Game Day: Florida at South Carolina (SEC Network), 3:30 pm

Saturday, October 14

Columbia, S.C.

3:30 p.m.

Florida Gators

South Carolina

Florida leads the all-time series against South Carolina with a 30-10-3 edge, but the Gators are just 12-8-1 on the road, including four losses in their last six trips. Head coach Billy Napier arrives at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday. (Photo: Molly Kaiser/UAA Communications)

Game Day: Florida at South Carolina (SEC Network), 3:30 pm

Saturday, October 14, 2023 | Football, Chris Harry

By: UAA Staff

COLUMBIA, S.C. – It was Florida's most impressive performance of the 2022 season, the program's first under Coach Billy Napier.

One of the best South Carolina teams in years came to town in mid-November and was promptly flattened. The Gators scored on their first four drives and eliminated any threat of second-half drama by forcing turnovers on the Gamecocks' first three possessions out of the locker room. Florida won 38-6 and appeared to be building something. Then came the loss at Vanderbilt a week later that kicked in a three-game slide to end the season and, ultimately, just the third losing record for the program in more than four decades.

Conversely, after the humiliating defeat, the Gamecocks went the other way. The next week, USC obliterated fifth-ranked Tennessee 63-58, then shocked No. 8 Clemson 31-30 on the road – snapping a 40-game home win streak for the Tigers – for just their second win in that rivalry series since 2013. The Gamecocks ended the year with a shootout loss to Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl, but finished 23rd in the final Associated Press poll.

So what to make of Saturday's date between the Gators (4-2, 2-1) and Gamecocks (2-3, 1-2) at Williams-Brice Stadium? Both teams are elbowing each other for middling status in the Southeastern Conference East Division, but unlike last year – when the teams exited the "Swamp" with identical records of 6-3 overall and 3-4 in league play – it's earlier in the season and the direction of both is yet to be determined.

This one will a go a long way in those determinations.

[Read senior writer Scott Carter's comprehensive "Opening Kickoff" setup here]

South Carolina's three losses in 2023 have all come against ranked teams (No. 21 North Carolina at Charlotte, at No. 1 Georgia, at No. 21 Tennessee) and by double-digits. The Gamecocks actually led the two-time national-champion Bulldogs 14-3 at the break, but were outscored 21-0 in the second half. Their two wins were against Furman and Mississippi State, but the Gamecocks are certainly capable with Spencer Rattler (1,411 yards, 7 TD, 3 INT) and an offense that ranks eighth in the league at just under 400 yards per game. South Carolina is still without standout receiver Antwane "Juice" Wells, who injured his foot against Georgia and has not played since. The Florida defense ranks third in the SEC (286.2 yards per game), but is just two weeks removed from that 329 rushing-yard debacle and 33-14 loss at Kentucky.

South Carolina quarterback **Spencer Rattler's** night was so tough against the Gators last season he had to try and tackle UF's 420-pound defensive lineman **Desmond Watson** (21).

Defensively, USC rates next-to-last in the conference and a woeful 121st in the country in surrendering 442.8 yards per game, including 301.4 through the air.

Those numbers should be enticing for UF quarterback Graham Mertz (80 percent, 1,474 yards, 9 TD, 2 INT), whose unit is coming off a 495-yard outburst and 38-14 home victory against Vanderbilt. The Gators rushed for 215 yards against the Commodores, with junior Montrell Johnson Jr. carrying 18 times for 135 yards and a score, while sophomore Trevor Etienne sat out with an upper body injury. Etienne, who busted an 85-yard touchdown in the rout of the Gamecocks last season, is cleared to play this week.

The last time Florida played at South Carolina, the Gators were crushed 40-17 in 2021, a result that amped up the death watch on then-Coach Dan Mullen. It marked the fourth loss in the previous six trips to Williams-Brice and is part of a Florida road run of 10 losses in the last 11 road games (and 13 of the last 14 away from the "Swamp"). UF is 1-7 on the road in two seasons under Napier.

Is this the week of a redirect?

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on SEC Network, with Taylor Zarzour on play-by-play, Matt Stinchcomb providing analysis and Alyssa Lang working the sidelines. The Gators Sports Network from Learfield will air with pregame coverage beginning at 1 p.m. and eventually give way to the team of Sean Kelly, recently named 2023 SEC Legend Shane Matthews and sideline reporter Tate Casey for kickoff. For stations, click here.

The game will be replayed Tuesday at 11 a.m. and Wednesday at 3:30 a.m., both on SEC Network.

Finally, follow senior writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete post-game coverage from the game Saturday.