run out the clock as a way of avoiding losing.   UCF stacked the box, especially in the second half. That effectively limited Florida’s running game, but it also left the middle of the field wide open. The Gators rarely attacked even though it could have and should have produced some big plays. As open as Elijhah Badger (3-41, 1 TD), Chimere Dike (4-88) and Tank Hawkins (7-60) were able to get against the Knights, it’s a shame the Gators didn’t run some mid-range to deep routes in the middle of the field.   Graham Mertz was exceptional once again, completing 19-23 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown while extending three drives with his feet. DJ Lagway’s only significant contributions were during the first half when he threw a 37-yard strike to Chimere Dike. He was 4-4 during the game for 100 yards. In the last two games, Mertz and Lagway are a combined 49-57 for 506 yards and four touchdowns without an interception.   Arkansas allowed only two sacks to Tennessee which had everything to do with the Razorbacks completing 21-30 passes for 297 yards. The Vols were supposed to be as good in coverage as any team in the country. Prior to Arkansas they were allowing just 125.5 passing yards per game. The secret for Arkansas was pass protection, which will also be Florida’s key to having a shot at an upset in Knoxville. The Gators have allowed only five sacks in five games, second in the SEC and tied for 16th nationally.   Beating the Vols in Knoxville will be a monumental task, but as Vanderbilt and Arkansas showed us Saturday, when you protect your passers, play solid defense and don’t turn the ball over, anything is possible.   Back in August, the Tennessee game was considered winnable. Perhaps it is winnable now if the Gators can follow the formula Arkansas used against the Vols or the one Vanderbilt used to beat Alabama. As Arkansas and Vandy proved, anything is possible if you have the right formula.   A couple of weeks ago, Graham Mertz was asked about Florida’s slow start to which he pointed out what happened in 2021 when he was the starting QB at Wisconsin. The Badgers came out of the gate 1-3, but they got a win over a bad Illinois team in game five, then won six more to stretch the win streak to seven games.   Improbable for the Gators to do it in 2024? Maybe, but stranger things have happened as we saw in Nashville and Fayetteville Saturday. And, lest we forget, a boring win in Knoxville will look every bit as good in the won-lost column as a blowout.   SEC FOOTBALL Saturday’s games FLORIDA (3-2) 24, UCF (3-2) 13 Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-1 SEC) 40, No. 1 Alabama (4-1, 1-1 SEC) 35 Arkansas (4-2, 2-1 SEC) 19, No. 4 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC) 14 No. 5 Georgia (4-1, 2-1 SEC) 31, Auburn (2-4, 0-3 SEC) 13 No. 12 Ole Miss (5-1, 1-1 SEC) 27, South Carolina (3-2, 1-2 SEC) 3 No. 25 Texas A&M (5-1, 3-0 SEC) 41, No. 9 Missouri 10 (4-1, 1-1 SEC)   Next week FLORIDA (3-2, 1-1 SEC) at No. 4 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC) South Carolina (3-2, 1-2 SEC) at No. 1 Alabama (4-1, 1-1 SEC) No. 2 Texas (5-0, 1-0 SEC) vs. No. 19 Oklahoma (4-1, 1-1 SEC) in Dallas Mississippi State (1-4, 0-2 SEC) at No. 5 Georgia (4-1, 2-1 SEC) No. 9 Missouri (4-1) at UMass (1-5) No. 12 Ole Miss (5-1, 1-1 SEC) at No. 13 LSU (4-1, 1-0 SEC) Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-1 SEC) at Kentucky (3-2, 1-2 SEC)

The Florida defense shows up in a major way as the Gators vanquish their in-state foe. By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com , Football Analyst Florida receiver Chimere Dike (Chris Spears photo) Going into Saturday night’s contest, no one knew what to expect from the Florida Gators defense. The first four games of the season had seen this unit, full of promise and talent, underachieve in almost every category. Florida was ranked 110th in the country in rushing defense and was facing a UCF team that was averaging 326 yards on the ground. Would an off-week of spirited competition and increased attention to detail lend itself to a more aggressive more technically sound unit? Would UCF enter The Swamp, take the Gators' lunch money and signal a changing of the guard in the football hierarchy of the state? Despite the noise around their head coach this was a game that the Gators had to win, by any means necessary. Anything less would be catastrophic.   What We Thought: After surrendering their first loss of the season at home last week. UCF would come into The Swamp looking to revitalize a running game that had underperformed against conference foe Colorado. Running back RJ Harvey had been an early darkhorse Heisman candidate and was averaging 130 yards per contest. Quarterback KJ Jefferson would make a return vist to The Swamp after torching the Gator defense for over 350 yards of total offense as the Arkansas quarterback last season. His ability to affect the game with both his legs and arm would be a challenge for the underachieving Gator defense and their ability to keep him in check would be a major factor in the outcome. On offense the Gators would look to establish territorial dominance on a UCF defensive front that suddenly had been exposed by tougher competition. Colorado was able to find running lanes at key times last week and the Gators equipped with more talent upfront would look to lean on the UCF front and have similar success with Johnson, Baugh, Jackson and company. Mertz and Lagway would both find success through the air facing a UCF secondary that had surrendered 350 yards per game to Power 4 opponents.   What We Got: The defense found that bounce on Saturday night. Coach Napier challenges his team to “get off the stool and go to the middle of the ring,” and time and again they did just that. While Florida would move the ball with consistency it was the defense that finally looked organized, prepared and most importantly played with savage intent. The Gators held UCF to just 108 yards rushing, one of the lowest totals of the Gus Malzahn era. The defensive line was able to keep the UCF offensive line from getting to the second level which allowed linebackers Shemar James, Pup Howard and Jaden Robinson to play downhill for a combined 15 tackles.  On the perimeter where UCF likes to diversify its attack, Tyreak Sapp and Jordan Castell had their best games of the year with 11 tackles and defensive end Jack Pyburn added five more. Most importantly the Gators played in the UCF backyard most of the game with seven total tackles for loss. KJ Jefferson would struggle to make an impact this trip going 12x22 passing for 165 yards, rushing for -18 yards, mainly due to five sacks by the Gators. Mertz and Lagway both were efficient on the day combing for 229 yards passing. Mertz was 19x23 with a touchdown, while Lagway would be perfect for the second contest in a row, going 4 for 4 including a 32-yard strike to Chimera Dike to set up Florida’s second score of the game. As expected, Florida found success in the running game as the Florida backfield combined for 109 yards rushing (130 total) with Montrell Johnson and Ja’Kobi Jackson finding the end zone in the first half. The rushing and passing success of the offense was highlighted by the fact that the Florida offense failed to yield a sack to a UCF defense known for pressuring the quarterback.  First down Gators!! (Chris Spears photo)   The Skinny: While no one wanted to speak it. This was a must win game for reasons that would require another article. Maybe even a book. The Gators could hide behind the opt-outs, and coaching transition of the Gasparilla Bowl loss and explain a loss, but this one was different. Napier and his organization could not lose this game. This one had to be personal. A loss here would have been on everyone from Scott Stricklin to the janitor that cleans the pristine football locker room. On this day the Gators understood and handled the assignment. The score may make one think that it was closer than it was, but on this day Florida was just better. In reality if the Gators play UCF ten times give me the Gators in all ten. Think about it this way. The Gators entered the game as a 2.5-point underdog and won by 11. Pretty dominant.     Napier stated that the Gators used the off week to get better and that a Wednesday off week practice was “one of the best practices I’ve ever been a part off.” While quotes don’t always match performance, on this day Napier was right. While much has been made about who should take the snaps, the real issue for the first five games has been the defense and last night it showed up when needed. No matter what happens going forward, the Gators had to have this one and for one night played the complementary football Napier consistently speaks about. Was this a job saver? Long way to go. Can the Gators take this win and use it as a stepping stone for the next week and beyond? Certainly. The schedule doesn’t get any easier but with a roster rated in the Top-10 nationally they have the tools to improve. Coach Napier seems to have found some nuggets from the past few practices that he wants to continue going forward. More competition, more accountability. If that is a break from the norm then I would encourage him to double down on that thought as the team has shown to at times to be unprepared, unorganized and looking like the dog ate their homework. For one week, the Gators solved the Monday-Thursday problem and solved it when they absolutely had to have it.  Final Score: Florida Gators 24 UCF Knights 13 (Prediction-Florida 31 UCF 20)

Napier may be a great coach and one who has a significant positive impact on his players on and off the field. But he may not be up to the challenge of navigating a program in need of general managers and directors of player personnel... By Carlton Reese Special Contributor To GatorBaitMedia.com Any man who was an athlete in younger days can no doubt recount at least one special mentor that helped change the direction of his life or at least filled him with lessons for living adhered to even as age has robbed him of the talents he once possessed. For most, that mentor was a coach, an adult father figure whose hand was firm when discipline demanded and whose touch was gentle in moments of vulnerability. The secrets of the game imparted to the student in the long run carried less value than the character instilled. Once a coach, he is referred to as such for life by those who grew into men under his guidance. Not called "Mister" or "Sir," he is forever called "Coach" long after the whistle has been retired – the honor remains and for more than just sentimentality. For a college athlete, especially a football player, the bond between player and coach rivals any relationship a person will enjoy in life in terms of its relevancy to the maturation process. An NFL coach enjoys no such standing. He is a mere task master placing chess pieces onto the board, orchestrating well-groomed professionals to complete the assignment at hand. But in college, the athlete is still virgin clay, waiting for the proper hands to mold him into what he is to become. The bond is familial. So, when Nick Saban recently spoke at a roundtable conference in Washington, D.C. regarding the future of college athletics, it seemed more of a eulogy to “The Coach.” He shared an anecdote from his wife, Miss Terry, who questioned the relevance of coaching.   He recalled how they would host recruits and their parents for Sunday breakfast, meet with the mothers and discuss how they were going to make an impact on their sons and take care of them. But the direction of the sport in terms of NIL negotiations amid the backdrop of the looming transfer portal, seemed to bring it all into question. “Why are we doing this?” Saban quoted his wife as asking. “All they care about is how much you’re going to pay them. They don’t care about how you’re going to develop them, which is what we’ve always done.” Terry’s question was probably being asked by coaches’ wives all across the country. Wives who have seen the role of their husbands transform from caring mentor to cold bureaucrat. With the fire surrounding Billy Napier’s job security at Florida, there have been suggestions that the program turn the keys over to a general manager type person who can handle the negotiations and streamline the business end of the job. To translate, it means relegating the role of the college coach to mere taskmaster, one who draws up ball plays, schedules practices and gameday routines then heads to the office and locks his door. College football has entered the era of the Bonus Baby, and the role of the coach will be less of a molder of men and more of pencil pusher of plays. It is as though the modern model of the NFL coach will now be manifested at the college level. The most important person in the program will be the GM, and the coach will take orders. Those who played under Vince Lombardi or Don Shula or Tom Landry will likely tell stories of how those men shaped their lives even though they were still in the professional ranks. Today, athletes come to the coaches already knowing everything and in need of the coach simply to not get in the way. Mentoring falls solely on the college coach, but today that is even changing right before our eyes. A Bonus Baby at quarterback does not need a life coach, he needs a financial advisor. And he may not even be of legal drinking age. So, what are we left with? Mentoring athletes and shaping young boys into young men now falls solely onto the high school coach. Many are performing this task quite nicely, but almost no prep athlete graduates completely molded into the man he is required to be in this world. Saban’s wife sensed it – hell, most people sensed it even from a distance – and that’s where the game is. For years, the cynics cried about the hypocrisy of college athletics’ amateurism and the push was strong to compensate players while schools raked in untold profits. And we have arrived at the predicted destination with some unintended consequences. The hypocrisy is gone, and with it “The Coach.” Boys in need of paternal guidance are now receiving more advice from agents. For shame, what has been casually dismissed in our society in order to correct what are perceived wrongs. The old saying used to be, “throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” and today we have thrown “The Coach” out with the hypocrisy. Those who used to boo college players were among the lowest of the low – such boorish antics were to be reserved for those being paid to ply their craft. Today? Well, when that Bonus Baby fails to get the job done, the booing won’t be boorish; it will be one’s duty. Napier may be a great coach and one who has a significant positive impact on his players on and off the field. But he may not be up to the challenge of navigating a program in need of general managers and directors of player personnel, and it will likely cost him his job. Becoming a coach because it means having a positive effect on young men’s lives – those positions will be the domain of places like Buchholz, Raines and Miami Northwestern. Not in Gainesville, Athens or Tuscaloosa.

Billy Napier is supposed to win against UCF; lose and all hell will break loose (Photo by Chris Spears) Billy Napier can’t win Saturday evening.   Napier and the Gators may put the kibosh on little brother UCF with the big dreams from Orlando. And, it’s entirely possible UCF leaves The Swamp feeling like it did when the clock at Ray Jay in Tampa flatlined at zeros back in December of 2021. Knight fans celebrated long into the night and well into the following week after winning their version of the Super Bowl. It was one thing for UCF to score an undefeated season and paint 2017 national champs on their press box at the Bounce House. It was something totally different and far more important to kick the shins of the big bad Gators.   Beating the Florida Gators was a pool of drool fantasy until that night in 2021. Now that the Knights have fulfilled that fantasy, they think it is time to show big brother that 2021 was no fluke. UCF thought it was a better team than Florida in 2021 and believes nothing has changed in 2024 except UCF is stronger and Florida is doing a Wild Waters slide into deep, shark infested water.     UCF wants to prove once and for all that it is a power player from a power conference. In UCF-think, there is no way better to prove worthiness than to take the two hour drive north of Orlando to punch older brother in the nose for the whole world to see. As a member of the Big 12, which has a seat at the College Football Playoff table, UCF believes it sees the Gators eye-to-eye these days. Perhaps the Knights even look down a little bit. They still have hopes of making the 2024 College Football Playoff. For the Gators, that ship left port a couple of Saturdays ago.   This won’t be like 2017 when the Knights ran the table, finishing off a 13-0 run by beating Auburn in the Peach Bowl. Nor will it be like 2018 when UCF came up one game short of a second straight perfect season when it dropped a white knuckler to LSU in the Fiesta Bowl.   UCF fans proudly boast that while their team may not have three national championships that actually count like the Florida Gators, they have one more unbeaten season in school history than UF. You can look it up: UCF 1, UF 0.   Recent history aside, UCF is a team that Florida should not only beat Saturday night but any given Saturday. It’s not arrogance to point out that Florida has been a member of the Southeastern Conference since the league’s inception back in 1932. UCF didn’t start playing football until 1979. It wasn’t all that long ago that UCF was toiling through another D1AA season, followed by a six-year stint as an independent. Then came three years in the MAC, eight in Conference USA, 10 in the American and now one year and four games in the Big 12.   Getting invited to join the Big 12 was indeed a big deal for UCF, which would like to think that it validates the entire sports program but especially football as big time. Doesn’t matter that the two Big 12 bell cows – Oklahoma and Texas – defected to the SEC. The Big 12 didn’t lose its power conference status when Texas and Oklahoma marched, but it doesn’t necessarily mean UCF has graduated from happy meals to the dollar menu, which was evident last week the way Colorado pushed the Knights around at the Bounce House.   That loss is precisely why Saturday night’s game with Florida is another Super Bowl for UCF and why the game matters more to the Knights than that wink wink national championship season of 2017. Beating the Gators erases the stigma of getting hosed by Deion Sanders and Colorado. Even though the Gators are anything but a contender in the Southeastern Conference, they’re still from the SEC and they are still the biggest football brand name in the state of Florida. UCF will gladly sell the script that it is on equal footing with the Florida Gators and the SEC.   So from UCF’s standpoint, this game is a very big deal. It needs to be every bit as big a deal to Billy Napier and the Florida Gators.   In his 29 games on the job at Florida, Billy Napier is 13-16 overall. At The Swamp where the Gators were once considered as formidable as any team in the country, Napier’s Gators are 10-5, but only six of those 10 wins are against power conference opponents. The five home losses in fewer than three seasons are the same number Steve Spurrier had in 12 years on the job and Urban Meyer had in six.   Florida’s loss to UCF in Tampa in 2021 in a catfish bowl thar ranks among the postseason bottom feeders is one thing, particularly since it was with a lame duck coaching staff. Losing to UCF in The Swamp in a regular season game with the coach who stepped in after the last loss to the Knights will be perceived as 10 times worse. Check that. Make it 100 times worse.   Napier’s seat is hotter than the red lava that flows down the slopes of Kilauea into the Pacific Ocean. It has been that way for a long time, but especially since the losses to Miami and Texas A&M. As loud as the calls have been for Napier’s demise after the losses to the Canes and the Aggies, a loss to UCF and the decibels will be higher than a 747 takeoff.   What if the Gators and Napier come away with a win? Given Florida’s propensity for giving up chunks of yardage on the ground and UCF’s inept secondary, this game could turn into a last team with the ball wins a shootout. UCF ranks second nationally in rushing at 326 yards per game, not good news for a Florida defense that has given up 550 in its last two. The Knights have allowed 692 yards and seven touchdown passes in their last two.   Florida’s passing game has been heating up the last two games behind Graham Mertz, who has completed 31-36 passes for 396 yards and four touchdowns. Mertz completed 72.9 percent of his passes a year ago. He’s at 75 percent this season while averaging 8.7 yards per attempt.   The Gators desperately need this win and they’re more than capable of beating UCF, especially if the defense can at least slow down the Knights running game and Mertz can continue to find open receivers. The last thing Florida needs is to go on the road next week to face 4th-ranked Tennessee in Knoxville on the heels of a loss to UCF.   Whether it’s a win or a loss, Billy Napier is in a can’t win situation. If he beats UCF it will be viewed as a game he’s supposed to win. Florida fans will be happy if the Gators win the game, but this is a game they’re supposed to win. Billy Napier was hired to win championships and teams climbing the championship ladder are supposed to clean up at home not to mention beat the directional schools from their own neighborhood. So, even with a win a rather large contingent of Florida fans won’t view it as a significant accomplishment. That’s what expectations are when you play little brother. You’re supposed to beat up on him.   Lose and all hell will break loose because not only is this a game Florida fans believe the Gators should win, it’s one Billy Napier absolutely can’t afford to lose, especially if he intends to remain gainfully employed at the University of Florida. Lose this one and Scott Stricklin’s cell phone might blow up with the words of Jeremy Foley, who once said, “What should be done eventually must be done immediately.”

Must win is putting it lightly as the Gators welcome the pesky Knights. By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com , Football Analyst Florida running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (Chris Spears photo) UCF Offense   Key Players-#1 QB KJ Jefferson (6-3, 247, Gr.), #7 RB RJ Harvey (5-9, 208, Gr.), #13 RB Penny Boone (6-1, 232, R-Sr./Ohio) #22 RB Myles Montgomery (5-11, 205 R-Jr./Cincinnati), #2 WR Kobe Hudson (6-1, 200, Gr.) #80 WR Trent Whittemore (6-4, 211, R-Sr.), #5 TE Randy Pittman Jr. (6-2, 225, So.)  # 78 OT Amari Kight (6-7, 318, Gr.)   Matchups To Watch: UCF Running Game vs. Florida, KJ Jefferson v. Everybody   UCF knows who they are offensively and the personnel plays with a high level of confidence. The Knights get to it and get to it fast with a rushing attack that currently ranks second in the nation averaging 326 yards per game. RJ Harvey is currently 6th in the nation in rushing and when Harvey is not toting it transfers Penny Boone and Myles Montgomery are more than capable. Boone was the 2023 MAC Offensive Player of the Year at Ohio where he led the MAC with 15 rushing touchdowns. Montgomery is averaging seven yards per rush for the Knights. The straw that stirs the drink is former Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson who is no stranger to Florida fans who saw him leave The Swamp with a win last season. Jefferson is third in the Big 12 in passing efficiency, averaging 211 yards per game with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. He also aids the rushing attack averaging 53 yards per game with two touchdowns. Jefferson’s primary targets are solid targets and familiar names. Kobe Hudson is the de facto number one leading the team with 15 catches for 349 yards and two touchdowns. Tight End Randy Pittman Jr. was honorable mention freshman team in the Big 12 in 2023 and has played quarterback as well. Former Gator Trent Whittemore rounds out the UCF perimeter threats and will return to The Swamp for the first time since transferring. Whittemore is rangy with sneaky speed and athleticism and will be very familiar to the atmosphere the Knights will encounter on Saturday. The UCF passing attack did take a slight hit on Thursday night when second leading receiver Xavier Townsend announced his intentions to redshirt and enter the transfer portal. Townsend was also the leading kick and punt returner for the Knights so his absence could be key.    Same story different team. Except this time the team that does its thing the best is what the Gators do worst. Two numbers are key here. 2 and 110. That is the rank of UCF in rushing nationally against the Gators rank against it. Florida has been extremely poor against the run all season including the last outing where they were slashed by a Mississippi State offense that had netted just 66 yards against Toledo the game before. UCF had a less than ideal performance against Colorado last week rushing for just 177 yards almost 150 yards off its season average. UCF will look to regain its thunder Saturday and with the Gators struggling to stop the run all season. This could be just what the doctor ordered for UCF. Last season KJ Jefferson had one of his best games against the Gators, passing for 255 and adding another 92 on the ground. Did the Gators learn from last year’s mistakes Did the run defense grow some facial hair in the off week? Amari Kight and company had only given up three sacks all season prior to last week’s game. They surrendered five to Colorado. Was it an outlier, or was the offensive line exposed in an underwhelming performance? Gator front seven, I’m looking at you.   UCF Defense Key Players-#3 LB Deshawn Pace (6-2, 220, Gr./Cincinnati), #32 LB Ethan Barr (6-3, 245, Gr./Vanderbilt) #10 S Quadric Bullard (6-0, 175, Gr.), #13 DB Ladarius Tennison (5-10, 200, Gr/Ole Miss), #11 DL Nyjalik Kelly (6-5, 250, Jr./Miami)   Matchups to Watch: Florida Offensive Line v. UCF Defensive Line, Mertz/Lagway/Dike/Badger v. UCF Secondary   UCF has a defense that likes to fly around and create havoc. Which is a necessity because they are not the biggest unit around. Defensive coordinator Ted Roof likes to design exotic pressures that can cause missed blocking assignments and errant throws that lead to turnovers. Cincinnati transfer Deshawn Pace is a versatile player who comes from one of Ohio’s top prep programs, Cole rain High School. He has the ability to play in the box and coverage and was an Honorable Mention Big 12 selection in 2023. Vanderbilt transfer Ethan Barr is tasked with stopping the run in Roof’s attack and has played well in his first season in Orlando. Barr was a team captain at Vanderbilt and brings experience to the defense with appearances in over 35 games. Pace and Barr have been key to the run defense and UCF is currently at the top of the Big 12 in rushing defense and 11th nationally. UCF has struggled to defend the pass at times this season surrendering 252 yards per game. Quadric Bullard and Ladarius Tennison have over 30 starts between them and can be solid on special teams as well. Last season. Cole Tennison was graded the top defender at Ole Miss by Pro Football Focus. Unfortunately for UCF, they have surrendered 692 yards and seven touchdowns through the air against Power 5 competition.   Along with their issues, defending the pass the UCF defense allowed a pedestrian Colorado rushing attack to manhandle them in last week’s game. While only allowing 128 yards total Colorado had two backs average over five yards per carry and UCF only sacked the quarterback twice. Nyjalik Kelly who had one of those sacks will look to make a bigger impact. The Gators should most certainly look to establish the run game early to allow the play action pass game to flourish. Mertz has been solid when given time and Lagway’s ability to make off-schedule plays with his legs and arms is an element that UCF has struggled with. The Gators will need to handle the exotic pressures and Mertz and Lagway will need to know where to go with the ball when necessary. Leaning on the smaller defensive front will be key for Montrell Johnson Jr. and his steadily improving running back mates. Colorado was able to push around the defensive front of UCF but spread the defense out to allow more running lanes. Will Napier be willing to play with three to four receivers on the field or stay committed to the condensed formations and two tight end sets he seems to prefer? Can Mertz feast on the UCF defense? (Chris Spears photo)   The Skinny: MUST WIN!!! PERIOD!!! Let’s be honest. Anything short of a Gator victory no matter how is a death sentence, not just for Billy Napier but for the Florida program as a whole. A loss would be the second straight to the little sibling from the south and give the Big 12 a signature win in one of the SEC’s most hallowed houses. UCF has had only one Top 50 recruiting class since 2019 while Florida has had none lower than 18th. So what are we really talking about? Despite all the talk surrounding the future of the Gator program on paper this should be no contest. Unfortunately for all the talk about strength gains, improved athleticism, and lord-help-us character, the Gators tend to be a head-scratching underperforming bunch. That is one of the reasons why UCF will arrive in Gainesville as a 2.5 point favorite. I repeat favorite. It is time for Billy Napier and staff to motivate their players and get everyone in their “organization” to man the gate and “REMEMBER THE GASPARILLA!!!!” The Gators will find a way. Lagway’s legs are the difference and the Gators lean on the running game for a close but convincing win.    Prediction: Florida 31 UCF 20

Back when he was coaching Florida’s basketball team, winning 467 games, six Southeastern Conference and two NCAA championships over a 19-year stretch, Billy Donovan used to say, “Does a year older make you a year better?”   Florida’s football team, a disappointing 2-2 through the month of September, was expected to be better than the 5-7 record of 2023, but one-third of the way through the 2024 schedule the only thing we can say is the Gators are a year older. The Gators have beaten the two teams they’re supposed to – D1AA Samford and Mississippi State – and they’ve been dominated by Miami and Texas A&M.   Coming off a bye week in which head coach Billy Napier says produced three days of very intense practices, the Gators will take on intra-state rival UCF (3-1) Saturday (7:30 p.m., SEC Network) at The Swamp. It’s a critical game for the Gators who need the momentum a win can give them heading into a six-game stretch that might be the most difficult any team in the country will face this season.   Throw in Napier’s job security, which seems to be hanging by the flimsiest of proverbial threads, and the game takes on added importance. Thanks to the bye week, the Gators are a week older. Are they a week better?   Edge rusher Jack Pyburn would tell you yes, the Gators are better.   “It was probably the best bye week that I participated in as a player, even in high school,” Pyburn said Wednesday evening. “I mean, we were competing every single day. Everything was a competition. Every single run mattered. Every single matchup mattered. And I think we really got better as a team.”   Pyburn’s thoughts were echoed by linebacker Grayson Howard, who said, “We got better over the bye week. We’re tired of hitting each other. I can tell you that. We’re looking forward to being able to hit somebody else Saturday.”   In their last outing, the Gators earned a 42-28 win over Mississippi State in Starkville, breaking an 8-game losing streak to Division I opponents. Getting the win was a relief that reverberated throughout the locker room, creating a team-wide desire to get to work during the bye week.   “I think it felt great to win,” Mertz said. “I know that guys in the locker room were fired up, ready to get into the bye week. I think it actually fueled our bye week, too. We had three really competitive, really good days of practice. We got better as a team coming off of that.”   In beating Mississippi State, the Gators racked up 503 yards of offense – 226 on the ground and 277 through the air. Mertz had a sensational game, completing 19-21 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception.   Offense wasn’t the problem against Mississippi State. Defense was and it’s been the same way all season, and for the most part, nearly every one of the 29 games the Gators have played since Napier became the head coach. Through four games this season the Gators are dead last in the SEC in total defense, giving up 425.5 yards per game – 188.8 per game on the ground and 236.8 through the air.   Mississippi State ran for 240 yards and passed for 240, not the kind of numbers a halfway decent defense expects to give up against the worst team in the league. The Mississippi State game and the season in general have been confounding to Pyburn.   “The hardest part for me is I know how good we can be,” Pyburn said. “I've seen it day in and day out. We have elite players on defense, but we just have to play as one. And I think that we are really now starting to take those right steps in the right direction to play as one and believe in one another. Because we know our coaches believe in us. We believe in ourselves. So we just have to trust and believe in one another. I'm telling you, I think there will be a different mentality when this defense especially steps on the field on Saturday.”   The Gators will have to play with a different mentality against UCF. UCF ranks second nationally in rushing at 326 yards per game. They have an elite running back in R.J. Harvey, who has run for 525 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 7.0 per carry. A year ago, Harvey ran for 1,416 yards and 16 touchdowns.   As good as Harvey is, the Knights come at you in waves. Backup Peny Boone gained 1,400 yards at Toledo last season and behind him is Myles Montgomery, the heir apparent to Harvey.   And then there is quarterback K.J. Jefferson, who led Arkansas to a 39-36 win over the Gators in The Swamp a year ago when he threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns while running for 91 and another TD. The Gators are all too familiar with how Jefferson can take off running when the pocket breaks down or else he can’t find anyone open to throw to. The Gators struggled to contain him when he tucked and ran a year ago.   Napier has made keeping Jefferson contained the focal point of the defense in practice.   “It's a big part of the game,” Napier said. “We've actually done some specific drills to that. We've used some bigger skill players. We did some things and we've made cut-ups of some of those plays in terms of what that's going to take.   “You know, even going through his library of experience at Arkansas and certainly what he's done so far this year, it's a critical piece of the puzzle not only when he's a passer and he scrambles but just down-in, down-out all the read elements to their run game. When he's a vertical runner, he's a 260-pound skill player so I think there's an element there to how you tackle him, how you finish on him and that's been a part of the work this week.”   A 260-pound quarterback with a reasonable amount of speed is like a freight train when he gets a full head of steam and gets into the secondary where he might outweigh the tacklers by more than 60 or 70 pounds. No matter the size of the ball carrier, the Gators have had difficulty getting people to the ground all season long.    Napier said the tackling issues don’t stem from a lack of hitting in practice.   “Ultimately, what we uncovered during the open date was our issues alignment, assignment, technique, and fundamentals,” Napier said. “You know, I think we've been in position and not made plays. We've been out of position and not made plays. So I think ultimately that's what our research would say. Very simple things done well consistently ultimately lead to good performances and we have to do those simple things better.”   Napier on the pass rush – or lack of: The Gators have eight sacks in four games, which ranks 11th in the SEC and is tied for 80th nationally. Pass rush has been a serious problem in Napier’s two previous seasons as well. The Gators had 23 sacks in 2022, only 22 last season. In the four seasons prior to Napier’s arrival, the Gators never had a season in which they sacked the quarterback fewer than 35 times.   “Well, I think that ultimately we haven't been able to generate the pass rush that we would like,” Napier said. “That's, you know, that's about as blunt as I can be.”   Napier said some of the issues with pass rush have to do with the Gators putting opponents in passing downs. Winning on first and second down leads to long third down situations.   “Look, you got to create passing downs, you know,” Napier said. “You have to create scenarios where there's a favorable D and D (down and distance) and you can predict percentages and go get the guy, you know. I think one of our issues is, how many third-and-long, second-and-longs, get a lead. Sacks come from being ahead, where the opponent has to pass consistently, so I don't necessarily think we've been in that position often, so. Ultimately, if you can win on first and second down, or even first down and get into second, third-and-longs, it gives you a better chance, more advantageous situations to rush the passer and get pressure and sacks.”   Napier on issues with NIL and the transfer portal: With so few guardrails for NIL and a transfer portal that creates instant free agency, coaches essentially have to re-recruit their own players during the season.   “Well, I think there's always an element to that,” Napier said. “We live in a world where any player on any team in the country two times a year can just knock on your door and say, 'I'm going somewhere else.' At this level of elite competition, I would say it's unlike anything else. I think it goes back to the original recruitment. I think there's so much to be said for that recruiting process, how you were selling your product, the decision-making, what was the decision made about, selling the big picture in terms of all the things that we had to offer at the University of Florida and really pitching finish the race, complete the process here at UF.”   Reality says that a certain number of players are going to leave and that is something every coach has to deal with.   “We're always going to have some attrition,” Napier said. “You're going to have 15-20 percent attrition probably. I just think that's a product of the current dynamic until we have some format where there's obligation or contractual things in place. We got a great place here, and I think ultimately we're hopeful that they choose to come here for the entire experience."   Tre Wilson could play: Because it’s a non-conference opponent, Napier isn’t required to give an injury report ahead of the Saturday game. He did offer some hope that wide receiver Tre Wilson could play. Prior to his injury in the Samford game, Wilson had caught 13 passes for 191 yards and a TD.   Napier said Wilson has “done some things in practice [this week]” and “he took reps today.”