In a matchup that could dictate the rest of the season for Florida, the Tennessee Volunteers are set to visit Gainesville for the SEC opener. As the teams gear up for this matchup, let's dissect the key statistics that define their strengths and weaknesses, figuring out how the Gators can gain the upper hand. Tennessee Volunteers: Offense Tennessee's offensive game plan has been middle of the pack so far this year. After the departure of Heisman Trophy contender Hendon Hooker, many thought Joe Milton would be able to come in be able to keep this high-octane offense alive. Milton has an average of 214.5 passing yards per game through the first two weeks. This places the Volunteers at the 81st position in the FBS for passing offense. However, it's on the ground where Tennessee truly shines. Their rushing game ranks among the best in the nation, securing the fourth spot in the FBS with an astonishing 257.5 yards per game. This ground dominance is led by the dynamic duo of Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small, who have been consistently racking up significant yardage. Tennessee Volunteers: Defense Tennessee's defense is no slouch either. They've been allowing 270 yards per game, earning them the 28th position in the FBS for total defense. Their secondary has proven to be especially effective, giving up only 183 passing yards per game. When it comes to stopping the run, the Volunteers are equally imposing. They concede just 87 rushing yards per game, putting them at the 33rd position in the FBS. Add to this their stellar performance on third downs, holding opponents to a conversion rate of only 27.8%. In terms of turnovers, Tennessee has been relatively steady. They've forced two turnovers this season, placing them 71st in the FBS. On the flip side, they've turned it over twice, earning them the 37th spot for turnover margin. Florida Gators: Pass Attack Florida's offensive strategy is still unknown after rushing for over 300 yards last week but only 13 yards in week 1. The air game has been consistent and not too flashy, but Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz has done his job. Mertz has displayed exceptional accuracy, with a completion rate of 73.8% and amassing an average of 263 passing yards per game. This ranks the Gators at the 39th position in the FBS for passing offense. Florida Gators: On the Ground While not as dominant as their passing game, Florida's rushing offense is solid, accumulating an average of 170 yards per game. This ranks them at the 60th position in the FBS, showcasing a well-rounded offensive approach. Defensive Presence Florida's defensive unit has been paving the way, allowing a mere 191 total yards per game, securing them the third spot in the FBS. Their pass defense has been particularly outstanding, giving up only 115.5 passing yards per game, ranking 7th in the FBS. When it comes to defending the run, the Gators have been middle of the pack with a young front seven. Shemar James has been the star of the Gator's defense early, leading the team in tackles and being the highest-graded linebacker in the SEC according to PFF. Florida allows just 75.5 rushing yards per game, placing them 23rd in the FBS. Compared to a year ago, when third down defense was an issue, they have allowed just a 21.7% conversion rate on the money down. The Gators have just one senior listed as a starter compared to Tennessee’s 16. The Volunteers are favored by nearly a touchdown heading into The Swamp, but Billy Napier touched on how big of an impact the home crowd could have. “We’re excited about playing in front of our crowd. Look, our players, they feed off of our fans. They bring great energy and certainly, they can make it difficult for the other team to play and that is exactly what we want them to do. I know our fans are excited about the game,” Napier said. A sold-out Swamp is awaiting the Volunteers Saturday night.

While Florida football has been at the forefront and continues to be as they prepare for a matchup with Tennessee, Todd Golden has been working non-stop behind the scenes to bolster the basketball program. He'll have a big opportunity coming up as the Gators basketball team will play host to several of the nation's top 2024 and 2025 prospects. To kick things off, Golden and company welcome in a trio of talented 2024 recruits on Sept. 15. Five-star small forward VJ Edgecombe, four-star center Ryan Jones and four-star shooting guard Isaiah Brown will all be in Gainesville this upcoming weekend. Edgecombe will be making a stop at Florida starting Sept. 15 before beginning a fairly extensive schedule of official visits that includes Duke, Michigan and Florida State among others. The Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) product released a "top 10" list, which Florida was included on. Here's what the five-star had to say on the Gators: "Florida is about to be my first official visit," Edgecombe told 247Sports. "I’m looking forward to them showing love to me and my family. My family is a key part in this too so we’re looking forward to them welcoming us with open arms and setting the standard for the rest of the schools. This is about to be the first impression so they have a chance to set the bar high." As for Ryan Jones, he has been on campus on numerous occasions, attending several Florida games last season. The Gainesville native had originally planned to leave the state after high school, but the new coaching staff has worked to stay in his recruitment, and landed a spot in his final eight schools. "This coaching staff right here, I felt more comfortable," Jones shared. "When they came in they made it clear they wanted to keep the players in Gainesville in Gainesville. They love the people in their backyard and that’s what I love about them.” Meanwhile, Isaiah Brown is the long commit in the Gators' class of 2024. The 6-foot-5, 185-pounder made his decision back in May, citing Florida as his long desired dream school. He will have the opportunity to work on the other two prospects who will be in Gainesville at the same time. Not to mention, the timing of the Florida-Tennessee football game should give these athletes a glimpse at what life is like at the University of Florida. Looking ahead, Golden and the Florida recruiting staff have another group of high-profile visitors set to come to campus. The Boozer twins, Cameron and Cayden, will be in Gainesville for official visits the weekend of Nov. 4. Cameron and Cayden are ranked No. 1 and No. 17 respectively in the class of 2025, which make them some of the largest names to take a visit to Gainesville since the hiring of Golden. The twins had been on campus last November for unofficial visits. Cameron Boozer has drawn comparisons to recent top NBA draft pick Paolo Banchero. He also shared some thoughts on whether or not the duo will go to the same school. "We definitely could be a package deal we also could go somewhere different," Cameron Boozer told 247Sports. "At the end of the day, we’ve got to go somewhere that’s best for us. It would be awesome if we could go to the same school at the same time but one school might be the best situation for him and it might not be for me.”

After handling business last week in the home opener, Florida welcomes Tennessee to Gainesville. In anticipation of the game, Florida released their week three depth chart which is headlined by starting center Kingsley Eguakun making his debut after missing the first two weeks. The Gators' injury report shows notable improvement, with only three names listed this week. Freshman tight end Tony Livingston and redshirt junior safety Ja'Markis Weston are sidelined due to upper-body injuries, while sophomore WR Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman's availability remains uncertain due to a lower-body injury. Heading into the third game of the season, Florida still maintains 16 "OR" designations on the depth chart. The return of Eguakun will not only improve the pass protection and run game but will also take the pressure off of other parts of the offense that had to over-compensate when he was not in the lineup. Expect the offensive line to look a lot better than week one against Utah.

A few thoughts to jump start your Tuesday morning: Having been at this quarterback thing going all the way back to third grade, Graham Mertz knows exactly what his job is every time he steps out on the field. “I think it just comes down to playing quarterback,” Mertz said Monday as the Gators (1-1) get ready to host No. 11 Tennessee (2-0) at The Swamp Saturday night. “I mean, understanding the look on defense. My job is to attack that weakness, find it and attack it on every play.” This has to be the mindset against the Vols, who not only bring their up tempo offense that squeezes off three plays per minute but a defense that most observers say is way ahead of the one a year ago that gave up 22.8 points and 405.3 yards per game. While the Gators do want to control tempo to help out the defense by keeping the Tennessee offense on the sideline, they don’t want to pass up opportunities to move the ball down the field. Against McNeese State this past Saturday, the Gators scored on their first seven possessions, six of them directed by Mertz, drives that covered 456 yards in 54 plays. That’s 8.6 yards per snap. Mertz completed 14 of his 17 passes for 193 yards. There is a huge difference in the McNeese defense and the one Tennessee will run out on the field Saturday night, however. The Vols are bigger, stronger and faster at every single position. The numbers say the Vols are superior to the defense the Gators faced at Utah in game one. The Vols are allowing only 270 yards per game (29th nationally) and only 87 on the ground while Utah is giving up 396 per game, but Utah has faced a pair of Power 5 opponents in the Gators and Baylor, while the Vols defense has gone up against a weak Virginia team and a D1AA Austin Peay team that makes McNeese State look like the reincarnation of the Lombardi-era Packers. Florida should be able to move the ball on the Vols, but the Gators have to be cognizant of keeping the clock moving. The new NCAA clock rules will favor Florida if the Gators can convert third downs and keep the chains moving, which will be emphasized this week in practice. “Staying ahead of the sticks, not taking negative plays,” Mertz explained. “Really that comes during the week of prep. You try to work through each progression. That’s the time in the meeting room, walk-throughs to where you’re set up. When you have the opportunity to make the play, you’re going to make it because you’ve seen it multiple times.” McNeese ran a cover three zone out of a 3-2-6 set that was like a picket fence across the field, designed to prevent the Gators from explosive plays in the passing game. Mertz didn’t try to force the ball into the teeth of the zone, but chipped away with the short stuff and only went downfield when the defense broke down. A week earlier at Utah, it was a chip away process most of the night because the offensive line couldn’t protect and failed to open holes for the running game. The O-line found its mojo against McNeese, but they will need to do that again Saturday night. If Montrell Johnson Jr., Trevor Etienne and Treyaun Webb can find the creases and gain positive yards on a consistent basis that’s going to open things up in the Tennessee secondary so Mertz can find Ricky Pearsall and the other Florida receivers downfield. Mertz knows he has to see the field, find whoever’s open and then deliver the ball. Theoretically, the Vols can’t cover everybody. “I think it's a balance between going aggressive but also being decisive in what you're doing and making the smart play,” he said. UF volleyball: Kennedy Martin earns SEC honors Kennedy Martin was named SEC Freshman of the Week after 41 kills and 21 blocks to help the 3rd-ranked Gators sweep all three matches in the Gator Invitational. Martin had 17 kills and 10 blocks against Sacramento State, 14 kills and nine blocks against Clemson and 10 kills and five blocks against Winthrop. The Gators travel to Tallahassee to face Florida State tonight, a 6 p.m. match that will be carried on the ACC Network. AVCA top 25: 1. Wisconsin 7-0; 2. Louisville 8-0; 3. FLORIDA 7-0; 4. Nebraska 7-0; 5. Stanford 6-1; 6. Texas 3-2; 7. Oregon 7-1; 8. Pittsburgh 6-1; 9. Minnesota 3-3; 10. Georgia Tech 7-0; 11. Washington State 8-1; 12. BYU 8-1; 13. Penn State 4-3; 14. Creighton 7-2; 15. Tennessee 7-1; 16. Arkansas 7-2; 17. Purdue 5-2; 18. Baylor 4-3; 19. Ohio State 3-4; 20. Kansas 5-1; 21. Kentucky 2-4; 22. Houston 5-2; 23. Iowa State 7-1; 24. Auburn 7-1; 25. Dayton 8-2 SEC football No. 10 Alabama (1-1): A change at quarterback may be pending. Nick Saban said he thought seriously about inserting Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner into the game against Texas after Milroe threw a couple of interceptions … Alabama is listed as a 32-point favorite in Tampa Saturday against South Florida. Arkansas (2-0): HBC Sam Pittman isn’t happy with the play of his offensive line through two games. The Razorbacks are averaging only 138.5 rushing yards per game and a dismal 3.42 per carry. Stud running back Raheim Sanders, who has some swelling in the knee, may not be available for Saturday’s game with BYU … D-lineman Trajan Jeffcoat, who had three tackles including 1.5 sacks in the win over Kent State, was named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week … The Razorbacks are 9.5-point favorites at home against BYU. Auburn (2-0): Linebacker Eugene Asante, who had 12 tackles and a sack in Auburn’s 14-10 win over California, was named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week ... The Tigers still have unsettled issues at quarterback. After their win over California, HBC Hugh Freeze said, “We need Payton (Thorne) to play better, truthfully” and added that backup Robby Ashford has to get more touches. No. 1 Georgia (2-0): Safety Javon Bullard is in a walking boot since the second half of Georgia’s win over Ball State. He’s day-to-day for the South Carolina game. Ladd McConkey, last year’s leading receiver with 58 catches, has a back problem that he’s trying to work through. D-lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins is in a boot and using a non-weight bearing scooter. Running back Branson Robinson’s knee injury will keep him out the remainder of the season. Tight end Lawson Luckie has had tight rope surgery to repair a high ankle sprain … Georgia is a whopping 27.5-point favorite over South Carolina in the SEC opener Saturday. Kentucky (2-0): Center Eli Cox, who graded 86 percent in Kentucky’s win over Eastern Kentucky, was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week. Cox allowed no sacks or quarterback pressures … Kenneth Horsey, UK’s best and most experienced offensive lineman, is listed day-to-day for Saturday’s game with Akron … Kentucky is a 25-point favorite over Akron. No. 14 LSU (1-1): The Tigers made a second half adjustment against Grambling, moving Harold Perkins from inside to the edge where he was far more disruptive a year ago. The move is expected to be permanent although Perkins may see some action on the inside as well … Tight end Mason Taylor and linebacker Omar Speights are both listed as probable for Saturday’s game at Mississippi State … The Tigers are listed as 10-point favorites on the road at Mississippi State. Mississippi State (2-0): Linebacker Jett Johnson, who had the eighth game of his career with at least 10 tackles in the win over Arizona, was names SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week. Johnson had 11 tackles in the game plus two of MSU’s three interceptions … Through two games running back Jo’Quavious Marks has 250 yards. He had 582 in 13 games last season. Missouri (2-0): D-lineman Nyles Gaddy, who had a couple of sacks in Mizzou’s win over Middle Tennessee, was named SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week … Missouri is a 5-point home dog to Kansas State Saturday. No. 17 Ole Miss (2-0): Placekicker Caden Davis, who drilled a 55-yard field goal with 1:53 to go to solidify the win over Tulane, was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week. Davis was 3-3 on field goals and 4-4 on extra points in the game … Despite scoring 37 points against Tulane, the Rebels only managed 89 yards on the ground. The Rebels were held to 1-13 conversions on third down … Ole Miss is a 20-point home favorite against Georgia Tech. South Carolina (1-1): Spencer Rattler lit up Furman for 349 passing yards, hitting 25-27 passes plus scored a rushing touchdown to earn SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors … Freshman O-lineman Markee Anderson is listed as probable for Georgia as is EDGE Jatius Greer. DB Nick Emmanwori, DB Keenan Nelson Jr., DB David Spaulding and WR Ahmarean Brown are all listed as questionable. No. 11 Tennessee (2-0): HBC Josh Heupel anticipates starting center Cooper Mays, who missed the first two games of the season, to be ready to go Saturday night against Florida ... The Vols are listed as 6.5-point favorites against Florida. Texas A&M (1-1): Starting D-lineman Shemar Turner, who leads the team with two sacks, was arrested Monday and charge with reckless driving for going 85 in 35 and 45 mph zones near the A&M campus … Aggie fans are up in arms about defensive coordinator DJ Durkin but HBC Jimbo Fisher said Durkin “is a very good coach that does a good job and knows what he is doing” … The Aggies are 36-point favorites over Louisiana-Monroe. Vanderbilt (2-1): Wide receiver London Humphries, who caught four passes for 109 yards including a 48-yarder for a TD, was named SEC Freshman of the Week ... In the loss to Wake Forest, HBC Clark Lea said the defensive plan was to take the pass away, forcing the Deacons to run but they pounded away for 288 yards … Vanderbilt is a slight 4-point favorite on the road at UNLV. ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Wherever you looked for your college football news Sunday and Monday you were hit with funeral notices for the late, great Southeastern Conference. Stewart Mandel of The Athletic wrote what he called a “mini-eulogy” for the league after a weekend in which Alabama was bushwhacked in Tuscaloosa by Texas and Texas A&M moved closer to a divorce settlement with Jimbo Fisher by going dead roach against Miami. A week earlier the Gators lost to Utah, LSU was hammered by Florida State and South Carolina bit the bullet against North Carolina. It has indeed been a rough first half of September for the SEC and by the time December rolls around, we might have endured a step back season for the league. The way things are looking now, Georgia seems to be the only team capable of carrying the SEC torch in the College Football Playoff. But it’s only September. Things can change. The league can and will get better, but good enough to continue the streak that began in 2015 of an SEC team either national champ or runner-up? If you’re looking for a reason why so many are predicting a down year in the SEC, look no further than the quarterback position. While it seems nearly every team in the Pac-12 has a future NFL quarterback flinging the ball all over the yard, the SEC has only a couple draft-eligible quarterbacks who we can expect to see on Sundays in the near future – KJ Jefferson of Arkansas for sure and perhaps Spencer Rattler of South Carolina. After that, a bunch of maybes. Young quarterbacks with serious upside? The SEC has plenty already on rosters and more to come in the future. Half of 247Sports’ top 22 quarterbacks in the recruiting class of 2024 are committed to SEC schools. That bodes very well for the future of the league, but it doesn’t exactly help right now. Now, there is a chance the SEC will turn things around and go full beast mode the rest of the way but brace yourself for a year that could see a Big Ten team like Michigan win the national championship. Heaven forbid. But, don’t expect the league to be down and out in the deep south very long. Help is indeed on the way. Reports of the SEC’s demise may prove to be premature.

A few thoughts to jump start your Wednesday morning: Consensus opinion among the nation’s talking heads is that donkeys will fly before the Florida Gators take down the No. 11 Tennessee Vols Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Even Dan Mullen, Florida’s former coach who recruited 24 of Florida’s scholarship athletes, thinks it will be all Tennessee and the Gators will go belly up. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who thinks the Gators can win, even among the writers who cover the Gators on a daily basis. And yet, if Tennessee is that much better than the Gators, why is it the Vols are only 6.5-point favorites? Detractors seem to think it’s only because it’s The Swamp where the crowd will be loud and the humidity at a dehydrating level that the Gators can hope to keep it this close. They point to Tennessee’s 10-win season last year, its high powered offense directed by HBC Josh Heupel and quarterback Joe Milton as further reasons why the Gators have no chance. Okay, the home field advantage does stand for something. The Vols haven’t won in Gainesville since 2003 and they’ve gone down in flames on fluke plays like “The Heave to Cleve” in 2017. Those things probably don’t happen at Neyland. The heat and humidity? Anyone remember how the Vols melted in 1999 on a sweaty night when Alex Brown made life miserable for Tee Martin and the previous year’s national champs? Tee Martin still hears the footsteps. The Vols did win 10 games last year. Truth be known, the Gators should have beaten them. That was at Neyland and Florida didn’t have near as much talent on the defensive side of the football as now. Josh Heupel does direct high powered offenses but someone explain why the Vols had all sorts of problems with a D1AA Austin Peay team that they should have beaten by at least seven TDs. As for Joe Milton, Hendon Hooker he isn’t. He might be able to heave a ball 90 yards down the field but it’s the 15-yarder over the middle that he better be able to connect and right now he throws a lot of high hard ones. Now maybe the crowd noise won’t bother the Vols. Maybe the heat and humidity won’t faze them in the least. Maybe the Vols have been bored so far and maybe Joe Milton will discover this week that every throw doesn’t have to be made with the kind of hurricane force that knocks down receivers. Maybe. What if the Gators make the Vols defend the entire field? What if Graham Mertz keeps throwing those quick little darts that are good for 8-9 yard gains and when the safeties creep to the line he throws over the top to Ricky Pearsall? What if hat-on-hat, Florida’s O-line creates creases that Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne squeeze through and get to the second level? What if Florida’s big guys like Cam Jackson, Caleb Banks and Chris McClellan fill the gaps so Shemar James, Scooby Williams and Teradja Mitchell stuff the run? What if Florida’s secondary latches on to one of Joe Milton’s overthrows? Could it happen? Maybe. The Gators have no chance? Doubtful. UF volleyball: Gators take 5-set win over FSU in Tallahassee The 3rd-ranked Gators (8-0) remained unbeaten Tuesday night when they went white knuckles to take down Florida State (5-4) in five sets, 18-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-17 and 16-14. Tied at 14-14 in the fifth and deciding set, Sophia Victoria scored back-to-back kills to put the match away for the Gators. Freshman Kennedy Martin led the Gators with 25 kills, three service aces, one assist, nine digs and two blocks, while AC Fitzpatrick had 22 kills, three digs and three blocks. Alexis Stuckey had a monster game with 50 assists to go with three kills, one service ace, nine digs and two blocks. Gabbi Essix contributed four blocks. The Gators will host No. 1 Wisconsin Sunday afternoon at the O-Dome (3 p.m., ESPN). SEC football No. 10 Alabama (1-1): Amid all the criticism that the Alabama dynasty is now a thing of the past, Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt, a former Colorado quarterback, says, “Alabama is not going anywhere. Period.” Arkansas (2-0): Although the Razorbacks are 8-point favorites to beat BYU, HBC Sam Pittman says, “Our kids understand the urgency of this game.” Auburn (2-0): Linebacker Austin Keys will miss Saturday’s game with Samford. Questionable are Donovan Kaufman, Nehemiah Pritchett and J.D. Rhym. No. 1 Georgia (2-0): Discussing South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler, who the Bulldogs will have to defend Saturday, Kirby Smart said, “He’s got elite arm talent, I can tell you that. The throws he’s made, touch throws, deep, vertical, back shoulder throws.” Kentucky (2-0): Offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who was rushed to the hospital for a medical emergency on Sunday, will be back with the Wildcats Saturday when they face Akron in Lexington. No. 14 LSU (1-1): The Tigers, who rank dead last in the SEC in pass defense, will be going against Will Rogers of Mississippi State Saturday night. Rogers has thrown for 11,078 yards and 87 touchdowns in his career. Mississippi State (2-0): Sophomore DB Ja’Kobi Albert will undergo season-ending knee surgery. Albert suffered the injury in August and did not play in the Bulldogs’ first two games. Missouri (2-0): At his Tuesday press conference, HBC Eli Drinkwitz said the Tigers have to get running back Nate Peat more involved in the offense. Through two games, Peat has 22 carries for 108 yards and a TD. No. 17 Ole Miss (2-0): Through two games, the Rebels are giving up only 102 rushing yards a game. Eight different Rebels have a sack. South Carolina (1-1): There are whispers that injured wide receiver Juice Wells might be ready to go Saturday at Georgia. A year ago, Wells caught 68 passes for 928 yards and six touchdowns. No. 11 Tennessee (2-0): D-lineman Omari Thomas says there was a players-only meeting Sunday. Thomas says, “We approach it like we do any other day. Come in, have fun and ready to work. That was really the main thing, just continuing to grow together and have that players meeting.” Texas A&M (1-1): Paul Finebaum says if the Aggies decide it’s time for Jimbo Fisher to go the $75 million buyout won’t be a problem. On the Matt Barrie Show Finebaum said that if the Aggies are losing games like they did to Miami “on a consistent basis then he has no future.” Vanderbilt (2-1): Through three games, QB AJ Swann has thrown for 766 yards and eight touchdowns with only three interceptions. Countdown to Firing Day: September 13, 2023 Extinct Species List Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern: Now that Mel Tucker has been suspended at Michigan State, maybe Fitzgerald doesn’t feel like such a creep. On Life Support Mel Tucker, Michigan State: She says she was sexually harassed. He says it was consensual. Either way, Mel Tucker is a married man who will be fired October 5-6 because he admits he whacked off while talking to a woman who was once gang raped by a football team and is now an advocate for women who have had similar traumatic experiences. There is a moral turpitude clause in his contract that will free Michigan State from about $90 million in buyout money. Butch Jones, Arkansas State: The Red Wolves have scored three (count ‘em) points this year. Opponents have scored 110. He’s 5-21 and the only reason he hasn’t been fired is because a year ago they extended his contract to 2026 with a $1 million buyout. He’s 5-21 in metropolitan Jonesboro, Ark. Tom Allen, Indiana: Back in 2021 when Allen was a hot property, Indiana gave him a 7-year contract extension that the powers that be now regret. To can him will cost $7.95 million. Mike Bloomgren, Rice: Bloomgren may hold the all-time record for longest time On Life Support. Last week he pulled off a regular South Texas shocker by not only beating Houston but putting Dana Holgerson on the hot seat. The next four games are winnable and with a little luck, Rice could go 6-6 and bowling. Danny Gonzales, New Mexico: The Lobos are 1-1 thanks to a win over hapless D1AA Tennessee Tech. The next two games – New Mexico State and UMass are winnable, which would put Gonzales halfway to a bowl. Hope springs eternal. The buyout is a mere $400,000. Neal Brown, West Virginia: The Mounties are 1-1 with arch-rival Pitt on this week’s schedule. They really want to fire him and maybe they’ll figure out how to raise the $13 million it will take to buy him out. Endangered Species List Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M: Losing to Miami was bad. Getting stomped by Miami was beyond worse. The buyout is $75 million, not a problem for Aggie boosters who paid $450 million in cash back in 2012 to turn dumpy Kyle Field into a palace. As they say, only God and the Longhorns have more money than the Aggies. Anything less than nine wins and Jimbo probably is a goner. Dana Holgerson, Houston: He lost to Rice. Not only did he lose to Rice, he fell behind Rice, 28-0 at the half. The faithful think for the amount of money they’re paying him -- $4 million per – they should be better than 28-21. Tony Elliott, Virginia: Blowing a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter for a loss to James Madison hasn’t helped his cause at all. They won’t fire him after two seasons on the job will they? Jeff Hafley, Boston College: If Florida State does to BC what everybody seems to think Florida State is going to do to BC, then the sharp knives will be out and Hafley may find himself On Life Support. He’s under contract through 2026 thanks to a 5-year extension he signed after going 6-6 in year two. Now they wish they hadn’t. If he survives it’s because they can’t afford the buyout. Dino Babers, Syracuse: That 2-0 start looks good but it’s against a pair of very bad teams. He could win the next two then lose the last eight. Two winning seasons in eight years on the job won’t cut it, but neither will paying him $10.5 million to just go away. A real dilemma here. Ken Wilson, Nevada: The Wolfpack got hosed by D1AA Idaho, 33-6, last week. Wilson is 3-14 since taking over and it’s not going to get much better, at least this year. He’s got three years left on the contract and estimated buyout is $1.8 million. The buyout probably gets him one more year. Dave Aranda, Baylor: Things are about to get wacky in Waco. The Bears are 0-2 and they get Texas in a couple of weeks. The natives are restless and wondering whose bright idea it was to extend Aranda through the 2029 season. ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: When Tez Walker transferred from Kent State to North Carolina, he cited the need to be closer to family, particularly his ailing grandmother who has multiple documented medical issues. Walker cited his desire to help his family and his own mental health as additional reasons for the transfer. Now this is the second transfer for Walker, although the first one is pretty much a sham. He was at North Carolina Central in 2020 when their D1AA season was canceled because of COVID. He transferred to Kent State, played there two years and then transferred to UNC. Three days after he transferred, the NCAA implemented a new transfer rule and made it retroactive regarding two-time transfers and declared Walker ineligible. Walker and North Carolina appealed. Several times in fact, each time denied by the NCAA, which had the audacity to make this statement: “Citing extenuating circumstances such as mental health does not necessarily support a waiver request, but instead may, in some situations, suggest a student-athlete should be primarily focused on addressing those critical issues during the initial transition to a third school.” Translation: Stick it where the sun doesn’t shine, kid. Matt Hayes of Saturday Down South has a rather novel solution to the Tez Walker situation. Hayes says North Carolina should defy the NCAA and play Tez Walker. In doing so, he points out the many hypocrisies of the NCAA, all of which got hammered in court. If Carolina played Walker and the NCAA protested, is there a court in the country where the NCAA could expect to win? Hayes says no, writing, “Draw the line, North Carolina. The NCAA won’t do a damn thing about it.”

A few thoughts to jump start your Thursday morning: It was only Wednesday night, but you could sense Billy Napier has his game face on already as he talked to the media following Florida’s practice for Saturday’s close encounter with No. 11 Tennessee at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. “These kids are educated,” Napier said about the Gators, who have been totally focused on the Vols since Sunday night. “We’ve tried to do our part relative to educating them on the history of this game in particular. I think that will be effective, and look, they respect the opponent. They know that the intensity, the speed, the physicality, the urgency that’s going to be required to win a game like this, they know what they are getting into, and I think the veterans have done a good job of explaining to a lot of these new cats that may not have played in one of these games before.” The Gators go into this game 6.5-point underdogs, but they’re also the healthiest they’ve been all season. Kingsley Eguakun is back in the starting lineup after missing the first two games with a lower leg injury. Backup QB Jack Miller III, who has been suffering from tendonitis on the rotator cuff of his throwing arm, is healthy and practicing again. Wide receivers Marcus Burke and Kaliel Jackson are going at it 100 percent as is corner Devin Moore. “I don’t know that any player on our team is going to the park 100 percent okay, that’s reality,” Napier said. “We probably have fewer guys below the line, but we got a team that’s got to work hard between now and gameday to be ready, be their best. Ultimately this is a week-to-week grind, to have the self-discipline and follow through and use the recovery modalities, use the training room, get good sleep, make sure you are eating and drinking the right things. I think every week is a grind to try to be at your best, you might not be 100, but let’s be the best we can be when we get to gameday.” Trevor Etienne on QB Graham Mertz: “He’s dialed in. He’s a leader. Guys know they can come to him and we have a lot of young guys playing. That’s why I say that. They can come to him and ask him anything and he’s willing to help. He will go the extra mile. He will sit in a personal film session with you and make sure you understand everything so you can play at your best and as quickly as possible.” Linebacker Scooby Williams on what this game means to the defense: “For us it’s more of a statement game, like the last two weeks wasn’t a fluke. I feel like we’ve been putting the work in. Armstrong is a great coach and he’s always going to put us in the right place at the right time. We’ve gotta go out there and execute, make the plays that we’re supposed to make and we’ll be fine.” Scooby on the edge the defense is feeling right now: "Y’all know B Spikes (former Gator All-American Brandon Spikes) is back, right? Every day in practice he’s just yelling and yelling, ‘Beat Tennessee! Beat Tennessee!’ So, we got a chip on our shoulder, mainly because of B Spikes putting the bug in our ear. Oh, and this offseason, we did a whole thing about rivalries and Tennessee was one of those rivalries. Just knowing that you’re not only not only playing for the name on your back, but the name on the front of your jersey. The Gators. It's not about us. It's about the people who came before us and all the great role models and all the great players who came before us and just continuing that legacy. I feel like that's the biggest challenge for us." Florida vs. Tennessee in The Swamp: Every game since 1991 1991, NO. 10 FLORIDA 35, No. 4 Tennessee 18: All week long we heard how Carl Pickens was going to eat up the Florida secondary. Pickens did catch eight passes in the game, but the Florida secondary picked off three balls intended for Pickens, one that Larry Kennedy ran back 44 yards for a TD. Shane Matthews threw for two TDs and Errict Rhett ran for two more. 1993, NO. 9 FLORIDA 41, No. 5 Tennessee 34: This was supposed to be the game that would make Heath Shuler the hands down Heisman favorite. It turned out to be the Danny Wuerffel game. Making his first start he threw for three TDPs. Even though Shuler threw for 355 yards and give TDPs, he was overshadowed by Wuerffel and his was the Heisman campaign that wasn’t. 1995, FLORIDA 62, Tennessee 37: Three things endure from that encounter. (1) Lawrence Wright’s hit on Joey Kent that sent him into next month. We didn’t even know Joey was alive until we saw spit bubbles in the corner of his mouth through binoculars. (2) The Gators scored 48 straight points after trailing 30-14. (3) Sports Illustrated had this photo of Peyton Manning sitting on the bench in the rain. He looked like he had lost his puppy. 1997, No. 3 FLORIDA 33, No. 4 Tennessee 20: Peyton Manning went 0-2 in The Swamp during his career. He threw for more yards than Doug Johnson (355-261), but Dougie had Fred Taylor gouging the Vols for 134 yards on the ground and Jacquez Green running free like a banshee in the secondary with eight catches for 185 yards and a TD. 1999, NO. 4 FLORIDA 23, No. 2 Tennessee 21: The Vols went unbeaten to win the 1998 national championship. They came to Gainesville favored and cocky with Tee Martin at QB and Jamal Lewis at RB. What they didn’t expect was Alex Brown to be a one-man wrecking crew. He sacked Martin five times and affected him on at least a half dozen other occasions. He forced (and recovered) a Martin fumble and intercepted a pass. Tee Martin still hears the footsteps. 2001, No. 5 Tennessee 34, NO. 2 FLORIDA 32: Originally scheduled for September 11, the game was pushed back into December. Had it been played in September when the Gators were healthy, it wouldn’t have been close. Florida in a blowout. In December, Travis Stephens ran wild for 226 yards, prompting DC Jon Hoke to say we did a good job defending him on all but four or five plays, which is like a 747 pilot saying I did a good job landing the plane except the time I missed the runway. 2003, No. 12 Tennessee 24, NO. 17 FLORIDA 10: After this one, Ron Zook demoted Ingle Martin and made Chris Leak the starting QB. Three weeks later in Baton Rouge, Leak led the Gators past Nick Saban and LSU, the only loss the Tigers sustained the entire year. 2005, NO. 6 FLORIDA 16, No. 4 Tennessee 7: Urban Meyer’s offense hadn’t exactly begun to click so it was up to the defense, which held the Vols to a TD and 213 yards. Chris Hetland kicked three field goals in the second half and that was the difference. The Gators only had 247 yards of offense, gave up five sacks and were penalized 10 times. And still they won the game. 2007, NO. 4 FLORIDA 59, No. 24 Tennessee 20: It was 28-20 after an Eric Berry 96-yard interception return but after that it was all Tebow and all Gators. Florida scored 31 straight points. Tebow threw for 299 and two TDs, ran for 67 and two more. Percy Harvin ran 9-75 and caught 4-120. 2009 NO. 1 FLORIDA 23, Tennessee 13: This was Lane Kiffin’s one and only game in The Swamp as the UT head coach. Florida’s offense wasn’t anything to write home about, but the defense played exceptionally well. Caleb Sturgis kicked three field goals. There was a third quarter collison at the Tennessee seven that left both players wobbly. A lot of folks believe that collision affected Tebow the next week when he took a hit at Kentucky and was sent to the hospital with a concussion. 2011 NO. 16 FLORIDA 33, Tennessee 23: Will Muschamp’s debut game against the Vols. You could have called this one the Hanky Bowl because the zebras threw 26 flags (10 on the Vols, 16 on the Gators). John Brantley threw for two touchdowns and Chris Rainey ran for 108. 2013 FLORIDA 31, Tennessee 17: Jeff Driskel broke his ankle in the second quarter necessitating Tyler Murphy to take his first snaps ever as the UF quarterback. Murph completed 8-14 passes for 134 yards and a TD and ran for 90 more and another touchdown. The Gators ran for 256 yards. 2015 FLORIDA 28, Tennessee 27: Jim McElwain’s debut game against UT. The Vols thought they had this one wrapped up when Will Grier and Antonio Callaway connected late in the fourth quarter. Callaway made the catch, did a spin move and then got a brilliant block from Brandon Powell to spring him for a 63-yard game winning TD with 1:26 to go for a 28-27 lead. The Vols still had a chance but Aaron Medley’s last second 55-yard field goal attempt went wide right. 2017 FLORIDA 26, No. 23 Tennessee 20: This one will always be remembered for “The Heave to Cleve,” the most improbable Hail Mary ever in this rivalry game, and maybe in Florida history. Tied at 20-20 after an Aaron Medley field goal with 50 seconds left, the Gators were down to their last play or go overtime. Feleipe Franks eluded the rush on the play, rolled to his right then launched a laser-guided missile that Tyrie Cleveland extended in the end zone and caught for a game-winning 63-yard TD. Both McElwain and Tennessee coach Butch Jones were unemployed by season’s end. 2019 NO. 9 FLORIDA 34, Tennessee 3: One week after coming off the bench to lead the Gators to an improbable comeback win over Kentucky in Lexington, Kyle Trask got his first start. Trask sliced up the Vols for 313 passing yards and two TDs while the UF defense got four sacks and three interceptions. 2021 NO. 11 FLORIDA 38, Tennessee 14: A week after nearly springing an upset on then No. 1 Alabama, Emory Jones played the best game of his Florida career, throwing for 209 yards and two touchdowns while running for 144. The Gators pounded the UT defense for 283 rushing yards. Joe Milton, who will start Saturday for Tennessee, came off the bench to complete 2-8 passes for 54 yards. ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Gary Danielson, part of the CBS broadcast team that is in its final year of calling Southeastern Conference football games before moving to the Big Ten in 2024, has a word for Big Ten groupies who think the gap is closing with the SEC. “I mean everybody’s kind of counting bank accounts and TV viewership, but at the end, on the field is what matters,” Danielson told Seth Emerson of The Athletic. “And that’s what the SEC has done. Whether people think you’re shilling or not, when a third to a half of the first round are SEC players and they win 13 out of 17 national titles, it’s hard not to say they deserve the accolades.” This is not shaping up as a vintage year for the SEC. No one can deny that, but even if the string of four straight national championships is broken perhaps by Michigan or Ohio State from the Big Ten, it’s way too early to claim equal status. The SEC has proven over the last 17 seasons that it’s the league with the most talent, the best coaches and the most passionate fan bases. Think back, if you will, to 2014. That year Ohio State beat Oregon for the national championship. Look at the record since then. Alabama has won three national championships, Georgia the last two, and LSU one. Clemson is the only non-SEC team to win championships since 2014 (Tigers won in 2016 and 2018) but in both those seasons and two others (Georgia 2017, Alabama 2021) an SEC team was the runner-up. That is dominance. One off year – and it’s too early to say it will be an off year – won’t change that.

The offense Josh Heupel developed on his way to becoming the head coach at Tennessee is often called “The Blur” since its basic concept is to run to wherever the ball is spotted and get off a snap as quickly as possible. By design it is supposed to leave opponents gagging and unable to substitute because the pace is just too quick. Through two games this season, the Vols are getting in 75 snaps in 23:55 of possession time. “They run about three plays a minute, right?” Billy Napier said Monday at his weekly press conference. “I think they're first or second in the country in pace.” Tennessee presents a unique challenge because the offense is as effective running the ball as it is passing. The Vols are averaging 477.5 yards per game, 257.5 on the ground (6.13 yards per carry) and 220 through the air (6.8 per pass attempt). The running numbers are up a bit from last year, but the passing numbers are significantly down. A year ago with Hendon Hooker at QB, the Vols averaged 10 yards per pass attempt and 106.1 passing yards more per game. The switch to a more run-heavy attack has everything to do with the change at quarterback. Hendon Hooker, now in the NFL, was a pass-first quarterback who got most of his 416 rushing yards extending plays when the pocket broke down or receivers were covered. Last year’s backup Joe Milton runs the show this year. Milton is a dangerous runner with a very live arm. He’s thrown the ball 90 yards so arm strength isn’t an issue, but perhaps decision making is because the pass routes are shorter. A year ago with Hooker in charge, Tennessee receivers averaged more than 14 yards per catch. This year with Milton taking the snaps, UT receivers average 10 yards per catch. By no means does this mean the UT offense has slowed down, just that the Vols are getting more out of a running game that is responding well to the same fast tempo. Jaylen Wright is averaging 9.32 yards per carry while Jabari Small gets 6.23 per touch. Tempo is enough of a problem, but now there is the dilemma of a running game that forces the safeties to play closer to the line of scrimmage, which, theoretically, leaves a defense vulnerable to throwing the ball over the top. So how do the Gators combat an offense far different that the two they’ve seen so far? Utah was run-first but the Utes had a very conservative passing game against the Gators, in large part because starting QB Cam Rising was (and still is) sidelined as he recovers from ACL surgery. McNeese State came to UF for a paycheck and made sure it left The Swamp without significant injuries to key players. Against Utah and McNeese, the Gators have allowed only 382 yards (4.11 per play) and 31 points, impressive for a defense that relies so heavily on transfers and rookies. While taking nothing away from the defensive effort, the Gators have done a good job of playing defense with the offense. In other words, the Gators are moving the football and controlling the tempo. Through the first two games, the Gators rank 15th nationally in time of possession, averaging 34:02.50 holding the football while keeping opponents to 25:57.50. A 9-minute discrepancy certainly favors the Gators it would seem, but that doesn’t seem to hinder Tennessee. The Vols hold the ball only 23:55.00 per game, but they still get 75 snaps. Defensively, the Gators have to continue getting off the field on third down (Utah and McNeese are a combined 5-23, which ranks seventh nationally) and once they have the ball, control the clock. Billy Napier calls this playing complementary football. “Yeah, I think there's a commitment there to play complementary football,” Napier said. “Ultimately we've gotten off the field on defense. We've been much improved on third down … Time of possession has been a factor. Ultimately we probably need to create a few more explosives, truth be known.” Whether it’s on defense or offense, first down is critical. Defensively, the Gators need to put the Vols in second-and-long, which is 7-8 yards. That was a problem for the Gators a season ago as Tennessee converted six of nine third down opportunities in a game in which they piled up 576 yards and scored 33 points. The Vols were good for 227 yards and three rushing TDs while the passing game put up 349 yards and three more TDs. Ideally, the best way to combat the Vols is get them off the field on third down, but if they get into the red zone give up three points instead of six. “I think the game's about first down, then you got to get off the field on third down,” Napier said. “Ball gets into the red area, you got to force 'em to kick field goals.” A year ago, the Vols averaged 46.1 points per game and were more than content to win games in shootout fashion. The Gators on the other hand were 0-3 (lost to Tennessee, LSU and FSU) when games turned into shootouts. If the Gators can force the Vols to kick field goals, they can avoid another shootout situation. Conversely, the Gators need to be second-and-manageable and convert their third downs. After a miserable 1-13 effort on third down against Utah, the Gators rebounded by converting five of six third downs against McNeese State. The Gators scored on seven straight possessions against McNeese and they held onto the ball for 36:09. When the offense is clicking, the Gators have the type of attack that can eat up plenty of clock, more important this year since the new NCAA rule that keeps the clock moving after first downs except in the final two minutes of each half. Statistical experts say each team is averaging somewhere around eight fewer plays per game, which equates to one long possession. Figure the 25 seconds of the play clock, 10 seconds from the time the play is snapped until officials whistle it down and then spot it for the next play, and you’ve taken nearly three minutes off the game. The Gators can shorten the game considerably if they can get the Vols off the field on third down, then turn third downs into a new set of downs when they have the ball. It’s pretty simple. Tennessee can’t score if it doesn’t have the football. *** For the Gators to control the tempo and keep the Vols’ offense off the field, Florida’s offensive line will have to come up with another strong effort. After a penalty-filled effort against Utah in which the Gators allowed five sacks and shot themselves in the foot with false starts and holding penalties, the O-line bounced back with a cleanly played game in the trenches against McNeese State. There’s a world of difference between the McNeese D-line and the one the Gators will see against Tennessee. The Vols have limited two opponents to 87 yards a game and 2.35 yards per carry. The Vols have 11 sacks, which is tied for first nationally. The Gators got a bit of good news Monday when Napier announced that center Kingsley Eguakun will be back this week. Eguakun, who started 26 consecutive games prior to this season, missed the first two games with what was described as a lower leg injury. If he’s back at full strength and able to start, that will be a huge plus since he’s considered one of the more cerebral centers in the SEC when it comes to making the right line calls before the ball is snapped. “We get Kingsley back this week, which I think will be a positive,” Napier said. Eguakun’s backup, Jake Slaughter, had a game to forget against Utah, but the improvement from week one to week two was rather remarkable. “Look, Jake was player of the game [against McNeese]. He played significantly better week one to week two.” Against McNeese, it was evident the Gators were rotating Florida International transfer Lyndell Hudson II in at right tackle. Damien George Jr. has been the starter but he had issues with false starts and had a holding call in the Utah game. At FIU, Hudson was a three-year starter so he brings an element of experience that George doesn’t have. That could come in very handy against the Vols, who get most of their pass rush from their front four. “Third tackle, very capable player,” Napier said describing Hudson. “I think he's impressed me. He did just show up in June, so there's an element to that. I think he's continuing to learn and grow and develop more knowledge of the system. “I think every week he gets a little bit better. But, yeah, gives us a swing tackle there, which we didn't have in the opener. Had some issues there.”

Since the introduction of divisions in the SEC, the clash between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers has always carried immense significance. It's more than just a rivalry; it's a contest that determines who takes the lead in the SEC East, and in certain years, who might find themselves out of National Championship contention as early as September. Although the Gators and Vols have faced off 52 times, the series truly came to fruition in the 1990s, when both the Gators and Volunteers catapulted their programs onto the national stage. In 21 appearances at The Swamp, the Volunteers have come out victorious just 5 times and haven’t had a win in Gainesville since 2003, with three of those victories dating back to 1953, 1955, and 1971. Billy Napier spoke to the media on Monday and touched on the impact the Tennessee rivalry means to not only this program but him personally. “Obviously my dad’s family is from Tennessee. I’ve got a couple of uncles and cousins that have never missed a Tennessee game,” Napier said. “They’ve flown all over the country to watch them play. Well-versed in this one... When your dad’s a high school coach, the parts of the country that my family’s from, the era that I grew up in, Florida-Tennessee was a big deal at that point in time. Pretty well-versed in this one.” Florida Head Coach Billy Napier talking to the media at halftime of the McNeese State game. Photo via Chris Spears GatorBaitMedia.com In Napier’s first season, the Gators were unable to secure a victory against any of their traditional rivals, including a closely contested match in a sold-out Neyland Stadium. In the eyes of the fanbase, it is important for the Gators to get back on the winning track with some of these rivals on the schedule, that for so long have been routinely on the schedule. As the offspring of a coach, Napier understands the gravity of rivalry games. While Tennessee is a conference rival and for one more year, a divisional opponent, this game holds more weight than that for generations of Tennessee and Florida enthusiasts. This week, it is not just “another opponent”, it is a top-15 divisional rival coming into The Swamp as 8.5 point favorites. Winning every game is, of course, the objective, but if you can't, this is one you must secure. So, Napier dived into the history books. "We did some work there relative to going back and really educating everyone on the history and the magnitude of the game," remarked Napier on Monday, during Tennessee week. "Do you understand that this was the game at one point in time in college football relative to the SEC, the Eastern Division and certainly the national championship picture." The Gators also enlisted the help of Mike Peterson and Brandon Spikes for this educational segment. Peterson concluded his tenure with a 3-1 record against the Vols, while Brandon Spikes has never experienced defeat against Tennessee. With new faces entering and exiting the program every year, especially with the rise of the transfer portal, the significance of longstanding rivalries isn't always immediately apparent. Graham Mertz, who's been part of some big rivalries during his time at Wisconsin, offered his perspective. "At Wisconsin it was the first thing I had, from day one it was Minnesota-Iowa, you understood the rivalry," Mertz said. When Napier took the Gators under his wing to educate them about their rivalry games, the seasoned quarterback understood the assignment. "I wish you guys could see the video they put up there. It went back years," Mertz said. "In a short little 30, 45-minute window, you got a quick rundown of every game that has been played. What you see when you watch those games is the passion and the love for this place. I think that’s one thing that the current players, we saw that. You definitely want to embody that."

Florida Gators center Kingsley Eguakun, who missed the team's first two games, has been cleared to return to practice. "We get Kingsley back this week and that'll be good," Billy Napier said in his weekly press conference on Monday. The Gators plan to have Eguakun make his season debut on Saturday when they welcome in No. 11 Tennessee. Eguakun missed both the Utah and McNeese State games as he recovered from a high ankle sprain he suffered on Aug. 16. His return is a huge gain for the Gators, as he is the most experienced among the offensive line group. Jake Slaughter started both games at center in replacement of Eguakun and received praise from within the Florida football program for stepping up in a big spot. After struggling as a unit against Utah, the Gators offensive line dominated the McNeese St. defensive front, paving the way for 327 rushing yards. In his redshirt sophomore season, Eguakun was a bit inconsistent. While at times he flashed his potential with sharp, quick steps on run blocking and pass sets, but he also had a fair share of missed assignments and penalties that set the Gators back. At the season's end, Eguakun had the lowest Pro Football Focus grade of all linemen who were on the field for more than 10 snaps. He was also third-to-last out of the entire team. Nonetheless, the experience is something that Napier and company will be excited to get back into the lineup. Florida will hope to keep its foot on the pedal as they welcome the big-time SEC rival Tennessee Volunteers, who have been hot to start the year. The Gators struggled to execute their gameplan on the road against Utah, but look to build off of a dominating performance against the Cowboys.

A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning: Pass protection will be the name of the game Saturday night when the Gators (1-1) open SEC play in The Swamp against 11th-ranked Tennessee (2-0). The Vols are tied with Nebraska for the national lead in sacks with 11 after getting to the Austin Peay quarterback seven times for 48 yards in losses Saturday evening. Eight of Tennesee’s sacks have come from their four defensive linemen so the Vols haven’t had to blitz all that much. The Gators allowed five sacks in their season opener to Utah, but they turned in a perfect night at the office against McNeese State Saturday night. Against McNeese, the Gators got their first two sacks of the season, one for -12 yards by Scooby Williams and one for -10 yards by Princely Umanmielen. The Vols have given up only two sacks all season long. Better pass protection was only part of the Saturday night story for Florida’s offensive line, which racked up 560 yards on 74 snaps. The Gators ran the ball 51 times for 327 yards with Montrell Johnson Jr. leading the way with 119 yards and two touchdowns, while Trevor Etienne had 84 yards and a TD and true freshman Treyaun Webb had 71 and two TDs. The Gators threw the ball 23 times, completing 18 for 233 yards and a TD on a 50-yard bomb from Graham Mertz to Ricky Pearsall. Mertz went 14-17 for 197 yards and didn’t have anything remotely close to an interception because he didn’t try to force the ball into McNeese’s cover three zone. Pearsall caught six passes for 123 yards. The Florida O-line operated the second straight game without Kingsley Eguakun at center, but backup Jake Slaughter had a much better game in terms of run blocking, pass blocking and making the line calls. Slaughter played the first six series before Richie Leonard IV took over on the seventh offensive series. The Gators started the same five as game one – LT Austin Barber, LG Leonard, C Slaughter, RG Micah Mazzccua, RT Damieon George Jr. – but Florida International grad transfer Lyndell Hudson II shared a lot of time on the field with George. Statistically speaking: Gators No. 3 nationally in total defense It is only two games, one of which was against a D1AA opponent, but even so, No. 3 nationally in total defense is something to get excited about, particularly after the last three seasons. The Gators held McNeese State to 112 yards and just 2.8 yards per snap Saturday. Through two games, the Gators are allowing only 191 yards per game, 75.5 on the ground (2.7 per carry) and 115.5 passing (6.2 per attempt). The Gators rank 8th nationally in pass defense, 23rd in rushing defense and 37th in scoring defense (15.5 points per game). Ricky Pearsall ranks 14th nationally in pass receiving with 14 catches for 215 yards (15.36 per catch) and a TD. UF volleyball: Gators should remain No. 3 when the poll comes out After taking care of business against Sacramento State, Clemson and Winthrop to win the Gator Invitational, the Gators (7-0) will likely remain No. 3 when the AVCA poll comes out. Wisconsin (7-0) and Louisville (8-0). The Gators will travel to Tallahassee to face Florida State (5-3) on Tuesday and face No. 1 Wisconsin next Sunday afternoon in the O-Dome. UF soccer: Gators fall to No. 5 Florida State FSU scored the only goal of the match in the 76th minute Sunday afternoon to hand the Gators (4-1-2) their first loss of the season, 1-0. The Gators open SEC play Friday night when Missouri (4-1-2) comes to Gainesville. Poll-iticks: Georgia, Michigan, FSU 1-2-3 in both polls Associated Press top 25: 1. Georgia 2-0; 2. Michigan 2-0; 3. Florida State 2-0; 4. Texas 2-0; 5. Southern California 3-0; 6. Ohio State 2-0; 7. Penn State 2-0; 8. Washington 2-0; 9. Notre Dame 3-0; 10. Alabama 1-1; 11. Tennessee 2-0; 12. Utah 2-0; 13. Oregon 2-0; 14. LSU 1-1; 15. Kansas State 2-0; 16. Oregon State 2-0; 17. Ole Miss 2-0; 18. Colorado 2-0; 19. Oklahoma 2-0; 20. North Carolina 2-0; 21. Duke 2-0; 22. Miami 2-0; 23. Washington State 2-0; 24. UCLA 2-0; 25. Iowa 2-0 Coaches top 25: 1. Georgia 2-0; 2. Michigan 2-0; 3. Florida State 2-0; 4. Ohio State 2-0; 5. Southern California 3-0; 6. Texas 2-0; 7. Penn State 2-0; 8. Washington 2-0; 9. Tennessee 2-0; 10. Alabama 1-1; 11. Notre Dame 3-0; 12. Utah 2-0; 13. Oregon 2-0; 14. LSU 1-1; 15. Kansas State 2-0; 16. Oklahoma 2-0; 17. Oregon State 2-0; 18. North Carolina 2-0; 19. Ole Miss 2-0; 20. Duke 2-0; 21. Colorado 2-0; 22. Clemson 1-1; 23. Miami 2-0; 24. Iowa 2-0; 25. UCLA 2-0 SEC football No. 10 Alabama (1-1): As has been written about the Alabama loss to Texas, Texas had an elite quarterback in Quinn Ewers while Alabama had a project in Jalen Milroe. But that wasn’t the only problem. Alabama’s offensive line gave up five sacks for -31 yards and the Tide averaged only 3.06 yards per carry. Next week: at South Florida (1-1) Arkansas (2-0): Tailback Rocket Sanders missed the Hogs’ win over Kent State with a knee injury and could be out for another couple of weeks … The Hogs managed only 308 total yards (136 passing, 172 rushing) in their 28-6 win over Kent State. Next week: vs. BYU (2-0) Auburn (2-0): Auburn generated only 230 yards of offense in the win over California, but the Tigers held the Golden Bears to one TD, one field goal and 273 yards. Next week: vs. Samford (1-1) No. 1 Georgia (2-0): The Bulldogs held Ball State to 224 total yards while picking off three passes. QB Carson Beck threw for 283 yards and two touchdowns. Next week: vs. South Carolina (1-1) Kentucky (2-0): Offensive coordinator Liam Coen was rushed to the hospital Sunday for what is described as a “medical issue.” He is expected to be released Monday and is listed in good condition … The Wildcats had to score 21 points in the second half to pull out a 28-17 win over D1AA Eastern Kentucky. Next week: vs. Akron (1-1) No. 14 LSU (1-1): Bouncing back from a humiliating loss at the hands of Florida State, the Tigers hung 72 on Grambling as QB Jayden Daniels threw for 269 yards and five TDs without throwing an interception. Next week: at Mississippi State (2-0) Mississippi State (2-0): Running back Jo’Quavious Marks ran for 123 yards in the win over Arizona, the second straight week he’s exceeded 100 yards. The MSU defense picked of three Arizona passes. Next week: vs. No. 14 LSU (1-1) Missouri (2-0): The Tigers had to hold on for dear life to pull out a 23-19 win over Middle Tennessee State. The Missouri defense held MTSU to 285 yards and got to the QB for four sacks. Next week: vs. No. 15 Kansas State (2-0) No. 17 Ole Miss (2-0): Ole Miss continues to struggle running the football. All-American Quinshon Jenkins was held to 48 yards on 18 carries in the Rebels’ win over Tulane in New Orleans. Next week: vs. Georgia Tech (1-1) South Carolina (1-1): Spencer Rattler completed 25-27 passes for 345 yards and three TDs without a pick in the win over Furman. Rattler was sacked only one time by Furman. He went down nine times against North Carolina in week one. Next week: at No. 1 Georgia (2-0) No. 11 Tennessee (2-0): Next week: at Florida (1-1) Texas A&M (1-1): The Aggie defense was shredded for 374 passing yards and five TDPs by Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke, which set the Twitterverse on fire with calls to fire by HBC Jimbo Fisher and defensive coordinator DJ Durkin. Paul Finebaum believes Jimbo better right the Aggie ship soon or else the boosters will pony up the $75 million it takes to buy out his contract. Next week: vs. Louisiana-Monroe (2-0) Vanderbilt (2-1): The Commodores couldn’t stop Wake Forest’s run game. The Demon Deacons ran for 288 yards with two backs going over the 100-yard mark. Next week: at UNLV (1-1) Michigan State suspends Mel Tucker amid sexual harassment allegations Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker has been suspended due to sexual harassment allegations by Brenda Tracy, a rape survivor and activist. Tracy filed charges with Michigan State’s Title IX office. In her claim against Tucker, Tracy said that Tucker made sexual comments and masturbated while they were on a professional phone call. Tucker admits to masturbating but claims it was part of mutually consensual phone sex. Tracy was gang raped by football players back in 1998 and since then has been a regular speaker on college campuses to raise awareness of sexual assaults. Tucker named her honorary captain for Michigan State’s 2022 spring game. Tucker has been suspended pending an October 5-6 hearing that will determine his fate. He has $80 million remaining on a 10-year, $100 million contract. He could be fired with cause if Tracy’s side of the story is believed. Given Michigan State’s history with Dr. Larry Nassar, the former physician for USA gymnastics and Michigan State athletics, it would seem there will be zero tolerance for Tucker. The clause in Tucker’s contract says there is breach if he is convicted of a crime or if he engages in conduct that could be deemed moral turpitude. Michigan State is off to a 2-0 start with wins over Central Michigan and Richmond. The Spartans will travel to 8th-ranked Washington Saturday with defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett serving as the interim head coach. ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Just when we thought the plug had been pulled on the Pac-12 Conference, taking it off life support so it could go where old conferences go to die when the 2023-24 athletic calendar year is over, Washington State and Oregon State filed suit for wrongful termination with the intent of taking command of all the league’s assets. The Pac-12 by-laws state that when a school announces it is departing the league that it no longer can vote on conference matters, which means the 10 schools bound for the Big Ten and Big 12 should have no rights to vote on distribution of assets such as College Football Playoff ($79.4 million last year alone) and NCAA Basketball Tournament revenues (estimated $90 million for the next six years). The Pac-12 Network had a $40 million profit last year. The Pac-12 has two years remaining on its contract with the Rose Bowl which pays $80 million a year. Now, this is going to go to court, but right now it would seem Washington State and Oregon State have the league’s by-laws working for them. NCAA by-laws include a two-year grace period for a conference to get back to eight teams. So, Wazzoo and Oregon State have two years to add at least six more teams. This is where it gets very interesting. The Mountain West TV contract expires in 2026, which happens to be two years from the end of the current athletic year. When the contract expires, the current MWC teams become free agents without the hefty $34 million exit fee. With the revenue collected in the next two years, Washington State and Oregon State could lay the groundwork for a rather solid Left Coast conference by raiding the Mountain West. Add San Diego State, Fresno State, Boise State, UNLV, Colorado State and Air Force and that’s not a bad 8-team league. That might be attractive enough to get a fairly decent TV contract. All this is speculation and as weird as it may seem, if Washington State and Oregon State win in court and retain the Pac-12 name and its assets we may still have five power conferences. Now, who would have ever thought that?

The 2024 Florida recruiting class took a hit on Monday when three-star defensive lineman Michai Boireau announced his decommitment from the University of Florida. Boireau made his announcement on Twitter and now the Hampton, Ga. native is expected flip to the in-state Georgia Bulldogs. The 6-foot-5, 390-pounder committed to the Gators back in the middle of June, just over a week after taking an official visit to Gainesville. He had also taken an OV to Georgia the following week, which is part of the reason the Bulldogs are now favored to land Boireau. Florida still holds the No. 3 ranked 2024 class despite the loss of Boireau, but the class does now lose some depth along the defensive front. Boireau is ranked as the No. 67 defensive lineman in the class of 2024 by On3 and the No. 88 DL by 247Sports. In other recruiting news, the firing of Michigan State's Mel Tucker may shake up some decisions not only for high school prospects but also current athletes. The NCAA allows athletes to enter the transfer portal up to 30-days after the coach is fired if they would like to talk with other teams. While it remains to be seen if Florida will get in contact with any of these players, it is still notable that the Gators could find themselves getting some help from the Spartans if players look to leave the program. In terms of high school prospects, the firing of Mel Tucker should help Florida in the recruitment of Jamari Howard who decommitted from Michigan State back in May. Despite his decommitment, the Spartans have remained a major player in his recruitment, although it would be fair to assume the coaching change will take Michigan State out of it. Florida State has emerged as the favorite to land Howard, even earning a 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction. Nonetheless, Florida has continued to pursue the Miami (Fl.) native.

As expected the Gators pushed around the McNeese State front on the way to 327 rushing yards and six touchdowns. By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com, Football Analyst The Florida Gators showed up for Saturday’s game against McNeese State looking to break a four-game losing streak dating back to Week 11 of the 2022 season. The last sample size that the Gators offered was anything but positive as the Gators looked disoriented nine days ago against Utah. Saturday night’s game was less about the opponent and more about what type of football the Florida Gators would play in that contest. Would it be the sloppy, mistake-oriented performance that has plagued the Gators in several contest or would there be a committed effort to eliminate the issues that could lead this football team down a rabbit hole of ineptitude that most teams never seem to crawl out of. What We Expected: With McNeese giving up over 200 yards rushing to FCS foes Tarleton State it was assumed that the Gators would look to get their running game going after a subpar performance in their first outing of the season. Center Jake Slaughter had come under some scrutiny as many of the issues both in the run and passing game had been attributed to his lack of experience as he filled in for offensive line anchor center Kingsley Eguakun. With McNeese struggling to defend the run this was the perfect opportunity for Slaughter to improve and get one of the SEC’s best running back duos going as Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne managed just ten combined carries in the Week 1 loss to Utah. The Gators would run early and often while the Gator defense would continue its improvement looking to shutout an inferior McNeese offense. What We Got: As expected the Gators pushed around the McNeese State front on the way to 327 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Johnson Jr. and Etienne combined for 203 yards while freshman standout Treyaun Webb got involved with 71 more yards of his own. What was most impressive is that the Gators amassed such a number with very few penalties. Gone were the false starts on short yardage plays nor the holding penalties due to lack of footwork or attention to detail. As impressive was the performance of quarterback Graham Mertz for a second week in a row. With play-calling that seemed more deliberate with increased creativity Mertz showed his ability to handle the entire Gator playbook with impressive ball handling, pump fakes and key completions that forced McNeese state to cover both the width and length of the football field. In all but a handful of play calls, the Gator offense seemed to be ironing out some of the shematic issues that limited the offense in Week 1. Along with sophomore linebacker Shemar James, Graham Mertz play has been exemplary and continues to garner the respect of his teammates. Mertz is completing almost 74 percent of his passes and his 8.6 yards per attempts is the highest of his career. When asked about Graham Mertz Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr. stated, “Graham is a really experienced guy, everybody in the room respects him for that and a lot of guys pull for him.” Mertz, whose transfer was criticized by many is beginning to show why so many have lauded his potential as winning quarterback. Not lost on the evening was the performance of the Florida defense. The unit continues to improve under new defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong. The Gators held McNeese to 112 total yards and 2 of 10 on third downs. Basically throwing a shutout the defense also added two sacks after shooting blanks in Week 1. With a home tilt with Tennessee looming, this will be a statement week for Austin Armstrong and the Gator defense. The Skinny: Now for the truth. This was McNeese State. The Gators were never going to lose this game. However, they could have looked bad winning it. To the credit of Head Coach Billy Napier they did not. The Florida offense moved with positive intent, stayed focused, and actually was fun to watch. What is concerning is that this is not always the presentation we get from the de facto offensive play caller Coach Napier. If the Gators can continue to mix the power run game with creativity on the offensive perimeter the Gators could show promise as Mertz has proven to be a much more than a game manager. As the Gators prepare for Tennessee next Saturday it would seem that games against Utah and McNeese resonate more like preseason games and the season starts with the Volunteers. Saturday’s game will most likely be the premier game in the southeastern conference if not the country as a whole and an indictment on where the Napier experience is headed for 2023. Once again it may not be whether the Gators win or lose but how (good or bad they look) playing the game. This week was better but as Coach Napier like to say the Gators “still have more grass to mow.” Final Score: Florida Gators 49 McNeese State Cowboys 7