Blakely stands out on floor exercise with 9.925.

Todd Golden faces best friend Steven Pearl today at the O-Dome (Photo by Chris Spears) There are folks calling the O-Dome matchup (4 p.m., ESPN) between Auburn (12-7, 3-3 SEC) and 16 th -ranked Florida (14-5, 5-1 SEC) “The Saturday Shabbat” as Todd Golden faces best friend Steven Pearl.     “We've been great friends since my 21st birthday,” Golden said Friday before the Gators began preparations for Auburn. “We played on teams in Australia and Israel together and, obviously, my first experience coaching at the high major level was with him and Bruce at Auburn in 2014 … So they're like family to us.”   Like brothers almost. Golden says Bruce Pearl, who handed over the reins to the Auburn program to Steven a few short weeks before the season began, “is kind of like a second father.”   Family love is a wonderful thing, but Pearl put the game in perspective Thursday when he said, “ It doesn't mean I don't want to go down there and kick his ass.”   Golden feels the same way.   This is the first time Golden and Steven Pearl will be facing each other as head coach adversaries. This is Golden’s seventh year as a head coach, fourth at Florida (90-38 record). Golden lost to Auburn and Bruce Pearl in the SEC Tournament championship game in 2024. A season ago, Golden and the Gators got a road win over then No. 1 Auburn, then a win over the Tigers in the NCAA semifinals in San Antonio. It was the last game for Bruce Pearl as Auburn’s head coach, but the future Hall of Famer did get to see his “second son” and protégé Todd Golden win the national championship two nights later.   Steven Pearl was an assistant coach on those teams, but now as the head honcho he has endured some early season losses and now has a team that seems to have found its identity. Just as Florida absorbed pre-SEC losses to highly ranked teams such as Arizona, UConn and Duke, Auburn took it on the chin to Houston, Michigan, Arizona and Purdue. Just as Florida has righted the ship now that the SEC portion of the schedule has kicked in, Pearl has Auburn starting to find its way. The Tigers have won three of their last four, one of which was a blowout win of then 15 th -ranked Arkansas.   “They won three out of the last four, two really big wins with South Carolina at home and then on the road at Ole Miss, which is a really hard place to play. And, you know, I think they're kind of rounding in the form at the right time.”   Critical for the Gators will be finding a way to neutralize UCF transfer Keyshawn Hall, who leads the team in scoring (20.1) and rebounding (7.6). Hall is a dynamic offensive threat, a 40 percent 3-point shooter who gets to the foul line where he rarely misses (86.7 percent). Tahaad Pettiford, who came off the bench for Auburn’s Final Four team a season ago, is scoring 13.9 per game but he’s shooting a disappointing 27 percent from the 3-point line. A year ago he hit 36.6 percent, so it’s probably just a matter of time before he breaks out of his slump.   The Gators come into today’s game on the heels of one of their better defensive efforts of the season. Tuesday night they held LSU to 61 points and limited the Tigers to just 11 3-point shots. Led by Rueben Chinyelu, the SEC’s leading rebounder (11.2 per game) who grabbed 21, the Gators grabbed 50 missed shots including 24 on the offensive end. Florida leads the nation in rebounding (46.53 per game), offensive rebounds (17.16) and rebounding margin (+15).   In winning the last five games, the Gators have done an exceptional job of running opponents off the 3-point line and making them shoot 2-point shots. Only Vanderbilt has been able to heave up more than 20 threes (22). The last five opponents have managed to launch only 83 threes, an average of 16.5 per game. That is one of the reasons why the Gators are the No. 11 team in the country in defensive efficiency per the kenpom.com analytics.   Rebounding and keeping Auburn from heating up from the 3-point line will likely be the difference-makers today. If the Gators succeed in dominating the backboards and keeping shooters like Hall and Pettiford from getting open looks from three, then it is very likely Florida will win its sixth straight SEC game and 10 th in 11 games.   GOLDEN ON THE CHARLES BEDIAKO SITUATION The Gators will face Alabama at the O-Dome a week from Sunday. When asked on Gator Talk Thursday night what he thought about a Tuscaloosa judge issuing a temporary restraining order that allows Charles Bediako to play immediately even though he’s been out of school for two years while playing in the G-League, Golden said, “If he plays, we’ll beat them anyway.”   Golden, like most coaches in the Southeastern Conference and around the nation, is not happy with the precedent of allowing someone who declared for the NBA draft and played two years professionally of coming back to college at midseason.   “I think at some point we’ve got to figure out what we’re going to do about this thing,” Golden said Friday. “… It’s only ridiculous because the declaration for the draft and staying in and signing contracts and coming back, that's what makes it ridiculous or just not standard for the NCAA.”   ANTICIPATED STARTING LINEUPS No. 16 FLORIDA (14-5, 5-1 SEC): Alex Condon (6-11, 236, JR); Rueben Chinyelu (6-11, 265, JR); Tommy Haugh (6-9, 215, JR); Boogie Fland (6-3, 185, SO); Xaivian Lee (6-4, 185, SR)   Auburn (12-7, 3-3 SEC): Keyshawn Hall (6-7, 240, SR); KeShawn Murphy (6-10, 230, SR); Sebastian Williams-Adams (6-8, 230, FR); Elyjah Freeman (6-8, 185, SO); Tahaad Pettiford (6-1, 170, SO)   Today’s games Auburn (12-7, 3-3 SEC) at No. 16 FLORIDA (14-5, 5-1 SEC) No. 15 Vanderbilt (16-3, 3-3 SEC) at Mississippi State (10-9, 2-4 SEC) Tennessee (12-6, 2-3 SEC) at No. 17 Alabama (13-5, 3-2 SEC) LSU (13-6, 1-5 SEC) at No. 20 Arkansas (14-5, 4-2 SEC) No. 21 Georgia (16-3, 4-2 SEC) at Texas (11-8, 2-4 SEC) South Carolina (11-8, 2-4 SEC) at Texas A&M (15-4, 5-1 SEC) Ole Miss (11-8, 3-3 SEC) at Kentucky (13-6, 4-2 SEC) Oklahoma (11-8, 1-5 SEC) at Missouri (13-6, 3-3 SEC)   WORST TO FIRST IN THE SEC 16. Oklahoma (11-8, 1-5 SEC): Five straight losses have the Sooner faithful feeling rather restless.   15. South Carolina (11-8, 2-4 SEC): South Carolina has lost three of the last four, the only win at home against Oklahoma. They could get blown out by the Aggies. 14. Mississippi State (10-9, 2-4 SEC): Josh Hubbard isn’t making shots, which means the Bulldogs aren’t winning. They’ve lost four in a row and Vandy comes to town today. 13. LSU (13-6, 1-5 SEC): The Tigers hope that Dedan Thomas gets back to full speed and health so they can make a run at an NCAA bid in the second half of the SEC schedule. Without him at full speed, they’re toast. 12. Ole Miss (11-8, 3-3 SEC): The Rebels should be road kill at Rupp. 11. Texas (11-8, 2-4 SEC): It’s not too early to be thinking NCAA resumes. Texas really needs a win against Georgia today. They’re 3-5 in Quad 1 games. 10. Missouri (13-6, 3-3 SEC): Who knows which Missouri team will show up on any given night. The Tigers really can’t afford to lose to Okie today.   9. Auburn (12-7, 3-3 SEC): Auburn desperately needs to beat Florida today. Ain’t gonna happen. 8. Tennessee (12-6, 2-3 SEC): You can figure everyone in the SEC will be cheering for the Vols at Bama, now the league villain for playing a pro. 7. Arkansas (14-5, 4-2 SEC): The Hogs are home today. That means they’ll win. 6. Alabama (13-5, 3-2 SEC): Charles Bediako will play. He scored five points in a G-League game back on Saturday. That Bama needs a 7-foot pro to come back to college should tell you how desperate the Tide is for someone who can defend the paint. 5. Vanderbilt (16-3, 3-3 SEC): Mississippi State should be a get well game for the Commodores, who have lost three in a row. 4. Texas A&M (15-4, 5-1 SEC): The Aggies are really good against the bottom feeders. South Carolina should be easy pickings, but then the schedule gets tough. 3. Kentucky (13-6, 4-2 SEC): The Wildcats have lost their two point guards, so it’s Denzel Aberdeen’s team to run now. If he gets in foul trouble or injured, there will be big trouble. 2. Georgia (16-3, 4-2 SEC): The Bulldogs are at Texas, a chance for a Quad 1 win that they seriously need (2-2 in Quad 1 games so far). 1. FLORIDA (14-5, 5-1 SEC): The analytics at kenpom.com have the Gators favored to win all 12 of the SEC games remaining on the schedule. Book Signing Today Prestige Auto on SR 200 in Ocala will host Franz Beard for a book signing of his chronicle of Florida's NCAA championship today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Todd Golden isn't fazed by Charles Bediako's return (Photo by Bobby D'Alessio) “Morons. I’ve got morons on my team.” – Strother Martin as Percy Garris in the 1969 film “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”   You realize that Percy Garris could have been talking about today’s NCAA, which, in its infinite wisdom, has a mess on its hands that could have and should have been avoided. Oh, if only this organization which is supposedly headed up by smart people who are backed up by supposedly smarter people – college and university presidents – had a lick of common sense. College and university presidents typically have one thing in common, which is a PhD. It’s supposed to mean they’re very smart, but in reality it only means they went to school longer than 99.9 percent of the people on the planet.   As they say on the street, PhD means “piled higher and deeper.”   Here we have an organization that gives waivers to athletes who are now in their sixth or seventh year playing a sport yet in 2023 denied wide receiver Tez Walker’s appeal to transfer closer to home due to mental health issues. Trinidad Chambliss, who came within a whisker of leading Ole Miss to the national championship game in football, was denied another year yet in almost the same week, the NCAA granted another year of eligibility to Michigan’s Rod Moore.   Should we have any hope that the NCAA is going to win in an Alabama court Tuesday when there is a hearing that will determine the eligibility of Charles Bediako, who has spent two years playing in the G-League after leaving early for the NBA Draft in 2023? The hearing is in Tuscaloosa in front of a judge who just happens to be an Alabama booster.   We’ve got a transfer portal for football totally out of control – some 3,370 were in it as of the latest count by On3 – and who knows how many basketball players are going to hit the portal in April? Thousands for sure. And here we have an organization that is supposed to lead and set the example presiding over chaos that is without a clue how to bring order back to the situation.   Here is where the problem began. The NCAA has rules which have been selectively enforced for decades. You want to tell me the NCAA didn’t have a bulls-eye on Charley Pell’s back while at the same time turning a blind eye to what Vince Dooley was doing up at Georgia? A lot of people who keep track of such things will swear to this day that Vince and Georgia paid Herschel Walker more money than all the combined worth of all 109 violations against Pell and Florida.   And now, because of selective enforcement that spans decades and in just about every sport played collegiately the NCAA keeps finding itself in court where it consistently gets an ass-whooping. Why? Because all these smart people never figured out that if you have rules, you don’t bend them for one and come down like a ton of bricks on someone else for the same violations.   So what does the NCAA want to do? Go, hat in hand, to Congress to beg for a law that will prevent local yokel booster judges to grant a waiver to some player who wants to come back.   Al Horford will be 40 years old on June 3. He’s still a very good NBA player and such a vital force in the locker room that he makes millions. Al also has a year of eligibility remaining. If the judge says Bediako can play, it will open the door for someone like Al to come back for another year. Don’t think for a nano-second that Florida boosters wouldn’t pony up the money for Big Al to come back for another year. Do you think Todd Golden would love to have him next year when, in all likelihood, Rueben Chinyelu, Tommy Haugh, Alex Condon and Micah Handlogten leave for the NBA?   Now, Golden, to his credit, isn’t fazed by Bediako’s return. The Gators play Alabama at the O-Dome on February 1. On Gator Talk Thursday night, Golden addressed the idea that the Gators could be facing Bediako.   “The reality is I don’t agree with it and I don’t think he should be playing,” Golden said. “… They were able to finagle the situation where they got a judge in Alabama that is actually a donor at Alabama to write a temporary restraining order to allow this guy to play games at Alabama … This guy had a great opportunity. He was at Alabama for two years and was there during the NIL era. He was aware of what he was giving up by declaring to go into the draft. He stayed in past the date. It’s always been that if you stay in and you sign a contract you are done.”   It seems doubtful the judge will lift the restraining order on Tuesday. By the time this makes it through the courts, the college basketball season could be over. Meanwhile, the Gators and Alabama will be playing on February 1.   Is Golden concerned?   “We are going to beat them anyway,” Golden said. “If he plays, we’ll beat them anyways.”   WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT CHARLES BEDIAKO RETURNING Matt Norlander of CBSSports.com : “ We're going to have a burst of coverage and reaction surrounding that Alabama game on Saturday night, regardless of whether or not Bediako takes the floor. But the day to circle is next Tuesday, when a longer hearing is scheduled that will arbitrate the case in full and determine whether or not Bediako will be allowed to suit up for the remainder of the season.  Playing him before that hearing only inflames the situation. Alabama coach Nate Oats should reconsider, because if Bediako plays once and then is yanked off the team, this sideshow will look even more ludicrous … The plot thickens by the hour as a user on College Basketball Reddit discovered Thursday morning that the judge in the case, James H. Roberts, is an active, six-figure donor to Alabama athletics. No conflict of interest there, right?”   Sam Vecenie of The Athletic: “ Bediako made a poor choice in 2023, whether that was of his own volition or based on bad advice. But because he’s still within his five-year eligibility clock window — one area that the NCAA has consistently won in court — he technically still has a semester of eligibility remaining … Bediako is now crawling back to campus because his professional career hasn’t gone the way he’d hoped, as he averaged five points per game in the G League this season. His attempt to return threatens to tear apart the fabric of the tenuous detente between the NBA and college basketball, which have long allowed the two groups to exist as separate, but mutually beneficial entities. ”   Dan Wetzel of ESPN: “ No offense to Bediako, but almost no one wants this, let alone 27-year-old quarterbacks or ninth-year point guards, or whatever comes next … Seemingly every league -- from T-ball to the NFL -- has rules, calendars and procedures that determine how rosters are built. The NCAA should as well … A simple, skinny federal eligibility bill that protects from this constant barrage of court cases is what the NCAA should be pushing Congress to adopt. Nothing more and nothing less. That's a popular and bipartisan issue … Unless you were hoping to see LeBron James in March Madness.” Saturday’s SEC games Auburn (12-7, 3-3 SEC) at No. 16 FLORIDA (14-5, 5-1 SEC) No. 15 Vanderbilt (16-3, 3-3 SEC) at Mississippi State (10-9, 2-4 SEC) Tennessee (12-6, 2-3 SEC) at No. 17 Alabama (13-5, 3-2 SEC) LSU (13-6, 1-5 SEC) at No. 20 Arkansas (14-5, 4-2 SEC) No. 21 Georgia (16-3, 4-2 SEC) at Texas (11-8, 2-4 SEC) South Carolina (11-8, 2-4 SEC) at Texas A&M (15-4, 5-1 SEC) Ole Miss (11-8, 3-3 SEC) at Kentucky (13-6, 4-2 SEC) Oklahoma (11-8, 1-5 SEC) at Missouri (13-6, 3-3 SEC)   SEC teams in kenpom.com national rankings: 10. FLORIDA 14-5; 15. Vanderbilt 16-3; 18. Alabama 13-5; 21. Arkansas 14-5; 23. Tennessee 13-6; 25. Kentucky 13-6; 26. Georgia 16-3; 30. Auburn 12-7; 37. Texas A&M 15-4; 41. Texas 11-8; 42. LSU 13-6; 55. Missouri 13-6; 62. Oklahoma 11-8; 69. Ole Miss 11-8; 72. South Carolina 11-8; 85. Mississippi State 10-9   SEC teams in barttorvik.com national rankings: 8. FLORIDA 14-5; 13. Vanderbilt 16-3; 17. Alabama 14-5; 19. Tennessee 13-6; 30. Texas A&M 15-4; 21. Arkansas 14-5; 29. Georgia 16-3; 33. Auburn 12-7; 39. Kentucky 13-6; 42. Texas 11-9; 48. LSU 13-6; 64. Missouri 13-6; 72. South Carolina 11-8; 83. Oklahoma 11-8; 87. Ole Miss 11-8; 93. Mississippi State 10-9   Barttorvik top 10 conference rankings: 1. SEC; 2. Big 10; 3. Big 12; 4. ACC; 5. Big East; 6. Mountain West; 7. West Coast; 8. Atlantic 10; 9. Missouri Valley; 10. American   SEC teams in Joe Lunardi bracketology (as of January 23) West (1. Arizona): 5. Alabama; 7. Tennessee Midwest (1. Michigan): 4. Vanderbilt ; 9. Auburn East (1. Duke): 5. Arkansas; 7. Kentucky; 9. Texas A&M South (1. UConn): 4. FLORIDA; 7. Georgia   SEC teams in CBS bracketology (as of January 23) Midwest (1. Michigan): 8. Tennessee South (1. Purdue): 5. Arkansas; 6. Georgia; 8. Auburn East (1. Duke): 4. FLORIDA ; 6. Kentucky; 9. Texas A&M West (1. Arizona): 3. Vanderbilt; 5. Alabama; 11. Missouri (play-in)

Rueben Chinyelu: He's already the best defender in the SEC. (GatorBait Photo by Bobby D'Allessio) In the past five games, we’ve gotten a glimpse of what happens when Rueben Chinyelu goes beast mode. The last four, in particular, have produced consecutive double-doubles, the first time that’s happened at Florida since David Lee did it 21 years ago.   Already the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week, the United States Basketball Writers Association named Chinyelu one of its five national players of the week Wednesday, joining John Blackwell (Wisconsin), Diggy Coit (Maryland), RJ Johnson (Kennesaw State) and Erik Platt (Stony Brook) to claim the honor.   Chinyelu, who had a 15-point, 21-rebound effort on Tuesday night against LSU, had 19 points and 12 rebounds last week on the road against Oklahoma, then followed that up with 20 points and 10 rebounds at Vanderbilt.     For the season Chinyelu is averaging 12 points and 11.2 rebounds per game, but in SEC play he’s averaging 14.8 points and 11.8 rebounds, establishing himself as the league’s best and most powerful inside player.   Here is what Florida coach Todd Golden said about Chinyelu after the Gators blasted LSU, 78-61:   “ I think you're seeing a guy that’s continued to grow and get better in real time, and he's impacting the game tremendously. I think he's just playing with such good balance, toughness. He's obviously difficult to officiate, because I think he gets fouled on every play. And there's sometimes where he doesn't get those whistles, but he's just really come into his own. Kind of got really comfortable offensively, but he just impacts the game so well defensively and on the glass that he's become a real stalwart for us in the frontcourt.”   Following the LSU game, Chinyelu said, “I just feel myself going out there and playing basketball. Enjoying it with my teammates. If my opponent gets winded, and they did, so I just go out there and enjoy it. It's basketball. A lot of things are gonna happen. There’s gonna be ups and downs, but most importantly, just coming out there and being you and not paying attention to anyone else or your opponent’s things. Just going out there and playing every moment like it's the last moment. Just being able to know that, ‘Okay, get the stop. We have. Next one.’ So that's the mentality, next play, next play, so that's all for me. If it affects anyone, that's on them, but I'm just gonna go out there and do that and repeat each repetition."   ELSEWHERE IN THE SEC Kentucky (13-6, 4-2 SEC) 85, Texas (11-8, 2-4 SEC) 80: The Wildcats won their third straight SEC game but it was costly as point guard Kam Williams broke his foot in the second half and is now lost for the season. Former Gator Denzel Aberdeen moved to the point and put up 19 points including 9-12 from the foul line. Collin Chandler came off the bench to score 18 and grab seven rebounds. Before fouling out, Dailyn Swain scored 29 for Texas. Key to the game was Kentucky’s 3-point defense, which held Texas to 2-18 shooting for the game.   Texas A&M (15-4, 5-1 SEC) 88, Mississippi State (10-9, 2-4 SEC) 68: Rashaun Agee had 23 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and a steal as Texas A&M kept up with Florida on top of the SEC standings. The Aggies were 23-24 at the foul line and defensively forced Josh Hubbard into a mediocre game, just 12 points on 2-8 3-point shooting and three turnovers.   Saturday’s games Auburn (12-7, 3-3 SEC) at No. 16 FLORIDA (14-5, 5-1 SEC) No. 15 Vanderbilt (16-3, 3-3 SEC) at Mississippi State (10-9, 2-4 SEC) Tennessee (12-6, 2-3 SEC) at No. 17 Alabama (13-5, 3-2 SEC) LSU (13-6, 1-5 SEC) at No. 20 Arkansas (14-5, 4-2 SEC) No. 21 Georgia (16-3, 4-2 SEC) at Texas (11-8, 2-4 SEC) South Carolina (11-8, 2-4 SEC) at Texas A&M (15-4, 5-1 SEC) Ole Miss (11-8, 3-3 SEC) at Kentucky (13-6, 4-2 SEC) Oklahoma (11-8, 1-5 SEC) at Missouri (13-6, 3-3 SEC)   WORST TO FIRST IN THE SEC 16. Oklahoma (11-8, 1-5 SEC): Porter Moser should have his agent scouting for a potential landing spot because unless the Sooners suddenly reverse course, things will not end well for him. 15. South Carolina (11-8, 2-4 SEC): The Gamecocks next two games are on the road to Texas A&M and home against Florida. Gamecock fans think the men’s basketball team should be every bit as good as Dawn Staley’s women’s team. Very hot seat for Lamont Paris. 14. Mississippi State (10-9, 2-4 SEC): If Josh Hubbard is held in check the Bulldogs have no offense. They will make the NIT. The NCAA is a pipe dream. 13. LSU (13-6, 1-5 SEC): Dedan Thomas played against Florida, but showed the rust of missing the previous five games. If they can get him healthy and playing well, they are capable of going on a run that could move them into contention for the NCAA Tournament. 12. Ole Miss (11-8, 3-3 SEC): If AJ Storr isn’t making shots, the Rebels are in deepest and darkest. Chris Beard needs to find another scorer in a hurry. 11. Texas (11-8, 2-4 SEC): The Longhorns missed a huge chance for a statement win at Kentucky but they faded in the second half. Three-point shooting is suspect and they’re not very tough when it comes to defense. 10. Missouri (13-6, 3-3 SEC): The Tigers are 11-1 at home, but they’ve already lost two SEC road games and they have six more to play. They’ll need to somehow get to 9-9 in the league to make the NCAA Tournament.   9. Auburn (12-7, 3-3 SEC): You never know which Auburn team is going to show up, which has to be driving Steven Pearl nuts. The Tigers are extremely tough at home, not so tough away. They get the Gators at the O-Dome Saturday. 8. Tennessee (12-6, 2-3 SEC): The Vols aren’t nearly as fierce defensively as in the past and they don’t have much scoring beyond Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament. Felix Okpara can block shots but he hasn’t improved a lick offensively since he was a freshman. 7. Arkansas (14-5, 4-2 SEC): The two losses are troubling because they were blowouts away from home. The Hogs can beat anyone at home, but three of the next four are on the road and they have roadies at Alabama and Florida in February. 6. Alabama (13-5, 3-2 SEC): The Tide could be formidable if somehow Charles Bedianko is allowed to play the rest of the season. He’s the inside presence they don’t have. If the courts rule against Bama, then the Tide will have to have great shooting nights because there is no inside game. 5. Vanderbilt (16-3, 3-3 SEC): The Commodores have dropped three straight games. They have to make threes abundantly to win because they don’t rebound well and they have trouble defending in the post. 4. Texas A&M (15-4, 5-1 SEC): The Aggies run wave after wave of players at you, trying to create full court havoc. After Saturday, the schedule toughens up considerably with roadies at Georgia and Alabama followed by Florida at home. 3. Kentucky (13-6, 4-2 SEC): Now the Wildcats will see how far Denzel Aberdeen can carry them. With the injuries to Jaland Lowe and Kam Williams, he’s the point guard now. UK has won three in a row. 2. Georgia (16-3, 4-2 SEC): Mike White’s team is a mortal lock to make the NCAA Tournament and if they can keep Somto Cyril out of foul trouble, they will get the double-bye for the SEC Tournament. 1. FLORIDA (14-5, 5-1 SEC): The Gators have the hottest player in the league in Rueben Chinyelu, who leads the conference in double-doubles (11) and rebounding (11.2 per game), and they’re the best nationally in rebounding (46.33 per game), offensive rebounds (16.78 per game) and rebounding margin (+15 per game).   THE NCAA AND SEC HAVE A HUGE BEDIAKO PROBLEM Charles Bediako left Alabama early for the NBA Draft two years ago when he didn’t heed the advice of smart people who said he needed to stay in school. He wasn’t drafted and has spent the last two years playing in the G-League. Now he wants to play college basketball again, probably because Bama will pay him more than he will make in the G-League.   He’s a step up on the inside for an Alabama team that gets killed in the paint. He blocks shots, he rebounds and he can give the Tide extra possessions on those nights when their 3-point shooters are launching SCUDs.   Bedianko and Alabama found a friendly Tuscaloosa judge who issued a temporary restraining order that will allow Bedianko to play immediately. Tennessee comes to Tuscaloosa Saturday night and Alabama has already said Bedianko is playing. A hearing isn’t scheduled until Tuesday.   The NCAA, in its infinite wisdom, is clueless what to do next so the illustrious (im)potentate Charlie Baker is begging the United States Congress to give it the power to enforce the rules. That’s like giving a 6 th -grader the owner’s manual to a 747 and asking him to fly the plane an hour later.   Here is what both the NCAA and SEC should do immediately: Say it’s okay for Bediako to play while this goes through the courts, but every game he plays will either be a forfeit or a no-contest in which the outcome doesn’t matter.   The NCAA probably doesn’t have the nads to take that approach. Greg Sankey is the most powerful person in collegiate athletics. It’s time for him to intervene.

Was this the Ultimate Moment in the Ultimate Game? What's Florida's? (AI Generated Image from X)   Was Indiana-Miami The Ultimate College Football Moment?     Good news, bad news. Thanks Indiana, for making every losing fan base in college football delusional enough to think they can become undefeated national champions in just two years.   And now another 66-year-old coach can be “discovered” and then transform a basketball school into a football powerhouse as Kurt Cignetti appeared to do with such ease.   Players without pedigree can now buy into the antiquated concept of team first which could blow away the more talented BlueBloods.   And a resurrected 3-star quarterback could play like a 9-star as Fernando Mendoza did, winning everything from the Heisman Trophy to a natty MVP and could be rewarded as the No. 1 NFL Pick -- if not the Nobel Peace Prize that our president so covets. One he could claim for real.   Thanks Indiana — but I jest about the “bad news.” Schools like Florida, stuck in a cycle from the penthouse to the outhouse, can now envision a pathway toward a return to greatness and immediate results from Jon Sumrall, the firebrand some 23 years younger.   The championship game will be remembered in the future not only as how college football saved the day, but how it saved itself in the process.   Maybe the most absurb thing about this is Indiana has now put together the most recent undefeated seasons in major college basketball (1976) and football (2025).   Consider that the Hoosiers had as many wins over AP Top 10 teams this season (6-0) as they had in their entire history as a program coming into the season (6-116-1).   The Hoosiers didn’t just run the table; they polished it, waxed it and sold naming rights.  Sixteen and oh, a perfect season capped by a 27–21 win over Miami, as if Indiana had been secretly stockpiling football horsepower behind the Assembly Hall all these years.   Cignetti walked in two years ago looking like a man who had already coached three lifetimes and had come to Bloomington mainly to enjoy a quiet funeral.  Instead, he took a 3–9 cadaver and turned it into a 27–2 monster and a 16–0 champion, a feat that ought to come with its own wing in Canton and a federal investigation.   He did it with seven old warhorses from James Madison, some portal mercenaries, a rebuilt offensive line and a system that uses every inch of grass like it’s being billed by the yard.    Indiana, which once treated football as something that happened between basketball seasons, suddenly looked like one of those soulless superpowers it used to watch on New Year’s Day from the couch.   Somewhere in there, the university tossed him a new eight-year contract just to make sure he didn’t decide to go rebuild the Chicago Bears in his spare time.  He responded by winning the whole sport and giving a victory speech that basically boiled down to: “We won the national championship at Indiana University. It can be done.”    That’s not a quote, that’s a threat to the rest of the FBS. And a bouquet of hope to Gator Nation. Without jumping the gun on exuberance, there are some good signs. Like Steve Spurrier saying he sees a "little bit" of Cignetti in Sumrall. And Tim Tebow's response when asked how he liked the new Gator coach: "I liked him the first time I met him. And I like him even more now that I've spent some time with him."   As for the beautiful Indiana season and finale, I found it downright thrilling. In my more than a half century as a journalist, I have been blessed to cover in person some of these magnificent moments:   Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record … Jack Nicklaus winning the 1986 Masters at age 46 when people thought he was done.… Great race horses winning the triple  crown — all six races —Secretariat and Ocala’s Affirmed …  Joe Namath and the New York Jets upsetting the powerful Colts in Super Bowl III …  The US hockey team upsetting Russia to win the gold medal in Lake Placid …The Miami Dolphins going unbeaten …   And,  of course, on a personal level, our beloved Gators winning three national championships – especially the one in 1996 with Coach Steve Spurrier.   This time I had no skin in the game and wasn’t even there to cover it in person. But for a single season and its conclusive ending, I don’t think any of them could top the Indiana’s title game and a season for drama and story line. And that’s said with me choking back my SEC prejudice and natural distaste for the Big Ten.   The Indiana story had almost everything. The championship played at the highest level, almost flawlessly (discounting the zebras). And oddly enough, it came during a season and when we felt like college football had been destroyed.   Instead it brought us great joy with the ultimate conclusion to a season that we thought perhaps was lost in space. I am so grateful to have been able to witness what may have been the greatest season concluded by the greatest game that I have ever seen.   I almost feel like I owe a personal thank you to Cignetti and Mendoza for their mighty contributions.   Instead, I will close with this from  Fernando Mendoza, who keeps this Mark Twain quote in his phone that he says inspired his decision to leave Cal and transfer to IU:   “So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."   Are you in Gator fans?

Chinyelu delivers a 2-hand second half dunk (UAA Photo) Tommy Haugh and Alex Condon couldn’t buy a basket Tuesday night at the O-Dome. Normally good for 32 points between them, they were held to a combined 17 points on 5-20 shooting by an aggressive LSU defensive scheme designed to neutralize them.  Nearly every shot they took was contested and on those rare occasions when they were open, way too many shots defied gravity and wouldn’t go all the way down.   Fortunately for 16 th -ranked Florida (14-5, 5-1 SEC), the Gators can withstand the kind of nights when key players can’t find the ocean while standing on the end of the pier.     “It’s how we’re built, where the goal is to not have to rely on good shooting to win,” Florida coach Todd Golden said after the Gators scored a grind it out, 79-61, win over LSU (13-6, 1-5 SEC) before a sellout crowd of 10,593 at the O-Dome. “A nd I know that sounds kind of funny, but you said they were, what, five for 20 combined. We were 14 for 27 from the line also, so we left a lot of points on the board that way. So we should have won by 25 …  I don't know, but again, the formula works, and it's a good feeling to know that we have to such a high floor.”   With consistent shooting at a premium, this game was decided by rebounding and defense. Led by Rueben Chinyelu, who pulled down 15 of his 21 rebounds in the second half, the Gators outrebounded LSU, 50-30. The Gators snagged 24 offensive rebounds which were converted to 21 points. Chinyelu had more offensive rebounds (11) than the entire LSU team (7).   Defensively, the Gators focused their defense on limiting LSU to one-and-done possessions while at the same time running leading scorer Max Mackinnon off the 3-point line. Dogged by both Xaivian Lee and Urban Klavzar, Mackinnon only squeezed off one three.   “He's been averaging four made threes a game,” Golden pointed out.   This was grind it out basketball. This was Florida’s fifth straight win and unlike the last four, the offense wasn’t clicking on all cylinders. The Gators missed shots they normally make. At times they found it difficult to get a clean shot off against LSU’s aggressive, physical defense.   It was anything but pretty, but over the course of an 18-game Southeastern Conference schedule there will be nights when points must be manufactured on one end of the court and stops put together on the other. The Gators did that.   In the final 2:10 of the first half, the Gators used defense and rebounding for a 10-3 mini-run led to a 38-26 cushion. Isaiah Brown hit a fast break 3-pointer that was begun by a Chinyelu rebound. Haugh scored on a second-chance jumper that put UF ahead by more than 10 for the first time at 34-23 with 1:00 to go. A steal by Chinyelu led to a fast break where Haugh was fouled. He hit 1-2 from the line, then at the buzzer nailed a deep three for the halftime margin.   The entire complexion of the game changed in the second half. In addition to dominating the backboards, Chinyelu scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half. Klavzar heated up from the 3-point line. His 18 points led the Gators in scoring with 14 in the final 20 minutes on 4-6 shooting from the 3-point line to go with an up-and-under layup through traffic.   There was newfound intensity in the defense.   "It's a 40 minute game,” Fland said. “First 20 minutes we felt like we played okay. Second half we wanted to come out with some intensity, pressure them, get on them and I feel like we did that and it led to points in the fast break, just playing with intensity and pace.”   In the first minute-and-a-half of the second half, Florida’s intensity was immediately evident. Chinyelu scored on a power move and was fouled on another power move on Florida’s next possession. He drained the free throws and a few seconds later, Fland got a steal and a run-out dunk that made it 44-28 with 18:38 to go in the game. LSU never got closer than 11 after that.   With Haugh and Condon having an off night, Chinyelu and Klavzar picked up the second half slack. Chinyelu scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half while Klavzar heated up from the 3-point line. Of his game-high 18 points, 14 came in the second half on 4-6 shooting from the 3-point line and an up-and-under layup through traffic.   For the second straight game, the Gators had what amounted to a 7-point play. It started with a hook-and-hold foul with 8:46 left that sent Chinyelu to the foul line where he made his first free throw. The second free throw drew only iron but it went out of bounds off the Tigers. On the inbounds pass from Fland, Klavzar was fouled as he nailed a three in front of the Florida bench. He missed the free throw, but Chinyelu rebounded and was mugged sticking the missed shot back in the basket. At the line, Chinyelu made the free throw for a 66-42 Florida lead.   Just like that seven points and it all happened with just four ticks off the clock.   “It’s a Gator thing,” explained Chinyelu when reminded that he was part of a 7-point play back on Saturday at Vanderbilt.   This win wasn’t exactly a thing of beauty, but it was the kind of win the Gators needed. The four previous games were won in racehorse style. This one required more contribution from the bench when starters had their issues. The bench gave the Gators 30 points (Klavzar 18, Brown 8, Micah Handlogten 4), 16 rebounds (Handlogten 8, Brown 5, Klavzar 3) and four assists.   "It just shows the depth we’ve got,” Fland said. “It shows the competitiveness we’ve got. It shows we don't have to play our best basketball to still have a 20-point (win), so imagine if we do play our best basketball, what that looks like. We still haven't hit our peak yet, we still have more room to grow, got more things to do. Imagine if we hit more shots. The ceiling's high for us, I'll say that much and we're just gonna keep getting better."   It says plenty when a team wins by 18 without playing with peak efficiency. Golden called it a systematic win. He would certainly prefer a game in which the shots fell with more consistency but shooting is only part of the Florida equation for winning basketball.   “You know, obviously could have been prettier, could have shot the ball better from the line, but we defended, we rebounded and we took care of the basketball, and those are the three things that we talk about and stress all the time, ” Golden said.   It all added up to a fifth straight win in which the Gators have asserted themselves as the best team in the Southeastern Conference. Not every game is going to be a masterpiece, but Golden’s formula of winning with defense and rebounding resonates.   It wasn’t pretty, but it was a win, and in an SEC where 10 teams are projected by Joe Lunardi to make the NCAA Tournament field, any win no matter how ugly is a beautiful thing.   Game notes: Klavzar (18), Chinyelu (15), Fland (10) and Condon (10) led the Gators in scoring … Fland also had one rebound, four assists and two steals. Lee had seven points, one rebounds, three assists and two steals … For the second straight game the Gators hit nine 3-pointers … For the fifth straight game, the Gators did an exceptional job running opponents off the 3-point line. LSU managed only 3-11 on 3-pointers.     ELSEWHERE IN THE SEC No. 20 Arkansas (14-5, 4-2 SEC) 93, No. 15 Vanderbilt (16-3, 3-3 SEC) 68: Vanderbilt continued its backslide, dropping its third straight game at Arkansas. The Commodores had no answer for Arkansas shooters, who hit 58 percent overall and 41 percent from the 3-point line. Six Razorbacks scored in double figures, led by Darius Acuff Jr.’s 17 and 16 each by Karter Knox and Malique Ewin. Tyler Nickel, who hit five threes in the first half, didn’t make any in the second. He finished with 17 to lead Arkansas.   No. 21 Georgia (16-3, 4-2 SEC) 74, Missouri (13-6, 3-3 SEC) 72: Smurf Millender made a driving shot and then the free throw with 5.5 seconds left to lead Georgia to a road win over Missouri. Georgia came into the game third nationally in scoring, but neither the Bulldogs nor the Tigers could make shots with any consistency. Georgia hit 8-29 from three while Mizzou hit 7-25. Jeremiah Wilkinson scored 14 to lead Georgia while Missouri was led by Mark Mitchell with 18.   Auburn (12-7, 3-3 SEC) 78, Ole Miss (11-8, 3-3 SEC) 66: Auburn lived at the foul line (32-39 and that was the difference in the game. Keyshawn Hall, who led Auburn in scoring with 19 hit 11-12 from the foul line. AJ Storr scored 18 for Ole Miss, which saw it’s 3-game win streak come to a halt.   South Carolina (11-8, 2-4 SEC) 85, Oklahoma (11-8, 1-5 SEC) 76: Oklahoma’s chances of getting a road win were doomed by miserable 5-27 3-point shooting as South Carolina scored its second SEC win. Meechie Johnson’s 20 points that led South Carolina included 13-15 from the foul line. Xzayvier Brown’s 22 led Oklahoma.   Tonight’s games Texas (11-7, 2-3 SEC) at Kentucky (12-6, 3-2 SEC) Mississippi State (10-8, 2-3 SEC) at Texas A&M (14-4, 4-1 SEC)

Take a good look at Lee wearing #99. It may be your last. (UAA Photo) Will Xaivian Lee give up No. 1 after his big game in Nashville?     Athletes are notoriously superstitious. Some more than others. Some will even say, “No, I’m just comfortable with the same routine.” Sounds superstitious to me!   When it comes to the number on the jersey or uniform, there are as many reasons for the particular number on it as there are athletes. It might be what you were given in middle school or the number that your favorite athlete wore when they played. It might be your dad’s or mom’s old number. Or as one former Gator softball player’s reason for wearing #74, she and her dad’s favorite football player was Jack Youngblood.   So when they are forced to wear another number, it can be traumatic. Some even resort to paying other players to switch numbers.   This past Saturday in Nashville, three Gator basketball players were faced with just that situation. Guards Xaivian Lee and Boogie Fland and post player Micah Handlogten donned new numbers for the game because their jerseys did not make the journey from Gainesville to Music City. I’m sure someone was in a lot of trouble for that mistake!   Handlogten may have been affected the most by the change, or he just had a bad day. He was mostly ineffective in 6 minutes of play. Fland tossed in 7 points but again was 0-2 from three-point land. Not the worst effort, but also not his best game. Whether it is the change of the number or just the change of the routine that the lost jerseys had to initiate, both players might want their original numbers on their backs as they head into the game against LSU.   Lee was quite another case.   Lee should keep #99! He arguably had his best game in a Gator uniform on Saturday. His 20 points tied with Ruben Chinyelu for team high. He was 3-7 from deep and 11-19 overall and made one of two free throws to keep the Gators in front of the Commodores. In addition, he pulled down 6 rebounds.   He looked his best ever wearing 99! But it appears that Lee isn’t impressed with the jersey number. He plans to return to wearing #1 on Tuesday night vs. LSU.   Coach Todd Golden says if “he (Lee) wants to continue to rock number 1, which again, I don’t care at all.” If he has a less than average night against the Tigers, Gator fans may be chanting “We want 99! We want 99!” in the O-Dome!   The number on the jersey doesn’t matter. Or does it? Only time and Lee’s shooting will tell!

Rueben Chinyelu was selected SEC Player of the Week (Photo by Chris Spears) Perceptions have certainly changed since the Gators lost on the road at Missouri in the first Southeastern Conference game. Four straight wins including three over ranked teams will do that for you. Florida is now sitting on top of the Southeastern Conference standings, ranked 16 th in both polls and looking like the contender everybody thought the Gators were when the season began back in November.   Dangerous times if you ask Todd Golden.   “We can't relax,” Golden said Monday before the Gators (13-5, 4-1 SEC) began prepping for tonight’s matchup with LSU (13-5, 1-4 SEC) at the O-Dome (7 p.m., ESPN2). “You know, I think for the first time all year, we're in a position where we're finally starting to get praised. People are saying, hey, team of the week, Florida. Hey, this team might be, you know, championship level. Like, we just can't feed into that.   “We have to still have the mentality that we had after we were 5-4, when we lost to Missouri, where everybody was like, man, this lower team is not very good. And if we approach it that way, and go out and try to impact the game with our physicality and our execution, and take pride in those things, we'll be in good shape. If we relax, we're not. So that's what we talked about yesterday, and we'll talk about it again today.”   Despite four SEC losses and the absence of stud point guard Dedan Thomas Jr., whose leg injury has sidelined him the last five games, LSU can’t be taken for granted. The Tigers have size, talent and they’ve played everybody tough. They beat Missouri by eight Saturday, should have beaten Kentucky and Texas A&M, and were in it with Vanderbilt until they gave out of gas.   With Thomas at the point, LSU was one of the highest scoring teams in the nation. Without him, the ball doesn’t move nearly as well and point production has dipped considerably. Tonight, LSU will once again try to get the offense rolling with 6-6 Rashad King at the point. He’s started the last two games, scoring 12 with one assist in the loss to Kentucky, and going for seven points and four assists in the win over Missouri. King isn’t a natural point, so expect the Gators to try to pressure him into mistakes.   LSU has a strong inside presence with bigs Marquel Sutton and Mike Nwoko, but they rely heavily on 3-point shooter Max Mackinnon (42.5 percent) to stretch opposing defenses to open up inside.   Golden knows the Gators are more than capable of taking out LSU for a fifth straight win, but he also knows they can’t afford to take the Tigers lightly or have a letdown in intensity. Critical for the Gators will be to keep the same mindset that has propelled them to the last four games.   “This is a spot where we're finally starting to get some appreciation and some recognition, and we cannot allow it to change our approach,” Golden said. “We've been pretty good with our back against the wall these last couple weeks, and we can't rest or be satisfied for a second because this LSU team is really good, and if we are that way, it's not going to go the way we hope it does.”   CHINYELU SEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK Rueben Chinyelu, who scored 39 points and grabbed 22 rebounds in wins over Oklahoma and Vanderbilt, was named SEC Player of the Week. Chinyelu was 14-20 from the field overall and 11-11 from the foul line while dominating the low blocks in both games. Against Oklahoma he scored 19 while pulling down 12 rebounds. He scored 20 against Vanderbilt with 10 rebounds. He also contributed to the two most important defensive plays of the game in the final 20 seconds when the Gators were leading by just two points.   For the season, Chinyelu is averaging 11.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. He leads the SEC in rebounding and ranks 8 th in the nation. His 10 double-doubles lead the. SEC and are tied for 9 th nationally.   Game notes: All five Gator starters average double figures: Tommy Haugh 17.4; Alex Condon 14.4; Rueben Chinyelu 11.8; Xaivian Lee 11.7 and Boogie Fland 11.5 … The Gators lead the nation in rebounding (46.33 per game), offensive rebounds (16.78) and rebounding margin (+15 per game) … In the kenpom.com analytics, the Gators rank No. 11 nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency.     Anticipated starting lineups No. 16 FLORIDA (13-5, 4-1 SEC): Alex Condon (6-11, 236, JR); Rueben Chinyelu (6-11, 265, JR); Tommy Haugh (6-9, 215, JR); Boogie Fland (6-3, 185, SO); Xaivian Lee (6-4, 185, SR)   LSU (13-5, 1-4 SEC): Marquel Sutton (6-9, 225, SR); Mike Nwoko (6-10, 261, JR); Max Mackinnon (6-6, 195, SR); Pablo Tamba (6-7, 206, SR); Rashad King (6-6, 217, SR)   Associated Press top 25: 1. Arizona 18-0; 2. UConn 18-1; 3. Michigan 16-1; 4. Purdue 17-1; 5. Duke 17-1; 6. Houston 17-1; 7. Nebraska 18-0; 8. Gonzaga 19-1; 9. Iowa State 16-2; 10. Michigan State 16-2; 11. Illinois 15-3; 12. Texas Tech 14-4; 13. BYU 16-2; 14. Virginia 16-2; 15. Vanderbilt 16-2; 16. FLORIDA 13-5; 17. Alabama 13-5; 18. Clemson 16-3; 19. Kansas 13-5; 20. Arkansas 13-5; 21. Georgia 15-3; 22.North Carolina 14-4; 23. Louisville 13-5; 24. Saint Louis 17-1; 25. Miami (OH) 19-0   Coaches top 25: 1. Arizona 18-0; 2. Michigan 16-1; 3; UConn 18-1; 4. Purdue 17-1; 5. Duke 17-1; 6. Houston 17-1; 7. Nebraska 18-0; 8. Gonzaga 19-1; 9. Iowa State 16-2; 10. Michigan State 16-2; 11. Illinois 15-3; 12.Texas Tech 14-4; 13. BYU 16-2; 14. Vanderbilt 16-2; 15. Virginia 16-2; 16. FLORIDA 13-5; 17. Alabama 13-5; 18. Clemson 16-3; 19. Kansas 13-5; 20. Arkansas 13-5; 21. Louisville 13-5; 22. Georgia 15-3; 23. Saint Louis 17-1; 24. North Carolina 14-4; 25. St. John’s 13-5   SEC teams in kenpom.com analytical rankings: 9. FLORIDA 13-5; 12. Vanderbilt 16-2; 17. Alabama 13-5; 22. Tennessee 13-5; 23. Arkansas 13-5; 24. Kentucky 12-6; 28. Georgia 15-3; 33. Auburn 11-7; 38. Texas A&M 14-4; 40. Texas 11-7; 44. LSU 13-5; 55. Missouri 13-5; 58. Oklahoma 11-7; 59. Ole Miss 11-7; 77. South Carolina 10-8; 83. Mississippi State 10-8;   Tonight’s games LSU (13-5, 1-4 SEC) at No. 15 FLORIDA (13-5, 4-1 SEC) No. 15 Vanderbilt (16-2, 3-2 SEC) at No. 20 Arkansas (13-5, 3-2 SEC) No. 21 Georgia (15-3, 3-2 SEC) at Missouri (13-5, 3-2 SEC) Auburn (11-7, 2-3 SEC) at Ole Miss (11-7, 3-2 SEC) Oklahoma (11-7, 1-4 SEC) at South Carolina (10-8, 1-4 SEC)   Wednesday’s games Texas (11-7, 2-3 SEC) at Kentucky (12-6, 3-2 SEC) Mississippi State (10-8, 2-3 SEC) at Texas A&M (14-4, 4-1 SEC)

Isaiah Brown scores on a dunkback in the first half against Vandy (UAA Photo) It was just a step back three that began with a couple of dribbles and a jab step to separate from 6-7, 240-pound Devin McGlockton, who was expecting Xaivian Lee to try to drive the lane. It was perfect execution by Lee, who took a step back and let fly from 22 feet a 3-point shot that touched only net as gravity did its thing. Florida 95, Vanderbilt 94. Forty-five seconds remaining, so it wasn’t exactly a buzzer beater, but it was pure clutch, a shot taken with total confidence.   Vandy wouldn’t score again thanks to the kind of defensive intensity you get from hungry teams that refuse to lose. AK Okereke got the ball in the lane where he discovered Florida’s big blue wall with 19.1 seconds left. Met with Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon and Tommy Haugh, Okereke had the ball poked off his leg. Three Vandy players scrambled but couldn’t get the save as the ball rolled out of bounds. The clock showed 18.1 seconds left.   Lee was fouled on the inbound pass. He made the first of his two free throws making it 96-94. Still enough time – 18.1 seconds – for a Vandy three to win. Too much time. Remember the Duke game?   Tyler Nickel rebounded Lee’s miss, flipped it forward to Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt’s version of Mr. Clutch this season. No three available when he crossed midcourt on the dribble, so he took it straight to the rack, figuring a layup and perhaps a foul for an And-1. No such luck. In his way was Rueben Chinyelu so the shot went high off the glass. Way too high to go in, rebounded by Alex Condon who was fouled immediately.   Condon at the line, 6.1 seconds left, a 96-94 Florida lead. Remember what happened at Duke? How about the end of the Missouri game? Vandy fans screaming with lungs ready to burst “Air ball! Air ball!” as they had been doing every time Condon touched the ball after he let loose with a couple of air balls from 3-point range earlier in the game. Unfazed, Condon drained both shots. Four-point Florida lead (98-94).   Vandy needed a miracle but the Red Sea never parted and the bottled water they sell at Memorial Gym didn’t turn to wine. Tyker Nickel’s desperation heave drew iron and Chinyelu grabbed the rebound. No time left. Florida wins.   Shades of March and April last year. Remember Walter Clayton Jr. and that barrage of threes that ended seasons for UConn, Texas Tech and Auburn? Remember Houston’s last four possessions in the national championship game, especially the last one when perfect defensive execution by Will Richard, Alijah Martin, Condon and Haugh forced a last second three by Emanuel Sharp, who couldn’t get a shot off because Clayton came flying through the air like the greatest American hero?   The Vandy win was like that. No championship was on the line, but this game had a championship feel to it and it was a statement game for the Gators. Arizona, TCU, Duke, UConn and Missouri have a Florida notch on their belts, but those games were more about what Florida did to lose than what they did to win. The Gators missed shots. They made bad decisions. They didn’t defend with intensity at white knuckles time. They turned the ball over.   The Missouri game was like the switch that flipped on the Florida lights. The Kentucky game last year was like that for the Gators. They came back from Kentucky a team determined to play up to its vast potential and they wound up winning a national championship.   Since Missouri, we have seen what the rest of the season should be like for the Gators. That shot Xaivian Lee made with 45 seconds left against Vandy? That would have clanged off the iron in the past. He hasn’t shown the propensity to nail threes consistently here at Florida, but he has it in him. He did that with regularity for three years at Princeton.   Boogie Fland, who so flawlessly broke Vandy’s backcourt pressure, is in the process of becoming the point guard everyone expected when he transferred in from Arkansas. It’s not an accident the Gators have scored more than 90 points in the last four games, all of them wins. Fland and Lee have found the chemistry that wasn’t there earlier in the year. They know where each other are at all times on the court, but better yet, they know where their teammates are. Against Vandy, six assists, one turnover and the turnover was when a pass in traffic skipped off Fland’s hands. It was almost unavoidable. These two guys play with the level of confidence you find in championship back courts.   Haugh is probably the best player in the league. Vandy coach Mark Byington admitted that and UConn coach Danny Hurley called him a lottery pick. Chinyelu has gone beast mode. He scores, he rebounds. He defends. He’s scary. Condon quietly puts up solid numbers and makes great decisions with the basketball at the top of the key. Off the bench Micah Handlogten, Urban Klavzar and Isaiah Brown have become the three pieces Todd Golden needs in the 8-man rotation it takes to win championships.   There are still 13 SEC games remaining, plus there is the SEC Tournament before the madness of March begins. Way too much time before a championship banner can be hung from the O-Dome rafters, but at last we are seeing what happens when the Gators get it all together.   Perhaps we need to look back on those five losses as stepping stones. Every coach will tell you how much he hates to lose, but losses can be productive and in Golden the Gators have a coach who has proven he can turn a loss into lessons that bring about future wins.   So buckle up boys and girls. The thrill ride is just beginning and the Gators have what it takes to lay waste to everyone who gets in their way the next two-and-a-half months.   WORST TO FIRST: THE 16 SEC TEAMS 16. South Carolina (10-8, 1-4 SEC): He’s sandwiched two losing seasons around a 26-8 record in 2024. It is going to be a struggle to get to 15 or 16 wins, which he’s going to need to save his job.   15. Mississippi State (10-8, 2-3 SEC): The Bulldogs can win home games but they are road kill. If Josh Hubbard can’t make shots, they’re toast.   14. Oklahoma (11-7, 1-4 SEC): The Sooners don’t rebound particularly well and they’re one of the worst defensive teams in the SEC, particularly vulnerable to teams with strong inside games. Russian center Kirill Elatontsev is going to have to play well for the Sooners to sneak into the NCAA Tournament.   13. LSU (13-5, 1-4 SEC): Until Dedan Thomas Jr. returns from an undisclosed leg injury that has caused him to miss all five SEC games, the Tigers are going to struggle. They have shooters but they don’t have anyone like Thomas who can get them the ball. LSU fired a football coach who was winning but couldn’t get the Tigers into the playoff. Matt McMahon might finish with a decent record but if the Tigers don’t make the NCAA he could be a goner.   12. Ole Miss (11-7, 2-3 SEC): The Rebels don’t shoot the ball very well, they’re one of the worst rebounding teams in the SEC and they’re erratic defensively, yet they’re very dangerous because there are nights when they do put it all together. If Malik Dia gets in foul trouble or has a bad night the Rebels are in trouble.   11. Auburn (11-7, 2-3 SEC): The Tigers are an enigma, capable of taking Houston to the wire and blowing out Arkansas but equally capable of getting their doors blown off by Michigan and losing winnable games like Georgia and Missouri. If Keyshawn Hall is having a bad day at the office then Auburn is going down in flames.   10. Texas (11-7, 2-3 SEC): Other than FAU transfer Matas Vokietaitis, the Longhorns don’t have any inside presence so they have to win track meets. That has had mixed results, a loss to Mississippi State at home and a win at Alabama. The Longhorns will likely make the NCAA Tournament, but as a 7-through-10 seed.   9. Missouri (13-5, 3-2 SEC): The Tigers beat Florida to open the SEC season, but since then they’ve flamed out against Ole Miss and LSU. They have scorers like Mark Mitchell and Jayden Stone but they are inconsistent offensively if they’re not draining threes. Defense and rebounding are spotty. Mizzou is capable of beating nearly every team in the SEC but also capable of losing to everyone.     8. Texas A&M (14-4, 4-1 SEC): Sooner or later the weak schedule is going to catch up with the Aggies. New coach Bucky McMillan’s shoot till you happy approach wears down lesser teams, but the Aggies don’t rebound well and they’re vulnerable to anyone that takes the 3-point game out of the equation. If Rashaun Agee gets cooking they’re very tough to beat, especially at home.   7. Arkansas (13-5, 3-2 SEC): When both Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas are making shots, the Razorbacks are tough for anyone to handle, but they are a weak rebounding team that can get its doors blown off by teams that pound it inside. Razorbacks have to win track meets that are open floor games.   6. Tennessee (12-6, 2-3 SEC): Oh how they miss Zakai Ziegler. Ja’Kobi Gillespie can light it up, but he’s not the defensive presence nor is he the leader that Ziegler was. Rebounding is suspect. Felix Okpara can block shots, but he’s no better offensively as a senior than he was when he was a freshman. Freshman Nate Ament is one dimensional. Scoring yes. Rebounding and defense no.   5. Georgia (15-3, 3-2 SEC): This is easily Mike White’s best team. They are capable of scoring in bunches and Somto Cyril is the SEC’s top shot blocker, but if Jeremiah Wilkinson and Blue Cain aren’t hitting threes, they’re vulnerable.   4. Kentucky (12-6, 3-2 SEC): The Wildcats have shown signs of life with dramatic comeback wins in their last two but the season ending injury to point guard Jaland Lowe will bite them in a big way. Denzel Aberdeen has led the last two comebacks and he’s critical to Kentucky becoming a real factor in the SEC race.   3. Alabama (13-5, 3-2 SEC): They’re effective if they can make threes and get the game going at track meet pace, but they’re a poor rebounding team and they don’t defend the inside well. Labaron Philon Jr. is the Tide’s best player, but he doesn’t get a lot of help. If Aiden Sherrill gets into foul trouble they’re in deepest and darkest.   2. Vanderbilt (16-2, 3-2 SEC: They don’t have the size or inside power, but they have the shooters, they play the passing lanes well and they have three dynamic players in Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles and Tyler Nickel.   1.FLORIDA (13-5, 4-1 SEC): Now that the guards are playing well together and Todd Golden has found the seventh and eighth men for his rotation (Urban Klavzar and Isaiah Brown), the Gators are capable of making it all the way to the Final Four. Nobody has four bigs better than Rueben Chinyelu, Tommy Haugh, Alex Condon and Micah Handlogten.   Tuesday’s games LSU (13-5, 1-4 SEC) at No. 19 FLORIDA (13-5, 4-1 SEC) No. 10 Vanderbilt (16-2, 3-2 SEC) at No. 17 Arkansas (13-5, 3-2 SEC) No. 21 Georgia (15-3, 3-2 SEC) at Missouri (13-5, 3-2 SEC) Auburn (11-7, 2-3 SEC) at Ole Miss (11-7, 3-2 SEC) Oklahoma (11-7, 1-4 SEC) at South Carolina (10-8, 1-4 SEC)   Wednesday’s games Texas (11-7, 2-3 SEC) at Kentucky (12-6, 3-2 SEC) Mississippi State (10-8, 2-3 SEC)

Xaivian Lee launches a three from the wing against Vandy (UAA Photo) NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Nobody can say they weren’t warned.   For weeks now, Todd Golden has been telling us that one of these days the Gators are going to start making shots and when they do, they’re going to be a VERY dangerous basketball team. The warning came to fruition Saturday afternoon at Memorial Gymnasium and it involved three rather unexpected quirks that made 19 th -ranked Florida’s 98-94 win over 10 th -ranked Vanderbilt all the more delicious.   Quirk No. 1, or should we say Quirk No. 99? Xaivian Lee, a sometimes conservative non-shooter, who scored only four points and went 0-6 from the 3-point line Tuesday night in Norman, got his groove back, oddly wearing No. 99 quite by accident.   Right after breakfast at the team hotel Saturday morning, Lee and Boogie Fland went to their room to take their customary pre-game nap only to be interrupted by a knock on the door.   “Jordy Jacobsen was banging on the door and like, what do you want?’” Lee explained after a 20-point, six rebound, three assist and no turnover game that included 3-7 shooting from the 3-point line. Prior to Saturday, Lee was 27-108 from the 3-point line for the entire season. “He comes in, he’s like, “Bad news fellas.’”   Lee’s No. 1 jersey and Fland’s No. 0 went missing and somehow didn’t make the trip to Nashville.   “I’m like, all right, screw it,” Lee said. And with that he became No. 99 and Fland became No. 33.   Was it simply a very good player finally broke out of a season-long shooting slump? Or was it the change in number that did the trick? Whatever it was, it turned Lee into a stiletto the plunged deeply into the heart of the Commodores (16-2, 3-2 SEC), who lost their second game this week after a 16-0 start.   If Todd Golden were to vote, he would make the change to No. 99 permanent.   “We woke up this morning and didn’t have them (correct jerseys), so we scratched and found a way to make it happen anyways,” Golden said after the Gators won their fourth straight game, improving to 13-5 overall and 4-1 in the Southeastern Conference. “And, you know, I would like you (Lee) to wear 99 the rest of the year.”   Fland didn’t have the scoring night that Lee had, but his contributions went far beyond his seven points, three assists and one steal. Vandy tried to press and harass him the entire game, but he turned it over only once. When your starting backcourt combines for 27 points, six rebounds, six assists, one steal and only one turnover, you make full court pressure insignificant, which is what Lee and Fland did.   Quirk No. 2 came with 12:59 remaining in the first half. Isaiah Brown, inserted in the game for the first time with 14:07 left before the intermission, got his feet set in the corner when someone on the Vanderbilt coaching staff made a huge mistake.   “It all started when the coach of the other team said, ‘Don’t guard him,’” Brown recalled. “And I was like, wow, that’s extremely disrespectful, so that first shot, I knew that was going in because my confidence was already high.”   Ball in hand and left wide open, Brown buried the three. He launched another three with 8:41 left in the game that put the Gators ahead 74-73. He also scored on an astonishing dunkback just before halftime in which he flew in from the baseline and one-handed a jam that rattled the rim. He drew the fifth foul on Vandy's Duke Miles with 4:14 left and rather nonchalantly knocked down both free throws. He was a perfect 6-for=6 for the game.  Isaiah Brown scored a career high 14 points. He also had four rebounds, one assist, a blocked shot and a steal. Not too bad for a guy the other team considered nothing more than a harmless distraction.   Quirk No. 3 and maybe the one that proved most harmful to Vandy came early in the second half with the Gators trailing, 49-44. Rueben Chinyelu was fouled by Tyler Nickel while going up for a shot. Chinyelu took way too much contact from Vandy’s Devin McGlockton, so Golden asked for and got a review. After a lengthy look by the three officials and the people at the SEC replay center, a flagrant was called on McGlockton. Four free throws and possession to the Gators.   Chinyelu was ice from the foul line, draining all four shots to trim the Vandy lead to a single point (49-48). On the ensuing inbound, Tommy Haugh drilled a three from the corner to complete what amounted to a 7-point play.   Those four free throws were a wakeup call for Chinyelu, who managed only four points and four rebounds in the first half. He went beast mode in the second, scoring 16 of his 20 points. He was too strong and too powerful for Vandy’s bigs, finishing the game with another double-double (10 rebounds) to go with three assists and three blocked shots.   Golden and his assistants made it a point at the half to emphasize getting the ball down low to Chinyelu.   “ At halftime, we talked as a staff about making sure we got him some low block touches, because it calms us down and it slows the game down,” Golden said. “It makes the tempo of the game kind of more the way we want to play. So, first half is more on me and the coaching staff for not getting him more touches. In the second half when we did, he took advantage of those opportunities. ”   And still it came down to white knuckles at the end. The Gators did a very good job of running Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles and Nickel off the 3-point line. They were a combined 5-14 but they’re high volume 3-point shooters. Florida’s strategy was take the threes away and make them shoot tough twos.   To Vandy’s credit, the Commodores made a lot of contested 2-point shots, but in the final minute of the game, the Gators got critical stops. Lee’s three from the wing with 45 seconds left gave the Gators the lead for good, 95-94, but Vandy had a chance to regain the lead but the Commodores couldn't squeeze off a shot. With a fraction less than 19 seconds remaining, AK Okereke got the ball in the paint, about 10 feet from the rim, where he was met by Chinyelu, Haugh and Condon. Someone in Florida’s big blue wall poked the ball away and in the scramble for the loose ball it went out of bounds off the diving hands of Tanner. Florida basketball, 18.1 seconds left.   When the Gators got the ball inbounds, Lee was fouled immediately by Tanner. Lee made the first, but missed the second foul shot. Nickel rebounded for Vandy, hustled the ball out to Tanner who took it straight to the rack where he was met by Chinyelu. He threw up a wild shot high off the glass that Condon rebounded. Fouled immediately, Condon hit both free throws for a 4-point margin with 6.1 seconds remaining.   Vandy got the ball down four. Time for one last shot and the prayer that someone on the Gators would do something stupid like foul. Prayers fell on deaf ears. Nickel fired up a three, hit back iron and Chinyelu rebounded. Celebration time for the Gators on the bench who waved and blew kisses at the Vandy student section which had spent the entire game taunting. On the court five exhausted Gators walked off having secured the win that puts them at the top of the SEC heap.   Make no mistake about it, this win was huge for the Gators. Two Saturdays ago in Columbia, Missouri, , they looked like a team gasping for air against a team that had come up with a formula to turn the Gators very ordinary. Four games later, they are far from ordinary and clearly the best team in the Southeastern Conference.   Florida’s front line foursome of Chinyelu, Haugh, Condon and Micah Handlogten is undoubtedly the best in the SEC and probably the entire country. They did their damage to Vandy and there wasn’t much the Commodores could do to stop them. In addition to Chinyelu’s gaudy numbers, Haugh had 18 points, eight rebounds and two assists. He hit 2-5 from the 3-point line. Condon had 16 points, eight rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot despite playing a good portion of the second half in foul trouble.   With the big guys in dominant form, the Gators outrebounded Vanderbilt, 40-26, their fourth straight game in which they have outrebounded opponents by 10 or more. In winning the last four, the Gators have outrebounded opponents 180-122.   Led by Lee, whose stepback three with 45 seconds left was the shot of the game, the Gators went 9-24 (37.5 percent) from the 3-point line. Coming into the game, the Gators were hitting just 27.7 percent for the entire season.   “Florida played well,” Vandy coach Mark Byington said. “Right now they’re playing as well as any team in the country. “… What kind of got us tonight was they had guys who don’t make threes make threes tonight.”   The Gators did make threes. They also made plenty of twos. This was a clear sign of what this team will look like if the shooters can make enough threes to prevent opponents from backing off and packing the lane.   With Fland and Lee handling the ball, no one is going to find much success pressing them. With the big guys dominating the rebounding, Florida is going to get plenty of possessions. Thirteen offensive rebounds led to 22 second chance points. Vanderbilt had only eight.   The Gators won by four. They made 25 free throws (30 attempts) to Vanderbilt’s 20 (22 attempts). There is your difference in the game right there.   From an offensive standpoint, this will go down as Florida’s best game of the season since it was against a top ten opponent. The Gators were good enough to put up 44 points in the first half, but in the second they torched the Commodores for 54.   "We showed a lot of grit and toughness today,” Golden said. “It wasn't perfect, but we did a great job on the boards. Credit to Reuben in the second half, and X (Xaivian) Lee late in the game, stepping up, doing what you need guys to do to win a game like this, hitting big shots that aren't necessarily drawn up, just players making plays. And our guys did that today.”   ELSEWHERE IN THE SEC No. 18 Alabama (13-5, 3-2 SEC) 83, Oklahoma (11-7, 1-4 SEC) 81: Alabama got 23 points, five rebounds and four assists from Labaron Philon to overcome Oklahoma, which was led by Xzayvier Brown with 21.   No. 21 Georgia (15-3, 3-2 SEC) 90, No. 17 Arkansas (13-5, 3-2 SEC) 76: Georgia got a top 25 win with Jeremiah Wilkinson scoring 20 and Blue Cain 18. Arkansas big guys were dominated by Somto Cyril who blocked seven shots. Darius Acuff Jr. scored 20 for Arkansas.   Kentucky (12-6, 3-2 SEC) 80, No. 24 Tennessee (12-6, 2-3 SEC) 78: Former Gator Denzel Aberdeen scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half as Kentucky erased a 17-point deficit to knock off Tennessee in Knoxville. Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 24 to lead the Vols.   Texas A&M (14-4, 4-1 SEC) 74, Texas (11-7, 2-3 SEC) 70: Rashaun Agee had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Aggies, who are now tied with Florida on top of the SEC standings. Jordan Pope and Dailyn Swain each scored 17 for Texas.   LSU (13-5, 1-4 SEC) 78, Missouri (13-5, 3-2 SEC) 70: Marquel Sutton scored 26 points as LSU got its first SEC win over Mizzou, which was led by Jayden Stone with 20   Auburn (11-7, 2-3 SEC) 71, South Carolina (10-8, 1-4 SEC) 67: Filip Jovi came of the bench to score 23 points to lead Auburn by South Carolina, which was led by Meechie Johnson with 17. Ole Miss (11-7, 3-2 SEC) 68, Mississippi State (10-8, 2-3 SEC) 67: Patton Pinkins 15-foot jumper with 19 seconds left lifted Ole Miss past Mississippi State. Ilias Kamardine and AJ Storr each scored 17 points for Ole Miss. The game was marred by miserable shooting. Ole Miss was 2-20 from the 3-point line while Mississippi State was 5-20.   Tuesday’s games LSU (13-5, 1-4 SEC) at No. 19 FLORIDA (13-5, 4-1 SEC) No. 10 Vanderbilt (16-2, 3-2 SEC) at No. 17 Arkansas (13-5, 3-2 SEC) No. 21 Georgia (15-3, 3-2 SEC) at Missouri (13-5, 3-2 SEC) Auburn (11-7, 2-2 SEC) at Ole Miss (11-7, 3-2 SEC) Oklahoma (11-7, 1-4 SEC) at South Carolina (10-8, 1-4 SEC)   Wednesday’s games Texas (11-7, 2-3 SEC) at Kentucky (12-6, 3-2 SEC) Mississippi State (10-8, 2-3 SEC) at Texas A&M (14-4, 4-1 SEC)

What Curt Cignetti has proven at Indiana is you can win big without loading up on 4-star or better recruits or portal transfers. The Hoosiers are a game away from a national championship and an historic unbeaten season and Cignetti has done it without spending big NIL bucks to load up on the biggest names in the portal. The Indiana roster was built systematically by a coach who values effort and productivity far more than reputation.   It would seem that Jon Sumrall is following a similar approach with his Florida roster rebuild. As of Friday night, Florida’s roster stood at 82 -- 63 veterans and 19 freshman/jucos. Sumrall still has 23 scholarships available (new NCAA roster limit is 105) but the heavy lifting has already been done. With late registration all but over, the next two-to-three days will be critical. Also at Sumrall’s disposal is the February signing date for high school and junior college kids.   Here is a breakdown of the accounted for scholarships and that the Gators need. Quarterback (3): Four on scholarship is a necessity. Five is a luxury. Running Back (5): Six would be a luxury but maybe someone who is more slot than RB? Wide Receiver (10): Need two more at a minimum, but three more would be nice. Tight end (5): Need one more since signee Kent might move to tackle. O-line (19): Need 2-4 more veterans since six of the 18 are freshmen. D-line/EDGE (13): Three veterans have been added, still need 2-3 more. Linebackers (7): Three more is a necessity, especially linebackers who are skilled in coverage. Secondary (15): Spread offenses require lots of corners, so minimum of three more. Special teams (5): Need backup kicker.    Here is a roster breakdown for Florida:   VETERANS (63) (Transfers in bold face) QUARTERBACK (2): Tramell Jones Jr. (6-0, 203, FR); QB Aaron Philo (6-2, 220, RFR, from Georgia Tech)   RUNNING BACKS (5): Duke Clark (6-1, 211, FR); Byron Louis (6-0, 211, FR); Jadan Baugh (6-1, 231, SO); Evan Pryor (5-9, 195, RSR, from Cincinnati); London Montgomery (5-11, 197, SO, from East Carolina)   WIDE RECEIVERS (7): Vernell Brown III (5-11, 178, FR); Dallas Wilson (6-3, 213, FR); TJ Abrams (5-10, 196, RFR); Bailey Stockton (5-11, 185, SO, from Georgia Tech); Micah Mays Jr. (6-2, 196, SO, from Wake Forest); WR Eric Singleton Jr. (5-10, 180, JR, from Auburn); Jaylen Lloyd (5-10, 180, RSO)   TIGHT END: (4) Amir Jackson (6-5, 235, RFR); Micah Jones (6-4, 257, FR); Lacote Dippre (6-4, 253, SO, from James Madison); Luke Harpring (6-3, 240, FR, from Georgia Tech)   O-LINE (13): OT Fletcher Westphal (6-8, 342, RFR); OT Caden Jones (6-8, 333, RSO); OT/OG Bryce Lovett (6-5, 321, RSO); OG Knijeah Harris (6-3, 313, JR); OG/C Roderick Kearney (6-4, 310, RSO); OG Jason Zandamela (6-3, 308, RFR); OT Jahari Medlock (6-5, 321, FR); OG TJ Dice Jr. (6-4, 304, FR); OG Daniel Pierre Louis (6-4, 332, FR); C Harrison Moore   (6-5, 300, SO, from Georgia Tech); OG TJ Shanahan (6-4, 315, RSO, from Penn State); OT Eagan Boyer (6-8, 302, RFR, from Penn State); Emeka Ugorji (6-5, 300, FR, from Stanford)   D-LINE/EDGE (9): EDGE LJ McCray (6-6, 268, SO); EDGE Kamran James (6-6, 270, JR); EDGE Jayden Woods (6-3, 248, FR); DL Joseph Mbatchou (6-5, 300, FR); EDGE Kofi Asare (6-5, 251, RJR); EDGE Jaylen Wiggins (6-5, 268, FR); Brendan Bett (6-5, 308, RSO); DT DK Kalu (6-4, 309, SO, from Baylor); DE Emmanuel Oyebadejo (6-7, 295, JR, from Jacksonville State)   LINEBACKERS (6): Jaden Robinson (6-1, 226, JR); Myles Graham (6-1, 228, SO); Aaron Chiles (6-3, 244, SO); Ty Jackson (6-2, 221, FR); Myles Johnson (6-1, 224, FR); TJ Bullard (6-1, 220, RSO, from UCF)   SECONDARY (11): S Drake Stubbs (6-1, 207, FR); CB Cormani McClain (6-2, 189, RSO); S Bryce Thornton (5-10, 211, JR); S Lagonza Hayward (6-1, 206, FR); CB J’Vari Flowers (5-10, 187, FR); CB Dijon Johnson (6-1, 204, JR); CB Onis Konanbanny (6-0, 184, FR);  CB Ben Hanks III (6-1, 192, FR); S DJ Coleman   (6-1, 210, JR, from Baylor); S Cam Dooley (6-2, 208, SO, from Kentucky); S Kanye Clark (6-0, 190, RFR, from UCLA)   SPECIAL TEAMS (6): PK Patrick Durkin (5-10, 175, SO, from Tulane); P Alec Clark (6-1, 185, RSO, from Tulane); LS Carter Milliron (6-0, 257, SR, from Louisiana); P Miller Fealy (6-2, 210, FR, from Southwest Oklahoma State); LS Harold Solwold (from Washington); PK Liam Padron (5-9, 205, SO, from Texas A&M)   SIGNED FRESHMEN/JUCOS (19) QUARTERBACK (1): Will Griffin (6-3, 230)   WIDE RECEIVERS (3):  Davian Groce (6-2, 191); Justin Williams (5-11, 187); Marquez Daniel (6-5, 205)   TIGHT END (1):  Heze Kent (6-6, 305)   O-LINE (6):  Tyler Chukuyem (6-6, 285); Chancellor Campbell (6-8, 307); G’nivre Carr (6-4, 309); Desmond Green (6-5, 343); Javarii Luckas (6-6, 318); Corey Brown (6-1, 280)   D-LINE/EDGE (3): DL Kendall Guervil (6-2, 323); DL JaReylan McCoy (6-7, 260); EDGE KJ Ford (6-4, 246)   LINEBACKER (1):  Malik Morris (6-0, 250)   SECONDARY (4): CJ Hester (6-0, 186); Kaiden Hall (6-2, 192); CJ Bronaugh (6-0, 172); Dylan Purter (6-0, 185); Elijah Owens (6-3, 210, FR,   from Mississippi Gulf Coast)   GONERS (30) QB (1): DJ Lagway (to Baylor) RB (4): KD Daniels   (to Wake Forest) ; Treyaun Webb (to Appalachian State);  Chad Gaspar Jr.; Ja’Kobi Jackson (to Ohio State) WR (5): Eugene Wilson III (to LSU);  Tank Hawkins; Aidan Mizell (to UCLA);   Muizz Tounkara (to Houston); Naeushaun Montgomery (to Missouri) TE (3): Hayden Hansen   (to Oklahoma); Cameron Kossman; TE Tony Livingston OL (4): OT Marcus Mascoll; OT Enoch Wangoy; OT Devon Manuel (to Appalachian State);   OT Noel Portnjagin (to James Madison) DL/EDGE (4): DL Tavorise Brown; DL Michai Boireau   (to Ole Miss) ; DL Jeramiah McCloud; DT Brien Taylor Jr. LB (1): Grayson Howard   (to South Florida) S/CB (6): S Jordan Castell (to Kentucky);  S Josiah Davis; CB Jameer Grimsley (to Mississippi State);   S Teddy Foster (to South Florida);  CB Aaron Gates (to Kentucky);   CB Shariff Denson   (to Ole Miss) ST (3): P Hayden Craig (to LSU);  PK Evan Noel; LS Mack Mulhern   THE REST OF THE SEC (as of midnight, January 12) ALABAMA Outgoing (23) QB: RB: Richard Young WR: Aeryn Hampton (to Oregon State); Jalen Hale (to SMU);   Jaylen Mbakwe   (to Georgia Tech); Cole Adams (to Vanderbilt); Rico Scott; JJ Shelton (to Baylor); Isaiah Horton (to Texas A&M) TE: OL: OG Roq Montgomery; OT Olaus Alinen (to Kentucky); OG Micah DeBose (to Vanderbilt); OT Wilkin Formby (to Texas A&M) ; OG Joseph Ionata (to Georgia Tech); OT Arkel Anugwom (to Northwestern) DL/EDGE: EDGE Noah Carter (to Georgia Tech); EDGE Keon Keeley (to Notre Dame);   DL James Smith   (to Ohio State) ; DL Kelby Collins (to South Carolina); EDGE Jordan Renaud (to Ole Miss) LB: Qua Russaw (to Ohio State) CB/S: S Kameron Howard (to Boston College); CB Cameron Calhoun (to Ohio State); ST: PK Peter Notaro (to West Virginia); LS David Bird     Incoming (15) QB: RB: WR: Noah Rogers (from North Carolina State) TE Josh Ford   (from Oklahoma State) OL: OG Kaden Strayhorn (from Michigan); OT Ty Haywood (from Michigan); OT Nick Brooks (from Texas); OG Racin Delgatty (from Cal Poly); OG Ethan Fields (from Ole Miss) DL/EDGE: DL Hunter Osborne (from Virginia); DL Kedrick Bingley-Jones (from Mississippi State); Devan Thompkins (from Southern California); DT Caleb Smith (from Washington) LB: Caleb Woodson (from Virginia Tech); Ethan Stangle (from Syracuse) CB/S: Carmelo O’Neal (from Mercer) ST: PK Lorcan Quinn (from Marshall)   ARKANSAS Outgoing (38) QB: Trever Jackson (to Coastal Carolina);   Grayson Wilson (to Boston College) RB: AJ Green; Rodney Hill; Keshawn Davila (to North Texas) WR: Andy Jean; Jace Petty; Zachary Taylor; Krosse Johnson; Ja’Kayden Ferguson (to Kentucky);   Kam Shanks (to Wake Forest) TE: OL: OT Shaq McRoy (to North Carolina); OG LJ Prudhomme (to Mississippi State); OT E’Marion Harris   (to Oklahoma); OG Bubba Craig; OG Blake Cherry (to Wisconsin) DL/EDGE: DL Ian Geffrard   (to Texas) ; DL Kaleb James (to Texas State); EDGE Justus Boone   (to Wisconsin) ; DL Kavion Henderson; DL Danny Saili; DL Kevin Oatis (to Kansas); DT Keyshawn Blackstock; EDGE Ken Talley (to UCF); DL Frank Mulipola LB: Tavion Wallace   (to Kentucky); Justin Logan; JJ Shelton CB/S: CB Keshawn Davila   (to Kansas State) ; S Miguel Mitchell; S Anton Pierce; CB Selman Bridges; CB Nigel Pringle (to Arizona State); CB Jaheim Singletary (to Ohio State);  S Quentavius Scandrett; CB Jaden Allen; CB Akhari Johnson (to Louisiana Tech) ST: PK Blake Ford; PK Scott Starzyk (to LSU)   Incoming (34) QB: AJ Hill   (from Memphis); Braeden Fuller (from Angelo State) RB: Sutton Smith   (from Memphis); Jasper Parker (from Michigan); Donovan Faupel (from New Mexico State) WR: Jamari Hawkins   (from Memphis); Chris Marshall (from Boise State) TE: Ty Lockwood (from Boston College); Matt Adcock (from Memphis) OL: OT Malachi Breland   (from Memphis); OT Josiah Clemons (from Memphis); OT Bryant Williams (from Louisiana); OT Terence Robinson Jr. (from Ouachita Baptist); OT Adam Hawkes (from Oregon State); OG Ayden Russell (from West Virginia) DL/EDGE: DL Hunter Osborne (from Virginia); DT Xadavien Sims (from Oregon) LB: Khmori House (from North Carolina); Phoenix Jackson (from Baylor); Jeremy Evans (from Baylor); Jamonta Waller (from Auburn); Ben Bogle (from West Virginia)    CB/S: S Christian Harrison   (from Cincinnati); CB Jahiem Johnson (from Tulane); CB Shelton Lewis (from Clemson); CB Braydon Lee (from Maryland);   CB Tyler Scott (from Georgia State); CB La’khi Roland (from Maryland); S Ian Williams (from Memphis); S John Howse IV (from Middle Tennessee State); S Carter Stoutmire (from Colorado); CB LaMarcus Hicks II (from Iowa State) ST:  PK Braeden McAlister   (from Georgia State); PK Max Gilbert   (from Tennesse)   AUBURN Outgoing (39) QB: Ashton Daniels (to Florida State); Deuce Knight (to Ole Miss); Jackson Arnold (to UNLV) RB: Damari Alston (to Tulsa);  Durell Robinson WR: Horatio Fields (to Missouri) ; Perry Thompson   (to Minnesota) ; Malcolm Simmons (to Texas Tech);  Cam’Ron King; Cam Coleman (to Texas); Sam Turner; Eric Singleton Jr. (to Florida) TE: Hollis Davidson; Preston Howard (to Maryland) OL: OG DeAndre Carter   (to Iowa State) ; OT Favour Edwin (to Georgia Tech); OT Seth Wilfred; OT Xavier Chaplin (to Florida State); OG Dylan Senda; OG Malachi Harris; OT Tyler Johnson DL/EDGE: EDGE Antonio Coleman; DL Amaris Williams (to Georgia); Jamonta Walker (to Arkansas) ; DL Malik Blocton (to LSU);  DL James Ash; DL Walter Mathis Jr. (from LSU); Edge Tyler Brown LB: Caleb Wheatland   (to Michigan State) ; Jamonta Walker (to Arkansas) ; Robert Woodyard Jr.  ( to Missouri) ; D’Angelo Barber CB/S: CB A’mon Lane-Ganus   (to South Florida) ; CB Raion Strader; CB Jay Crawford   (to Ole Miss) ; CB Kayin Lee (to Tennessee) ; CB Donovan Starr (to Clemson); S Kensley Louidor-Faustin   (to Missouri) ; S Taye Seymore (to North Texas) ; S Jacoby Matthews ST: PK Towns McGough (to California)   Incoming (27) QB: Locklan Hewlett   (from South Florida); Byrum Brown (from South Florida); QB Tristan Ti’a (from Oregon State) RB: RB Bryson Washington (from Baylor) WR: Korey Pettigrew   (from South Florida); Christian Neptune   (from South Florida); Jeremiah Koger   (from South Florida); Chas Nimrod (from South Florida); Keshaun Singleton (from South Florida); Antavious Richardson (from Notre Dame) TE: Xavier Newsom   (from Howard); Jake Johnson (from North Carolina) OL: OT Stanton Ramil (from Michigan State); OT Joseph Simmons (from James Madison); OG Cole Best (from South Florida); OG Cole Skinner (from South Florida); OT Jacob Strand (from Oregon State); OT Taren Hedrick (from Ole Miss) DL/EDGE: DL Cody Sigler (from Arkansas State); DL Saint Farrior (from Appalachian State); EDGE Nate Johnson (from Missouri); EDGE Dashaun Womack (from Ole Miss) LB: CB/S: S Fred Gaskin III   (from South Florida); CB Naz Ward (from Western Kentucky); CB Raion Strader (from Pittsburgh); CB Andre Jordan Jr. (from UCLA); CB Shamar Arnoux (from Florida State); S Jack Lutterell (fro Arizona) ST: LS Hudson Powell   (from Maryland)   GEORGIA Outgoing (15) QB: RB: Roderick Robinson II (to UAB) WR: TE: Pearce Spurlin III (to Colorado State); OL: OT Bo Hughley (to Colorado);  OT Nyier Daniels; OG Kelton Smith Jr. (to Georgia State); OT Jamal Meriwether DL/EDGE: DL Jordan Thomas (to South Carolina); EDGE Elo Modozie LB: Kris Jones (to Boston College CB/S: CB Daniel Harris (to California); S Jaden Thomas (to Kansas); S Joenel Aguerol (to Ole Miss); CB Ondre Evans (to North Carolina State);   S Adrian Maddox (to Kansas State); CB Dominick Kelly (to Ohio State) ST:   Incoming (9) QB: Bryson Beaver (from Oregon) RB: Dante Dowdell (from Kentucky) WR: Isaiah Canion (from Georgia Tech) TE: OL: OT TyQuez Richardson (6-5, 330, SO, from Alabama State)DL/EDGE: DL Amaris Williams (from Auburn) LB: CB/S: CB Braylon Conley (from Southern California); S Ja’Marley Riddle (from East Carolina); S Khalil Barnes   (from Clemson); S Gentry Williams (from Oklahoma)   KENTUCKY Outgoing (27) QB: Stone Saunders; Cutter Boley   (to Arizona State) RB: Dante Dowdell (to Georgia);   Jamarion Wilcox (to Marshall) WR: David Washington Jr.; Preston Bowman; Tony Stellato; Quintin Simmons ; Cameron Miller (to Ole Miss); WR Hardley Gilmore (to Baylor);   WR Preston Bowman (to Ohio U); WR Montavin Quisenberry TE: OL: OT Darrin Strey (to LSU); OG Evan Wibberley DL/EDGE: EDGE Landyn Watson   (to Kansas) ; EDGE Steven Soles; DL Austin Ramsey  ( to Kansas State) ; DL Javeon Campbell; EDGE Jacob Smith (to Louisville) ; DL Jerod Smith II (to Louisville) ; Kenyatta Hardge (to Marshall) LB: Tavion Wallace   (from Arkansas) CB/S: CB Nasir Addison; S DJ Waller Jr . (to Louisville) ; S Cam Dooley   (to Florida) ; CB Quaysheed Scott (to South Carolina) ST: LS David Laganga   Incoming (22) QB: Kenny Minchey   (from Notre Dame); JacQai Long (from Marshall) RB: Jovonate Barnes (from Oklahoma); CJ Baxter (from Texas)   WR: Xavier Daisy (from UAB): Ja’Kayden Ferguson (from Arkansas); Brock Coffman (from Louisville); Nic Anderson (from LSU) TE: OL: OG Coleton Price   (from Baylor); OG Max Anderson (from Tennessee); OT Olaus Alinen (from Alabama); OT Lance Heard (from Tennessee); OT Mark Robinson (from UTEP); OG Tegra Tshabola (from Ohio State) DL/EDGE: EDGE Antonio Berry   (from Gardner-Webb); DL Ahmad Breaux   (from LSU); DL Jesse Anderson (from Pittsburgh); DL Dominic Wiseman (from South Alabama)   LB: Elijah Barnes (from Texas) CB/S: CB Hasaan Sykes   (from Western Carolina); S Cyrus Reeves (from Mississippi State); CB Mark Manfred III (from Missouri)   ST: PK Adam Zouagui (from South Florida); LS Spencer Radnoti (from Oklahoma)     LSU Outgoing (35) QB: Colin Hurley (to Michigan);   Michael Van Buren (to South Florida); Tre People RB: Ju’Juan Johnson (to Syracuse); Kaleb Jackson; JT Lindsey (to Ole Miss) WR: Jelani Watkins (to Watkins);   Khylan Billiot (to James Madison); Kyle Parker (to Ohio State);   TaRon Francis (to West Virginia); Destyn Hill (to Tulane); Isaiah Stone; Nic Anderson (to Kentucky) TE: Donovan Green (to Oklahoma State) OL: OG Carius Curne (to Ole Miss); OG Coen Echols   (to Texas A&M) ; OG DJ Chester (to Mississippi State);   OT Tyree Adams   (to Texas A&M); OT Paul Mubenga (to Nebraska);   OT Ethan Calloway (to Wake Forest);   OT Ory Williams (to Tennessee); OT Tyler Miller (to Mississippi State); OT Ja’Mard Jones (from Nicholls State)DL/EDGE: DL Ahmad Breaux   (to Kentucky); DL Sydir Mitchell (to Wake Forest); DL Zion Williams (to Texas); DL Walter Mathis Jr. (to Auburn);   EDGE CJ Jackson (to Vanderbilt) LB: Princeton Malbrue (to Louisiana) CB/S: CB Ashton Stamps (to Arizona State); S Javian Toviano; S Austin Ausberry; S Dashawn Spears; S Joel Rogers; S Jacob Bradford (to West Virginia);   S Jardin Gilbert (to Mississippi State); Joel Harris (to UT-San Antonio) ST: PK Aeron Burrell (to North Carolina)   Incoming (25) QB: Landen Clark (from Elon); QB Sam Leavitt (from Arizona State); Husan Longstreet (from Southern California) RB: Raycine Guillory   (from Utah); Rod Gainey Jr. (from Charlotte); Dilin Jones (from Washington) WR: Jackson Harris   (from Hawaii); Tre Brown   (from Old Dominion); Malachi Thomas   (from Pittsburgh); Jayce Brown (from Kansas State); Eugene Wilson III (from Florida); Malik Elzy (from Illinois); Josh Jackson (from McNeese State); Tyree Holloway (from West Florida); Winston Watkins (from Ole Miss); Roman Mothershed (from Troy) TE: OL: OG William Satterwhite (from Tennessee); OG Devin Harper (from Ole Miss); OG Sean Thompkins (from Baylor); OG Aliou Bah (from Maryland) DL/EDGE: DL Stephiylan Green (from Clemson); DL Malik Blocton (from Auburn); EDGE Jaylen Brown (from South Carolina); EDGE Jordan Ross (from Tennessee); EDGE Achilles Woods (from South Alabama) LB: CB/S: S Ty Benefield (from Boise State); S Faheem Delane (from Ohio State) ST: PK Scott Starzyk (from Arkansas)     MISSISSIPPI STATE Outgoing (36) QB: Luke Kromenhoek (to South Florida) RB: Johnnie Daniels; Seth Davis (to Tulsa);  Geron Johnson WR: Ferzell Shepard; Jaron Glover (to South Florida); Jordan Mosley; Markus Allen; Davian Jackson; Cam Thompson   (to Northern Illinois) TE: TE Emeka Lloh; Cam Ball (to West Virginia) OL: OG Brennan Smith; OT Jimothy Lewis Jr. (to California); OT Jaekwon Bouldin; OT Luke Work   (to Missouri) ; OG Alex Lopez (to Western Kentucky); OG Koby Keenum (to Memphis); OT Zack Owens   DL/EDGE: DL Terrance Hibblier Jr.; DL Ashun Shepphard (to California); EDGE Joseph Head Jr. (to Memphis);  DL Corey Clark; DL Kai McClendon; Kedrick Bigley-Jones (to Alabama); OT Zechariah Owens LB: CB/S: S Tony Mitchell; S Stonka Burnside   (to Memphis) ; CB Dwight Lewis III; S Tyler Woodard; S Lo’Kavion Jackson; CB Jayven Williams (to BYU); CB Elijah Cannon (to Kansas); CB DK McGruder; S Cyrus Reeves (to Kentucky); S Jardin Gilbert (from LSU) ST: PK Marlon Hauck (to Tulsa)   Incoming (15) QB: AJ Swann   (from Appalachian State) RB: WR: Marquis Johnson   (from Missouri) TE: TE Riley Williams (from Oregon State) OL: OG LJ Prudhomme (from Arkansas); OT Ja’Elyne Matthews (from Florida State); OT Isaiah Autry-Dent (from Oklahoma); OT Tyler Miller (from LSU); OT Miles McVay (from North Carolina) DL/EDGE: DL Jayson Jenkins   (from Florida State); EDGE Amaree Williams (from Florida State); DL Gus Cordova (from Southern California); DT Dealyn Evans (from Texas A&M) LB: CB/S: S Kaylib Singleton (from Syracuse); CB Quentin Taylor (from Iowa State); S Marcus Williams (from Rice); CB Kendel Dolby (from Oklahoma) ST:   MISSOURI Outgoing (32) QB: Beau Pribula (to Virginia) RB: RB Marquise Davis   (to Louisville) ; RB Brendon Haygood (to North Texas); Tavorous Jones WR: James Madison II   (to UT-San Antonio) ; Josh Manning   (to Kansas State) ; Marquis Johnson   (to Mississippi State) ; Daniel Blood (to Washington State); KJ Daniels TE: TE Dakota Terrell OL: OG Henry Fenuku (to North Texas); OT Johnny Williams IV; OT Brandon Solis; OT Jayven Richardson; OT Jaylen Early; OG Keiton Jones   (to Kansas State) ; OG Troy Everett; OT Luke Baklenko DL/EDGE: EDGE Javion Hilson   (to Virginia Tech) ; EDGE Nate Johnson (to Auburn); DL Justin Bodford (to Middle Tennessee State);  EDGE Damon Wilson II; DL Bralen Henderson LB: Kobie McKenzie CB/S: S Caleb Flagg; CB Mark Manfred III   (to Kentucky) ; CB Shamar McNeil; S Marvin Burks Jr. (to Wisconsin); S Gentry Williams; CB Kendel Colby; S Mose Phillips III ST: PK Robert Meyer   Incoming (21) QB: Austin Simmons (from Ole Miss); QB Nick Evers (from UConn) RB: Xai’Shaun Edwards (from Houston Christian); Vaamalae Fonoti (from Montana) WR: Caleb Goodie   (from Cincinnati); Horatio Fields (from Auburn); Naeushaun Montgomery (from Florida); Kenric Lanier II (from Minnesota) TE: OL: OT Luke Work (from Mississippi State); OL Will Kemna (from Kansas State); OT Josh Atkins (from Arizona State); OT Colin Sorensen (from Charleston Southern) DL/EDGE: EDGE Jaden Jones (from Florida State); DL Donta Simpson (from Miami); EDGE CJ May (from Louisville) LB: Robert Woodyard Jr. (from Auburn); Sione Laulea (from Oregon) CB/S: CB Jahlil Florence   (from Oregon) ; S JaDon Blair (from Notre Dame); CB Elijah Dotson (from Michigan) ST: PK Brunno Reus (from Florida State); P Mark Shenouda (from Tennessee State)   OKLAHOMA Outgoing (26) QB: Michael Hawkins   (to West Virginia) RB: Jovonate Barnes (to Kentucky); Taylor Tatum   (to Michigan) WR: Jayden Gibson   (to South Carolina) ; Zion Kearney; Javonnie Gibson (to Cincinnati); Ivan Carreon; Zion Ragins (to South Carolina) TE: Kaden Helms (to Minnesota); Carson Kent (to Pittsburgh) OL: OG Jacob Sexton (to Oklahoma State); OL Logan Howland (to Virginia Tech); OL Jake Taylor   (to Iowa State) ; OG Caleb Nitta; OT Luke Baklenko (to Arizona State); OT Isaiah Autry-Dent (to Mississippi State); OG Troy Everett (to Ole Miss) DL/EDGE: DL Marcus Strong (to Clemson); DL Ricky Lolohea LB: Samuel Omosigho (to UCLA) CB/S: S Marcus Wimberly (to Utah); CB Devon Jordan   (to Baylor) ; CB Maliek Hawkins   (to West Virginia) ; S Jaydan Hardy (to Colorado);   CB Kendel Dolby (to Mississippi State); S Gentry Williams (to Georgia) ST:   Incoming (13) QB: RB: WR: Trell Harris   (from Virginia); Parker Livingstone (from Texas); Mackenzie Alleyne (from Washington State) TE: Rocky Beers   (from Colorado State); Hayden Hansen   (from Florida) OL: OT E’Marion Harris   (from Arkansas); OG Peyton Joseph (from Georgia Tech) DL/EDGE: EDGE Kenny Ozowalu (from UT-San Antonio); DL Bishop Thomas (from Georgia State) LB: Kobie McKinzie (to Northwestern); Cole Sullivan (from Michigan); CB/S: CB Dakoda Fields   (from Oregon); CB Prince Ijioma (from Mississippi Valley State) ST:   OLE MISS Outgoing (21) QB: Austin Simmons (to Missouri); Braden Waterman RB: RB Domonique Thomas; Trey Hall WR: Winston Watkins (to LSU); Mac Owen TE: OL: OG PJ Wilkins; OT Jude Foster; OG Ethan Fields (to Alabama);  OG Delano Thompson; OG Devin Harper (to LSU);   OT Taren Hedrick (to Auburn) DL/EDGE: EDGE Corey Amos; DL Josh Schell (to UCF); DL Jeffery Rush (to Southern Miss);  EDGE DeeJay Holmes Jr.; EDGE Dashaun Womack (to Auburn) LB: Jaden Yates (to Houston); DT TJ Dottery; EDGE Princewill Umanmielen CB/S:  CB Chris Gravesaw; CB Ricky Fletcher; S Travaris Banks (to Louisville)   Incoming (23) QB: Deuce Knight (from Auburn); Walker Howard (from Louisiana) RB: JT Lindsey (from LSU) WR: Cameron Miller (from Kentucky); WR Darrell Gill Jr. (from Syracuse); Isaiah Spencer (from Virginia Tech); Johntay Cook II (from Syracuse) TE: Brady Prieskorn (from Michigan); TE Mark Grace (from Oregon) OL: OG Carrius Curne (from LSU); OG Troy Everett (from Oklahoma); OT Aliou Bah (from Maryland) DL/EDGE: EDGE Jonathan Maldonado   (from Nevada); DT Jehiem Oatis   (from Colorado); DL Michai Boireau (from Florida); EDGE Jordan Renaud (from Alabama); EDGE Blake Purchase (from Oregon) LB: Keaton Thomas   (from Baylor); Chris Jones   (from Southern Miss); Tahj Butler (from Georgia Tech) CB/S: CB Sharif Denson   (from Florida) ; CB Jay Crawford   (from Auburn); S Joenel Aguerol (from Georgia); S Edwin Joseph (from Florida State); S Darrell Gill Jr. (from Syracuse) ST:   SOUTH CAROLINA Outgoing (23) QB: Air Noland (to Memphis) RB: WR: Emazon Littlejohn; Brian Rowe Jr. (to UCLA); Vandrevious Jacobs (to Miami) TE: Michael Smith   (to Syracuse) OL: OT Mac Walters (to Appalachian State);   OG Trovon Baugh   (to Texas A&M) ; OT Cason Henry (to Louisville); OT Tree Babalade (to Nebraska); OG Nick Sharpe (to Michigan State); OG Rodney Newsom; OG Boaz Stanley (to Purdue); OT Campbell Vandiver; OT Jatavius Shivers (to Purdue);  OT Ryan Brubaker DL/EDGE: DL Zavion Hardy (to Baylor); EDGE Taeshawn Alston; DL Chase Kibble; EDGE Jaylen Brown (to LSU); EDGE Desmond Umeozulu LB: Jaron Willis   (to Kansas)     CB/S: CB Myles Norwood; CB Jalewis Solomon ST: PK Peyton Argent   Incoming (18) QB: Lucian Anderson III (from Bowling Green) RB: Sam Williams-Dixon (from Ohio State); Jabree Wallace-Coleman (from Penn State); Christian Clark (from Texas) WR: Jayden Gibson   (from Oklahoma); Nitro Tuggle (from Purdue); Zion Ragins (from Oklahoma) TE: OL: OT Hank Purvis (from Purdue); OG Boaz Stanley (to Purdue); OT Jaccarius Peak (from North Carolina State); OT Emmanuel Poku (from East Carolina); OG Dayne Arnett (from Ferris State); OT Seth Smith (from Northern Arizona) DL/EDGE: DL Tomiwa Durojaiye (from Illinois); EDGE Drew Collins (from Arkansas State); DL Kelby Collins (from Texas); EDGE Caleb Herring (from Tennessee) LB: CB/S: CB Quaysheed Scott (from Kentucky) ST: PK Upton Bellenfant (from Texas Tech)   TENNESSEE Outgoing (22) QB: Jake Merklinger (to UConn) RB: Peyton Lewis (to Virginia) WR: Tommy Winton TE: Jack Van Dorselaer OL: OT Trevor Duncan; OG Max Anderson (to Kentucky) ; OT Lance Heard (to Kentucky); OT Bennett Warren   (to Minnesota) ; OG William Satterwhite (to LSU); DL/EDGE: EDGE Kellen Lindstrom (to Missouri State);   DL Jamal Wallace (to Utah); DL Herb Gray; EDGE Amari Jefferson; EDGE Caleb Herring (to South Carolina);  EDGE Emmanuel Okoye; EDGE Jayden Loften (to Wisconsin); EDGE Jordan Ross (to LSU); DL Josh Schell (to UCF) LB: Brenden Anes; Arion Carter CB/S: S Boo Carter (to Colorado); S Marcus Goree Jr.; CB Rickey Gibson; CB Kaleb Beasley ST: PK Max Gilbert   (to Arkansas)   Incoming (13) QB: RB: WR: Gavin Freeman (from Oklahoma State) TE: Richie Anderson   (from Fresno State) OL: OT Ory Williams (from LSU); OG Donovan Haslem (from West Virginia)DL/EDGE: DL Xavier Gilliam (from Penn State); EDGE Chaz Coleman (from Penn State); EDGE Jordan Norman (from Tulane) LB: Amare Campbell (from Penn State) CB/S: S Qua Moss   (from Kansas State); CB Kayin Lee (from Auburn); S Dejuan Lane (from Penn State); S TJ Metcalf (from Michigan) ST: PK Cooper Ranvier (from Louisville)   TEXAS Outgoing (28) QB: Trey Owens (to Arkansas State) RB: CJ Baxter (to Kentucky); Jerrick Gibson   (to Purdue) ; Rickey Stewart Jr.; Quintrevion Wisner   (to Florida State) ; Christian Clark (to South Carolina) WR: Aaron Butler; DeAndre Moore Jr. (to Colorado);   Parker Livingstone (to Oklahoma); Jaime Ffrench (to Michigan) TE: Jordan Washington (to North Carolina) OL: OG Connor Stroh   (to Kansas) ; OG Neto Umeozulu; OG Nate Kibble   (to Baylor); OG Daniel Cruz (to North Carolina State); OT Nick Brooks (to Alabama) DL/EDGE: DL Melvin Hills III (to UConn); DL Lavon Johnson (to Maryland); DL Josh Schell; EDGE Zina Umeozulu; DL Kelby Collins (to South Carolina) LB: Liona Lefau (to Colorado); Elijah Barnes (to Kentucky) CB/S: CB Santana Wilson (to Louisville); CB Wardell Mack; CB Caleb Chester   (to Arizona State); CB Kobe Black; CB Warren Roberson ST:     Incoming (13) QB: RB: Raleek Brown (from Arizona State); Hollywood Smothers (from North Carolina State) WR: TE: Michael Masunas   (from Michigan State) OL: OT Wes King   (from Wyoming); OG Dylan Sikorski (from Oregon State); OT Jonte Newman (from Texas A&M); OT Melvin Siani (from Wake Forest) DL/EDGE: DL Ian Geffrard   (from Arkansas); DL Zion Williams (from LSU) LB: Justin Cryer (from Florida State); Rasheem Biles (from Pittsburgh) CB/S: CB Bo Mascoe (from Rutgers) ST: P Mac Chiumento   (from Florida State); PK Gianni Spetic   (from Memphis); PK Will Stone (from UCF)   TEXAS A&M Outgoing (16) QB: Miles O’Neill (to North Carolina) RB: Ronnie Crosby III WR: Izaiah Williams   (to Kansas State); Blake Buntyn TE: Theo Melin Ohrstrom (to SMU) OL: OT Jonte Newman (to Texas) DL/EDGE: EDGE Solomon Williams   (to California) ; EDGE Rylan Kennedy (to Florida State) ; DL Dealyn Evans (to Mississippi State);  DL Alessandro Perez LB: Tristan Jernigan (to California) CB/S: CB Jayvon Thomas; S Jordan Pride (to Southern Miss); CB Cobey Sellers ST: LS Shea Freibaum; P Truette Tumey   Incoming (16) QB: RB: WR: Isaiah Horton (from Alabama)   TE: Houston Thomas   (from UT-San Antonio) OL: OG Coen Echols   (from LSU); OG Trovon Baugh   (from South Carolina); OT Tyree Adams (from LSU); OT Wilkin Formby (from Alabama) DL/EDGE: DL Brandon Davis-Swain   (from Colorado); EDGE Ryan Henderson (from San Diego State); EDGE Anto Saka (from Northwestern); DL Angelo McCullom (from Illinois); DL CJ Mims (from North Carolina) LB: Ray Coney (from Tulsa); TJ Smith (from Houston Christian) CB/S: S Tawfiq Byard (from Colorado); CB Rickey Gibson (from Tennessee) ST: PK David Olano (from Illinois)   VANDERBILT Outgoing (15) QB: Drew Dickey   (to Arkansas State); Jeremy St. Hilaire RB: AJ Newberry WR: Boski Barrett; Jeremiah Dillon; Chance Fitzgerald; Tre Richardson (to Louisville) TE: Maurice Veney; Witt Edwards OL: OT Misael Sandoval (to Ball State);  OG Cooper Starks DL/EDGE: DL Linus Zunk (to Washington State); DL Terry Nwabuisi-Ezeala LB: CB/S: S Randon Fontenette (to Colorado); CB Trudell Berry (to Oklahoma State) ST:   Incoming (12) QB: Walter Taylor (from Ball State) RB: WR: Cole Adams (from Alabama); WR Ja’Cory Thomas (from Old Dominion) TE: Jayvontay Conner   (from East Carolina) OL: OT Beau Johnson   (from North Dakota State); OG Lyndon Cooper (from Pittsburgh); OG Micah DeBose (from Alabama) DL/EDGE: DL Talan Carter   (from Louisiana); EDGE CJ Jackson (from LSU); DL Brian Allen (from Iowa); Edwin Kolenge (from Boston College) LB: CB/S: CB Cobey Sellers   (from Texas A&M); S Ricardo Jones (from Clemson)

Aside from online garbage, Spurrier happily confirms Dan Mullen as winner of his first-year coach award.