The current South Carolina postgame magazine has 10 stories in a phone-friendly layout. Buddy Martin’s “Can Sumrall Swim in the Deep End of This Cesspool?” leads the issue, and Chris Spears’ sideline column closes it.

After a week of thinking there was no place to go but up after Florida’s reenactment of the Titanic disaster in Columbia, Missouri, the Gators did a one-up job at The Swamp of all places. Lots of good teams go down for the count on road trips to CoMo, although not many top ten in the nation teams take so many jabs to the face that they’re punch drunk on the bad end of a 45-17 beatdown. So, we spent a week rationalizing all that went wrong at Missouri, most of us concluding that (a) things couldn’t get any worse and (b) the cure for the common TKO was coming to Gainesville in the form of the South Carolina Gamecocks, whose fan base was busy putting out feelers to Florida offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner to gauge his interest in replacing Shane Beamer, whose coaching career seemed to be on life support. Not only were we wrong on both counts, but the blowtorch that was turning Beamer’s fanny into charcoal flamed out, offering a reprieve that will last at least two weeks. Instead of the bye-week pink slip that so many Gamecock faithful predicted, Beamer earned a hall pass that’s good at least until October 24 when the hated Tennessee Vols pay a visit to Willy Brice. Beating Florida 38-19 on a field named after Beamer’s former boss (Steve Spurrier) and on a day when Spurrier and the 1996 Florida national championship was honored will certainly cool off the hot to trot alums and boosters who haven’t been silent about their desire to skewer their head coach. The way the Gamecocks (3-3, 1-3 SEC) came alive to put an end to a three-game losing streak rekindled déjà vu visions of 2024 in the minds of the South Carolina faithful. The 2024 Gamecocks were limping along at 3-3 when LaNorris Sellers began channeling his inner Patrick Mahomes, leading South Carolina to six straight wins while effectively zipping the loose lips of alums and boosters who were whispered to be gathering pledges to buy out Beamer. Beating the Gators decisively in Gainesville certainly wasn’t expected but for at least one day it revived hope that South Carolina can defy gravity in the second half of the season. Once past the first quarter Saturday, Sellers dialed up a version of his former self and South Carolina’s beleaguered defense, which had given up 125 points in three straight losses, discovered it was capable of getting off the field. In those last three quarters, the Gamecocks looked nothing like an SEC doormat and the Gators (4-2, 2-2 SEC), who slipped from No. 8 to No. 16 after the Missouri debacle, had the look of a team that might struggle to become bowl eligible. Two weeks ago the Gators were the talk of college football, well on their way toward a mortal lock at-large bid for the College Football Playoff. Now, it’s not unfair to ask if there are two wins left in the final six regular season games that will allow the Gators the 15 days of practice that go along with a trip to an exotic locale such as Shreveport or Birmingham in December. The loss earned time in detention hall for Faulkner, whose Lamborghini offense that made it a 4-0 September to remember has devolved into a ’77 Chevy Vega whose aluminum engine is melting. Those Gators who hung 96 points and 993 yards in wins over Auburn and Ole Miss have combined for 36 points and 713 yards in the last two games. The Gators had only 14 negative offensive plays in the entire month of September. There have been 17 in the losses to Mizzou and South Carolina. In a line of scrimmage league like the SEC, that many negative plays is almost a guarantee of failure. South Carolina’s defensive front leaked like a sieve the previous three weeks. Against the Gators, they dominated. “I felt like for the majority of the day their defensive front won the battle at the line of scrimmage over us in the run and the pass game,” Florida coach Jon Sumrall said. “Like when we wanted to get into obvious drop-back pass situations, it was bad too … And then, too, we missed a couple things in the run game at times. Just maybe a certain read on a couple of runs that could have been a little bit cleaner, but I think the physical component of the game, we didn’t win the line of scrimmage.” Inadequate play at the line of scrimmage has had everything to do with the losses to Missouri and South Carolina. The Gators can’t block anyone, can’t run the ball with any consistency and rarely complete a pass more than seven or eight yards downfield. Jadan Baugh, who averaged 150 yards per game in the first four games, has 72 in the last two. He had 59 on 15 carries Saturday, 26 coming on one play in the third quarter that was blocked well enough that he found open space to run to. On most carries he was swarmed to the ground. Aaron Philo, who averaged 10.5 yards per pass attempt in September, is averaging a below average 6.8 per attempt the last two games. Some of that has to do with the inability of the O-line to give him a consistent clean pocket and some of it has to do with injuries to the wide receivers. For the second straight game, Vernell Brown III, Florida’s most explosive wide receiver, couldn’t go due to the lingering effects of a sprained MCL. That certainly hurt, but so did the inability to make downfield throws, especially in the middle of the field. Most of Florida’s passes were horizontal and of the dink and dunk variety. “Calling a drop back pass sounds great until you realize, hey, we haven’t blocked those guys very well all day,” Sumrall said. Philo was 21-28 for 227 yards with one TD and one pick against South Carolina. The TD came on a rollout when he found Bailey Stockton open on what became Florida’s only TD until a mercy score against the Gamecock scrubeenies late in the fourth quarter. The interception was a bad read against a zone defense when the score was tied at 10-10 with 3:29 left in the first half. That led to the go-ahead touchdown, a 12-yard pass from Sellers to Mazeo Bennett. Philo also fumbled in the fourth quarter at the South Carolina 13, killing a Florida drive when the Gators still had a mathematical chance to rally and make the game interesting. When the deficit reached 38-13, Philo was replaced by Tramell Jones, who finished the game with 6-8 passing for 40 yards. Jones was charged with an interception when he hit tight end Evan Chieca in the hands and the ball deflected into a Gamecock defender. Jones did lead the Gators on a 10-play, 57-yard scoring drive that ended with a TD run by Baugh with 3:07 left in the game. In the week ahead as the Gators prepare to road trip to Austin to face Texas, certain to lose its No. 1 ranking after a 27-24 last second loss to Oklahoma, it’s almost a certainty that who starts at quarterback the second half of Florida’s season will be a rather hot topic of discussion. When the Gators have fallen behind the last two games, they have needed a playmaker capable of bringing a team back. Philo didn’t look the part either against Mizzou or South Carolina. In the short time he was on the field Saturday, Jones looked more decisive, more playmaker and less like a game manager. Those are just some of the issues on offense. Defense? Where to begin? There aren’t enough fingers to point to all the problems. The offensive issues pale in comparison to Brad White’s defense, whose game plans seem to come from Chapter 14 of “Third and Grantham.” If there is one thing consistent about the Florida defense it is the inconsistency to get stops. It’s reminiscent of the 2020 Gators who had a national championship-capable offense and a defense with a penchant for shooting itself in the feet. The 2020 edition of Third and Grantham gave up 30.7 points and 41 percent on third down conversions. The 2026 Gators are giving up 29 points per game and 48.3 percent on third down and it’s still early in the season. Things could get worse. Florida’s defensive troubles against South Carolina pretty much fit in three categories: (1) Too many missed tackles; (2) too many chunk plays in the passing game; and (3) inability to get stops on third down. Tackling issues have plagued the Gators all season and Saturday was no different. Sellers had at least eight escapes when he turned a potential loss into a gain or a completed pass downfield. The play that defined Sellers’ effort came on the Gamecocks’ first quarter touchdown drive when he broke tackles and outran defenders while escaping the pocket for a 17-yard gain on third-and-10 from the Gamecock 35. Later in the same drive, the ball was snapped over his head, landing some 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Sellers calmly retrieved the ball then turned what should have been a huge negative into a one-yard loss. Two plays later he threw a 15-yard TD pass to Nyck Harbor, the first of four he would throw against Florida’s clueless defense. The TDPs covered 15, 12, 28 and 21 yards. Altogether, Sellers completed ten passes that covered at least 15 yards. The Gamecocks converted 10 of 16 third downs. Almost in a replay of the previous five games, it really didn’t matter what the Gators schemed defensively. None of it worked with any sort of consistency. As Sumrall explained in his post game press conference, the defense is using the throw something against the wall and hope it sticks approach. “We’ve played man, we’ve played zone,” Sumrall said. “We’ve played man with pressure. We’ve played zone with pressure. We’ve played man and been in a drop-8 and spy the quarterback. We’ve played zone and been in a drop-8 and spy the quarterback. “We’re throwing a lot of things at it to try to get it fixed. I think when it’s not going the way you want it to, you’re searching for answers and there’s nothing you won’t look at. We’ve looked at different front groups. We’ve subbed some nickel fronts and some dime fronts and some penny fronts and some different personnel groupings to try to create some advantages for us maybe in the line of scrimmage.” Death by a thousand cuts is what the defense seemed like in the month of September. In the two games in October, the small cuts have become gaping wounds that require tourniquets. Schemes aren’t working which means one or a combination of four things: (1) They’re so simplistic that opponents have no problems figuring them out; (2) the schemes are so complicated that the players are like lost balls in the tall grass when it comes to understanding their assignments; (3) the coaching stinks; or (4) there is an overwhelming lack of talent. Point No. 4 alone is sure to light up message boards and talk show phone trees. Ron Zook once said winning football isn’t about the X’s and O’s but about the Jimmys and Joes. Even the best of schemes won’t work without talented people to make it work. We tend to forget the other teams have scholarship players and well paid coaches whose job it is to exploit any weakness they see in the Florida Gators. Florida’s talent or lack of certainly factors in the inability for the defense to get off the field without giving up points just as the issues on the offensive line, injuries at wide receiver and need for a playmaking quarterback have contributed to the offense taking an ice plunge after a scorching hot start. This is college football, not the NFL where you can cut unproductive players and find replacements on the waiver wire. As the late, great Bum Phillips once said, “You gotta dance with the ones that brung ya” which doesn’t bode well for the remaining six games on the Florida football schedule. Sumrall and his staff need answers in a hurry and they’re going to have to find them with the same people who haven’t gotten the job done. None of the six games remaining on the schedule seem particularly winnable at this particular moment. That isn’t a panic statement, but instead a realistic look at what is ahead. Faulkner has to find a way to regenerate the offense, White has to find a scheme that is a better fit for the personnel on hand and Sumrall has to keep morale high to prevent a listing Gator ship from joining the Titanic on the bottom of the ocean. When the season began back in September, nobody in his right mind thought it was going to be easy but that 4-0 beginning sent tsunami waves of hope through the Gator Nation. The last two games have had a sobering effect and now the hope is that it’s not too late, that the season is still salvageable.

Final: South Carolina 38, Florida 19 No. 16 Florida (4-1, 2-1 SEC) hosts South Carolina (2-3, 0-3 SEC) on SEC Network for Homecoming and the 500th game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. GatorBait is updating this page through the final whistle, newest update on top. Scores and stats are from ESPN. Updates 4:30 p.m. Final: South Carolina 38, Florida 19. Jadan Baugh scored on a 2-yard run with 1:01 left; the two-point try failed. Read the game story 4:14 p.m. Tramell Jones Jr. took over at quarterback for Florida and completed three straight passes to Bailey Stockton, but Justin Okoronkwo intercepted him at the South Carolina 39 with 6:49 left. 4:06 p.m. South Carolina 38, Florida 13. Sellers threw his fourth touchdown pass, a 21-yarder to Lex Cyrus with 8:07 left, three plays after Florida turned the ball over on downs at its own 27. 3:50 p.m. Florida drove 62 yards to the South Carolina 13, but Dylan Stewart forced an Aaron Philo fumble that Shawn Murphy recovered with 12:58 left. Philo completed four straight passes on the drive, including a 22-yarder to Bailey Stockton. 3:39 p.m. South Carolina 31, Florida 13. LaNorris Sellers scored on a 1-yard run with 1:08 left in the third quarter, and Malik Orsan added the extra point. A replay review ruled Sellers down at the Florida 1 on the previous play, a 2-yard run. The drive went 10 plays and 59 yards. 3:30 p.m. Florida punted after a seven-play drive that netted 2 yards, including an 11-yard sack of Aaron Philo. 3:18 p.m. South Carolina 24, Florida 13. Sellers found Donovan Murph for a 26-yard touchdown with 8:36 left in the third quarter, finishing a six-play, 75-yard drive. 3:10 p.m. South Carolina 17, Florida 13. Patrick Durkin hit a 48-yard field goal with 11:17 left in the third quarter to finish the Gators' opening drive of the second half, nine plays and 45 yards. Jadan Baugh broke a 26-yard run to the South Carolina 32 on the drive. 3:05 p.m. The second half kicked off after ESPN listed the game as delayed during halftime. 2:17 p.m. Halftime: South Carolina 17, Florida 10. Florida drove 47 yards in nine plays in the final 1:40, but Patrick Durkin missed a 43-yard field goal as time expired. 2:05 p.m. South Carolina 17, Florida 10. Vicari Swain intercepted Aaron Philo and returned it 18 yards to the Florida 26. Five plays later, LaNorris Sellers threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Mazeo Bennett Jr. with 1:47 left in the half. 1:52 p.m. South Carolina 10, Florida 10. Malik Orsan kicked a 37-yard field goal with 4:09 left in the second quarter to finish a 10-play, 56-yard drive. 1:43 p.m. Florida 10, South Carolina 7. Florida answered with a 13-play, 72-yard drive that ran 6:22 off the clock. It stalled at the South Carolina 3, and Durkin kicked a 21-yard field goal with 8:50 left in the first half. 1:26 p.m. South Carolina 7, Florida 7. Sellers hit Nyck Harbor for a 15-yard touchdown with 12 seconds left in the first quarter, capping a 10-play, 65-yard drive. Before that, Orsan missed a field goal at the end of a 12-play Gamecocks drive, and Florida went three-and-out, losing 12 yards. 1:00 p.m. Florida 7, South Carolina 0. Philo found Bailey Stockton for a 59-yard touchdown with 11:25 left in the first quarter. The drive took three plays and 50 seconds, and Durkin added the extra point. 12:47 p.m. Kickoff in The Swamp. Both teams went three-and-out on their first possessions. By the numbers, fourth quarter Total yards: South Carolina 380, Florida 348. Passing: Sellers 23 of 35 for 279 yards and four touchdowns. Philo 21 of 28 for 227 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Receiving: Stockton 8 catches for 127 yards and a touchdown. Third down: South Carolina 10 of 15, Florida 5 of 12. Turnovers: Florida 3, South Carolina 0. Stats from ESPN with 6:41 left in the fourth quarter. More from game day Halftime story: South Carolina leads No. 16 Florida 17-10 Free download: the GatorBait Game Day program (PDF)

GatorBait Media graphic COLUMBIA, Mo. — Jon Sumrall didn't reach for an excuse. "Embarrassing performance in every phase. Starts with the coaching, starts with me," the Florida coach said after No. 25 Missouri beat the No. 8 Gators 45-17 on Saturday. "I'm sick to my freaking stomach with what we just did." "We knew a couple of things were coming and still didn't stop it," Sumrall told The Associated Press. "They played with physicality. Hat's off to them. They deserved the win. We earned the loss. We have a lot to work on." It was Florida's first loss of the season, and the AP called it the second-most lopsided SEC loss in school history, behind a 63-14 loss to Auburn in 1970. "When you lose, you're going to write a chapter" Sumrall said the 4-0 start had covered up problems he had already seen. "It's just been masked by winning some games, but we haven't played really good football yet in my opinion," he said in his postgame news conference. "You get 12 regular season opportunities, you can't let one get away from you without giving your best, and the fact that we put less than our best out there absolutely makes me freaking sick," he said. He put the locker room on notice. "There's guys on our football team that don't own that, they won't be on this football team very long," Sumrall said. "Sometimes you can write like a sentence or a page of a story when you win because it like masks a deficiency," he said. "When you lose, you're going to write a chapter." The numbers behind it Florida came in averaging 532.8 yards of offense, per the AP, and finished with 325. Missouri piled up 560, including 220 on the ground. Jadan Baugh broke a 12-yard run on his first carry. He gained 1 yard on his other 11 and finished with 13 on 12 carries. The Gators ran for 42 yards as a team. Late in the fourth quarter, Sumrall said, he put his hand on Baugh's helmet and told him, "This doesn't change how I feel about you." After Aaron Philo hit Dallas Wilson for a 12-yard touchdown to tie it 10-10 late in the first half, Missouri scored the next 35 points. Jamal Roberts ran for 211 yards and three touchdowns, the last an 80-yarder on the first snap after a Florida punt that made it 45-10 with 13:33 left. On one of Roberts' long runs, Sumrall said, "one guy got out of his gap." By then, the AP reported, the Tigers were mockingly chomping at the Gators. Florida has lost four of its last five games at Faurot Field. Who was missing Florida played without wide receiver Vernell Brown III, who has been dealing with a strained right knee, according to the AP. Brown led the Gators with 17 catches for 271 yards, two touchdown catches and two punt-return touchdowns in the first four games. Safety Bryce Thornton was held out after he felt a lower-body soft-tissue issue in pregame warmups. "It's nothing major," Sumrall said, adding that it did not appear to be a long-term problem. Missouri was without starting edge rushers Darris Smith and Langden Kitchen, both with lower-body injuries. Missouri's side The win snapped Missouri's nine-game losing streak against ranked opponents and gave Eli Drinkwitz his first regular-season win over a top-10 team in 11 tries, the AP reported. "What an awesome win for our community, for our state and more importantly for our team," Drinkwitz said. Austin Simmons, who completed 23 of 30 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns, credited his running back. "Seeing Jamal bounce off all those tackles and break free, it's something I haven't seen," Simmons said. What's next The one late bright spot came from backup quarterback Tramell Jones Jr., who went 5 of 5 for 86 yards and found TJ Abrams for a 42-yard touchdown with 47 seconds left. Florida (4-1, 2-1 SEC) returns home to face South Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 10. Kickoff time has not been announced. "I expect these guys to respond," Sumrall said. Watch Editor's note: Quotes from Sumrall's postgame news conference and The Associated Press. Stats from ESPN.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — South Carolina took a 17-10 lead over No. 16 Florida into halftime Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, scoring 10 points in the final 4:09 of the second quarter. The swing came right after Malik Orsan's 37-yard field goal tied the game at 10. On Florida's next possession, Vicari Swain intercepted Aaron Philo and returned it 18 yards to the Florida 26. Five plays later, LaNorris Sellers hit Mazeo Bennett Jr. for a 12-yard touchdown with 1:47 left in the half. Florida answered with a nine-play, 47-yard drive in the final 1:40 but came away empty when Patrick Durkin missed a field goal. Philo opened the scoring with a 59-yard touchdown pass to Bailey Stockton on Florida's second possession. Sellers answered with a 15-yard scoring pass to Nyck Harbor with 12 seconds left in the first quarter, and Durkin's 21-yard field goal put the Gators back in front 10-7 midway through the second. First-half numbers Total yards: Florida 200, South Carolina 193. Philo: 10 of 14 for 146 yards, a touchdown and an interception, plus 28 rushing yards on six carries. Sellers: 14 of 23 for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Third down: South Carolina 7 of 11, Florida 4 of 7. Defense: Florida linebacker Myles Graham has seven tackles and two sacks. Possession: South Carolina held the ball 17:01 to Florida's 12:59. Turnovers: Florida 1, South Carolina 0. Stats from ESPN. Follow every play: Florida vs. South Carolina live updates

Let's do away with the Fake Heisman Stuff now and just Run The Baugh. Chris Spears Photo “Florida only drops to No. 9 because of its win against Ole Miss last week,” Vannini wrote. By Buddy Martin GatorBaitMedia.com Oh, no! Not again! You’re not going to trap us with the seduction of rankings. Not this week. Not while Missouri’s tire tracks are still visible across Florida’s reputation. The Athletic has the Gators at No. 9 in its latest national re-ranking. Top 10. Nice neighborhood. Apparently, you can get your windows knocked out Saturday and still qualify for the homeowners association Monday. Somebody put the champagne back in the refrigerator. They have a homecoming game to win. Then we hear the bad news that Vernell Brown is out again! Chris Vannini’s explanation in The Athletic is reasonable, which makes it particularly dangerous. Unreasonable optimism is easy to spot. It usually wears orange pants and starts discussing playoff hotels before anybody has blocked a linebacker. Reasonable optimism arrives carrying evidence. “Florida only drops to No. 9 because of its win against Ole Miss last week,” Vannini wrote. “You can argue the Gators should be behind Missouri after Saturday, and I can’t say you’re wrong.” Well, there’s a refreshing development: a rankings man admitting the customer might have a point. He continued: “I just see the Gators’ position to be as strong as Ole Miss at the moment. A blowout win balances out a blowout loss.” Then came the disclaimer worth hanging above every college football discussion: “These are the musical chairs I was talking about, with no answer that is 100 percent defensible. Do you drag everyone up or down? A lot of season still to go.” Exactly. Musical chairs. Except in the SEC, somebody occasionally hits you with the chair. Florida beat Ole Miss 52-28, then lost at Missouri 45-17. Those are not two slightly different readings on the same thermometer. That is a fever followed by a trip through the meat locker. The rankings can balance those results. The coaches have to explain them. And the players have to decide which performance represents their football team. That question will not be answered by a handsome numeral beside the school’s name. It will be answered today against South Carolina, which arrives as an 11.5-point underdog. The number suggests Florida should win comfortably. It does not require South Carolina to cooperate. Underdogs are inconsiderate that way. They show up with their own helmets, their own ambitions and absolutely no appreciation for the host institution’s carefully arranged afternoon. Homecoming? How lovely. Now where do you keep the football? The Gamecocks are talented, stubborn and pesky enough to make a favorite spend the fourth quarter negotiating with its nervous system. Florida’s assignment is to keep them from leaving The Swamp with anything worth celebrating. It’s not nice to come into Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and mess up homecoming. It’s even less nice to let somebody do it. Tim Tebow’s warning earlier this week, as relayed, gets to the heart of the matter: Florida cannot simply roll the ball onto Steve Spurrier-Florida Field and expect the Gator helmet logo to restore the old winning charm. That is a paraphrase, not a quotation. But the distinction between wearing the tradition and performing it ought to be clear enough. The helmet is identification. It is not a blocking scheme. The logo cannot tackle. The stadium’s name cannot convert third down. Nobody awards seven points because the alumni remember a better afternoon. There is work to do. Unglamorous work. Finish blocks. Wrap up. Communicate. Protect the football. Stop handing opponents opportunities and then acting surprised when they accept them. A reporter’s skepticism is not the same thing as rooting against somebody. It means asking for the receipt before accepting the sales pitch. Florida has shown what it can be. Missouri showed what happens when “can be” gets mistaken for “is.” Now comes the next examination. The Gators remain in The Athletic’s top 10; they did not climb back into it this week. That distinction matters. No. 9 is a judgment about their accumulated résumé, not a certificate declaring last Saturday harmless. Nobody needs another speech about restoring greatness before lunch. They need a football team that handles its business after kickoff. So welcome home, everybody. Enjoy the reunions. Tell the old stories. Remember when the offense made opposing defensive coordinators look like men trying to assemble patio furniture during a hurricane. Then leave the nostalgia outside the huddle. No. 9? Fine. Show us. Because rankings can arrange the chairs. Only Florida can keep South Carolina from walking out with one.

By Brenden Martin Updated 11:55 a.m. ET Saturday: Receiver Vernell Brown III (knee) is the only Florida player on Friday's SEC availability report, listed as questionable, Gators Wire reported. South Carolina lists eight players as out: defensive backs Jalewis Solomon and Quay'sheed Scott, edge rushers Kobby Sakyi-Prah and Julian Walker, offensive linemen Josiah Thompson and Carter Miller, receiver Jayden Sellers and defensive lineman Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy. Edge rusher Dylan Stewart, suspended one game after incidents in the Alabama game, is cleared to play. Sumrall said this week Brown is cleared to participate and that his status comes down to his confidence in his knee. The SEC's final report posts about 90 minutes before the 12:45 p.m. kickoff. No. 16 Florida (4-1, 2-1 SEC) and South Carolina (2-3, 0-3) meet Saturday, Oct. 10, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Kickoff is 12:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network. Here is where each team's availability stood in the reports published through Thursday, before the official SEC availability reports that come out ahead of the game. Florida Receiver Vernell Brown III is listed as questionable with a right knee strain, according to WRUF's report on Florida's Wednesday availability list. He did not play in the 45-17 loss at Missouri on Oct. 3, according to the Post and Courier. Brown has 17 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns this season, according to ESPN box scores. Running back London Montgomery was also questionable on Wednesday. On3's Thursday availability report lists him as probable. Safety Bryce Thornton (lower body) and cornerback Dijon Johnson (ankle) are listed as probable. South Carolina South Carolina's Thursday report lists four players as doubtful, according to Garnet & Cocky: starting center Carter Miller, edge rusher Julian Walker, defensive lineman Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy and defensive back Quay'Sheed Scott. Scott left last week's overtime loss to Kentucky. Brownlow-Dindy missed the Kentucky and Alabama games. Receiver Mazeo Bennett Jr. is listed as probable. Why it matters Missouri stacked the line to stop Florida's run game and forced quarterback Aaron Philo to throw without Brown, the Post and Courier wrote. Florida still averages 46.2 points and 491.2 yards per game through five games, according to ESPN box scores. South Carolina's doubtful list is concentrated up front, at center, edge rusher and defensive line, so the Gamecocks' ability to hold up against a Florida offense that leans on running back Jadan Baugh (11 rushing touchdowns, according to ESPN box scores) is the question to watch early. Statuses can change before kickoff. The SEC's official availability reports are due ahead of the game, and we will update this story if the lists move. Watch: The Buddy Martin Show on YouTube

By Brenden Martin Florida's most closely watched visitor Saturday is committed to the team it plays next week. Easton Royal, the Texas-committed receiver from New Orleans, planned to return to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for the South Carolina game, according to reports this week from 247Sports and Rivals. The Gators visit No. 1 Texas on Oct. 17. Royal, a 2027 receiver from Brother Martin High School, is rated a five-star prospect by 247Sports, and Rivals ranks him as the No. 1 receiver in the class. He has been committed to Texas since last November. His first game-day visit to Florida this fall was the Gators' 52-28 win over Ole Miss on Sept. 26, according to 247Sports. Royal told Rivals' Sam Spiegelman last month that he can "100%" see himself playing at Florida. Who else is in town Myles Tate, a four-star edge rusher in the 2028 class from Woodward Academy in Atlanta, told 247Sports he is making a game-day visit Saturday, his first trip to Florida since the spring. On3's visit database also lists two 2028 prospects as verified visitors for Saturday: Jace Coleman of Lugoff-Elgin High School in Lugoff, S.C., and quarterback Roland Waldrop of Thomas County Central High School in Thomasville, Ga. Where the class stands Florida's 2027 class has 25 commitments and ranks No. 8 nationally in both the 247Sports Composite and the Rivals Industry rankings as of Saturday. The 247Sports Composite counts one five-star, 18 four-stars and six three-stars in the class. The Gators' most recent 2027 commitment came in July, according to 247Sports. In the 2028 class, Florida has three commitments, including safety Cyion Smith of Blountstown, Fla., and offensive tackle Samuel Bailey of Mae Jemison High School in Huntsville, Ala., who both committed in late September, according to 247Sports. What to watch Recruits on game-day visits see the full Swamp experience, and Saturday brings a sellout crowd for Homecoming and the 500th game at the stadium. Florida then plays Texas, with Royal committed to the Longhorns, before facing No. 2 Georgia in Jacksonville on Oct. 31. Watch: The Buddy Martin Show on YouTube

Missouri hit Florida in the mouth. The question on Thursday night's edition of The Buddy Martin Show: do the Gators punch back? South Carolina visits Saturday for the 500th game in The Swamp, where Florida is 17-2 against the Gamecocks. The only home losses came in 2010 and 2014. History favors the Gators, and so does the line. None of it means a thing unless Jon Sumrall's team delivers the right response. Buddy Martin, Franz Beard, Ben Troupe and Eddie Gilley break down what to expect at Homecoming and what Florida has to prove. Watch: Can the Gators Bounce Back With Homecoming Win? on YouTube Read more: Franz Beard: Gators will handle adversity and bounce back big Buddy Martin: Checking out the point spread and weather for Gator Homecoming Gators Homecoming guide: parade, Hall of Fame, Growl The Buddy Martin Show streams live on YouTube and Facebook. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.

Two teams at different crossroads meet to hit the reset button after disappointing losses last week. By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com Football Analyst, Host of The Lowdown with Loren Meadows SOUTH CAROLINA OFFENSE Players to Watch: #16 QB LaNorris Sellers (6-3, 238, Sr.), #28 RB Matt Fuller (5-11, 221, Jr.), #8 WR Nyck Harbor (6-5, 239, Jr.), #3 WR Mazeo Bennett Jr. (5-10, 185, Jr.) Key Matchups: Florida Front Seven vs. South Carolina Offensive Line; LaNorris Sellers vs. Florida Secondary The centerpiece of the Gamecocks' offense is quarterback LaNorris Sellers, whose combination of arm strength, mobility and physical running makes him one of the most important players in Saturday's contest. Sellers has recorded 1,059 passing yards and 391 rushing yards through five games. His dual-threat ability presents a difficult assignment for Florida's defense, particularly if South Carolina can establish its running game early. When Sellers is comfortable in the pocket and has room to operate outside it, he can create opportunities that extend beyond the original design of a play. Throw in wide receiver Nyck Harbor and this may be the most athletic duo the Gators have seen this season. Harbor has legitimate world class speed and possesses a catch radius that is out of this world. While he has started slow, the up and down Gators secondary could be just what is needed for him to have a breakout second half of the season. Florida's defense has struggled to consistently contain explosive plays, making Sellers' ability to push the ball downfield and make defenders miss a significant storyline. South Carolina will need him to make sound decisions, protect the football and take advantage of opportunities when Florida commits extra defenders to stopping the run. Sellers and Fuller have helped fuel a South Carolina rushing attack averaging 256 yards per game, which ranks first in the SEC. If Fuller can find running lanes and force Florida to respect the ground game, Sellers could have more opportunities to exploit coverage through play-action and designed quarterback runs. Outside of Harbor the receiving corps will also need to contribute. South Carolina struggled with dropped passes against Kentucky, with head coach Shane Beamer acknowledging that his staff counted six drops in the game. Improved reliability from the receivers will be essential, especially in third-down situations and in the red zone. Brad White has challenged the Gator defense to go hunt — intimidating the South Carolina receivers would be a great start. SOUTH CAROLINA DEFENSE Players to Watch: #17 LB Justin Okoronkwo (6-3, 230, Sr.), #0 LB Fred "JayR" Johnson (6-3, 241, Jr.), #31 DB Peyton Williams (6-0, 214, 5th Yr.), #6 Edge Dylan Stewart (6-5, 250, Jr.) Key Matchups: Florida Offensive Line vs. South Carolina Defensive Line; Florida Receivers vs. South Carolina Secondary On the defensive side, South Carolina will look to find a way to disrupt Florida's rhythm without allowing the Gators to create easy opportunities through the air or on the ground. One of the biggest names to watch is defensive end Dylan Stewart. The explosive edge defender is a key piece of South Carolina's pass rush and has the ability to pressure the quarterback, disrupt timing and force hurried decisions. Stewart's availability is an important storyline entering Saturday. He returned to practice during the week after serving a suspension, and reports indicated that he would travel with the team. His final game status remained uncertain in the latest reporting, making his potential participation something to monitor before kickoff. If Stewart plays, his ability to win one-on-one matchups could help South Carolina generate pressure without consistently sending extra rushers. Florida running back Jadan Baugh had been a major part of the Gators' offense before being held to just 13 yards on 12 carries against Missouri. Baugh will be looking for a big bounce back performance that allows Florida to control the game. If this happens then the play-action game with Philo and the talented Florida pass catchers will be in play and open up limitless options for Buster Faulkner to get back into his bag of diverse plays. THE SKINNY Two teams at two different crossroads. South Carolina had early double-digit leads in the two losses to Mississippi State and Kentucky that evaporated in heartbreaking fashion. This has led many to believe that coach Shane Beamer has had his fill of Columbia and it is time to go in a different direction. Florida felt the sting of a physical beatdown at the hands of Missouri and for the first time, Jon Sumrall has spent a week evaluating his team on the heels of a loss. While Sumrall and Beamer have preached reflection, preparation, and responsibility, both teams are in a state of repair, physically and emotionally. Execution will be key as the elements can lend a certain air to a game where both teams certainly will have something to prove. South Carolina continues to play hard for their embattled but popular coach while Florida is looking to continue its rise back to the top. Sumrall has been great after wins; it will be key to see how his team rebounds after a loss. South Carolina will score and keep it close but the Gators have always found a way at home, especially on Homecoming. Prediction: Florida 31, South Carolina 24 Watch: The Buddy Martin Show on YouTube

By Brenden Martin Florida's Homecoming weekend started Friday, Oct. 9, with the parade, Gator Growl and the Hall of Fame induction, and it ends with a sold-out Swamp on Saturday, when the Gators host South Carolina at 12:45 p.m. ET. Here is what the University of Florida and the University Athletic Association confirmed, event by event. Updated 10:20 a.m. ET Saturday: Friday's events are done. Gates open at 10:45 a.m. for the 12:45 p.m. kickoff, according to the UAA. Friday: Parade and Campus Festival The Homecoming Parade is set for noon Friday. Organizers bill it as the largest student-run parade in the nation. It begins at 13th Street and Museum Road, heads north and turns onto University Avenue, then continues to Bo Diddley Plaza on Main Street. The route was adjusted this year to account for the speed tables on University Avenue. The Campus Festival is also listed for Friday at the Plaza of the Americas. Its hours were not posted on the official Homecoming site, so check the schedule before you go. Friday night: Gator Growl and the Hall of Fame Gator Growl, which the Homecoming organizers call the crown jewel of the celebration, is Friday at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Tickets are sold through the Gator Growl website, and the start time is still to be confirmed by UF. The UF Athletic Hall of Fame will also welcome eight new members Friday. The Class of 2026 is: - Dedric Dukes, track and field - Vernon Hargreaves, football - Vernon Maxwell, basketball - Mikey Meagher, lacrosse - Andrew Moten, basketball - Logan Shore, baseball - Bridget Sloan, gymnastics - Kelsey Stewart, softball The induction dinner, hosted by the F Club and Gator Event Group, is on Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Doors and cocktails open at 6 p.m., and dinner is served at 7 p.m. The UAA said in August that the event was nearly sold out. Saturday: Two Bits and kickoff Maxwell and Moten, who ranked first and fourth on Florida's career basketball scoring list, according to the UAA, will serve as honorary Mr. Two Bits before the game. The UAA said they will lead the cheer only, a break from the energy of the original routine. Kickoff against South Carolina is 12:45 p.m. ET. The UAA announced Thursday that the game is sold out, the 22nd straight sellout at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and the longest streak since the Gators sold out 138 straight games from 1989 to 2011. If you do not have a ticket, Ticketmaster is the only authorized resale seller. What to know before you go Plan around the weekend's overlap. The parade, festival and Hall of Fame events all land on Friday, and the stadium will be busy Saturday morning. For gates, conditions and what to bring, see our gameday conditions guide. Florida enters the weekend 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the SEC, according to the UAA. South Carolina is 2-3 and 0-3. We will update this guide if UF confirms more times and locations.

Football can wait. To everyone in the path of Hurricane Isaias, from all of us at GatorBait Media: stay safe, Gator Nation. Updated 10:20 a.m. ET Saturday: Isaias has weakened to a post-tropical cyclone with 35 mph winds over central Alabama, and all storm surge and tropical storm warnings have been discontinued, the National Hurricane Center said Saturday morning. The flash flooding threat continues. The center expects 4 to 8 inches of rain across southern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend, and southwest Georgia, with local totals up to 15 inches. What the National Hurricane Center is saying In its Friday morning advisory, the National Hurricane Center said Isaias was a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph winds, forecast to come ashore Friday evening along the western Florida Panhandle and Alabama coast. The center called the storm surge and winds along the Panhandle and Alabama coasts life-threatening. Storm surge: Water could reach 6 to 9 feet above ground from the Alabama-Florida line to Grayton Beach, and 4 to 7 feet from Grayton Beach to Indian Pass. Rain: 4 to 8 inches across southern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, the Big Bend and southwest Georgia, with local totals up to 15 inches. Flash flooding is possible. Tornadoes: The risk runs from coastal Alabama and the Panhandle into southern Georgia, and continues Saturday across parts of Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas. Surf: Swells are expected to bring dangerous rip currents along the Gulf Coast. What to do Follow evacuation orders and instructions from local officials. Stay off flooded roads. Check the latest advisories at hurricanes.gov and with your local National Weather Service office. Check on family, friends and neighbors, and on the Gator fans you know along the Gulf Coast. Games get rescheduled; people are what matter. For the games the storm has changed, see our story on how Hurricane Isaias reshuffled college football.