UF tailback Jadan Baugh gets a second crack at Texas on the road Saturday.
Game Day: Florida at No. 7 Texas (Saturday, noon)
Saturday, October 17, 2026 | Football
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AUSTIN, Texas – They didn't handle the prosperity test very well. They answered the adversity challenge even worse.
Now comes the desperation phase.
It was only two weeks ago that the eighth-ranked Florida Gators were unbeaten and riding high into Columbia, Missouri, only to be mauled 45-17 by an uncaged band of Tigers. Their return home, to the steamy and comfy confines of the "Swamp," was supposed to provide a quick fix against South Carolina for homecoming. Instead, the Gamecocks proved every bit as problematic in running away from the 16th-ranked home team in the second half of a 38-19 humbling that dumped UF out of the top 25 and threw Coach Jon Sumrall and his first Florida squad into reset and reassessment mode.
The timing, of course, could have been better, what with the Gators (4-2, 2-2) now heading into back-to-back out-of-town Southeastern Conference dates against a pair of top-10 opponents, starting with Saturday's high-noon showdown against seventh-ranked Texas (4-1, 3-1) in front of more than 100,00 at DKR-Memorial Stadium.
[Read senior writer Scott Carter's comprehensive "Opening Kickoff" setup here]
In case a road trip to one of college football's most hallowed brands wasn't problematic enough – against a Longhorns' squad that was ranked No. 1 a week ago and is still steaming after being walked-off in its 27-24 Red River Rivalry loss to hated, double-digit underdog Oklahoma, no less – come what may in the Lone Star State, a trip to Atlanta and date against currently top-ranked Georgia looms on the immediate horizon.
But that one can wait, and certainly needs to, given the multitude of Gators issues that have reared themselves on both sides of the ball the last two games.
Fourteen days ago, Florida woke up in Missouri ranked second nationally in both scoring (53.5 points) and total offense (532.5 yards) per game, and with the fifth-best rushing attack (260.0 ypg) and a Heisman Trophy tailback back averaging 150 yards per game. In the past two games, those numbers have shrunk to 18 points, 356 yards and just 81.0 on the ground, respectively, with workhorse Jadan Baugh carrying 27 times for just 72 yards in a grounded ground game that's averaged only 81.0 per.
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UF quarterback Aaron Philo (70.5%, 1,341 yards, 9 TD, 3 INT) is listed as questionable for the game after taking a hit on scramble on his final play from scrimmage against the Gamecocks. He was relieved by second-year freshman Tramell Jones Jr. (79%, 252 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT), who very well may get his first career start in one of the most difficult environments in college football.
If so, the Florida offense will try to get right with a backup QB and against a Longhorns defense ranked 13th overall (just 264.4 yards allowed per game), including 20th against the run (96.0 ypg) and fourth nationally in sacks, led by rabid defensive end Colin Simmons. It would help if standout playmaking wide receiver Vernell Brown III (out the previously two games with a knee injury) could go, but his status is questionable, too.
Defensively, the Gators had their flaws through those first four wins to open the season, but the offense's struggles to stay on the field have accentuated the defense's inability to pressure the quarterback and, more glaringly, cover in the secondary. The last two opposing quarterbacks, Missouri's Austin Simmons and South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers, combined to complete 46 of 65 passes (71%) for 619 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions, while leading their units to nearly a thousand total yards.
Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning
Now comes Texas quarterback Arch Manning, who while not playing to the pedigree established by his famous uncles has hit 63% of his throws for 1,122 yards, 10 touchdowns and five picks, with two of those coming in the bitter OU loss, including a devastating one late to setup the Sooners' walk-off field goal. Manning, though, also fashioned an historic comeback from 20 points down in the second half against then-No. 1 Ohio State in the second week of the season.
That one was quite a performance in near-impossible circumstances against one of the best teams in the country.
Sort of like what the Gators will deal with Saturday.
Broadcast coverage starts at noon on ABC Network, with the crew of Joe Tessitore on play-by-play, former UF quarterback Jesse Palmer providing analysis and Kris Budden reporting from the sidelines. The Gators Sports Network broadcast will air with pregame coverage beginning at 8:45 a.m. and eventually give way to Sean Kelley, Shane Matthews and Tate Casey on the call. Here is a list of GSN stations.
Replays will air on Tuesday at 1 a.m. and again Wednesday at noon on the SEC Network.
Follow senior writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete post-game coverage late Saturday night and follow-up content Sunday as well.
