32
Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators
Florida holds a 5-2 record heading into the bye week after a 27-24 upset win on the road against No. 7 Texas. This win propelled Florida back into the AP Top 25, as they sit at No. 20 in this week’s rankings.
This is Florida’s best start to a season since 2023, and they will look to secure their third win of the season against a top-10 team when they take on the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs (6-1) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday October 31 at 3:30 pm. Heading into this rivalry matchup, here are three observations, two questions and one prediction based on what we have seen through the first seven games.
Three Observations
- Florida showed the ability to fight back against adversity. After starting 4-0, Florida hadn’t faced any real obsticales in any of those wins. In the two losses that followed, Florida fell behind and wasn’t able to respond to any of the challenges Missouri or South Carolina posed. As soon as they fell behind, the deficit kept growing with little resistance from Florida. This changed, however, against Texas, as Florida came back from a 17-3 deficit and scored 24 unanswered points. Florida could’ve easily let the same result as the previous two weeks happen again, but they fought back and made big plays defensively to get back in the game. Being able to respond to adversity will help Florida grow as a team through the final five games of the season.
- The offensive line has been inconsistent through the first seven games. Florida sits at 5-2, and the offensive line has been a driving force in propelling Florida to what its record is. Against Texas, the offensive line was able to grow into the game and allow Florida’s offense to score 24 unanswered points in this contest. Against South Carolina and Missouri, however, Florida wasn’t able to sustain any success running the ball, and it resulted in two-straight losses. Through the first seven games, they have shown that the floor is low, but their ceiling is high. They showed the ability to contain Texas junior EDGE Colin Simmons and have their way at the line of scrimmage in the second half, but they also were neutralized by the Gamecocks defensive line the previous week.
- Both quarterbacks have been able to manage the games. Outside of two costly turnovers by junior quarterback Aaron Philo against South Carolina, both Philo and sophomore quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. have been able to limit turnovers and not give their defense a short field. Philo’s other two interceptions hit his receivers in the hands, and Jones Jr. was able to spread the ball effectively to his receivers against Texas. Having two quarterbacks that have been able to protect the football allows the offense to be able to maximize its drives, as they know they’re able to control the outcome of each of their drives. With both quarterbacks having come into this season with limited starting experience, their ability to take care of the football has been key for Florida’s offensive success.
Two Questions
- Can the defense build on its best performance of the season? The win over Texas was the best performance from Florida’s defense against a Power Four team. The defense made two stops on fourth down, and junior linebacker Myles Graham had the strip sack turnover to put Florida in position to seal the victory. Takeaways and big plays allowed the defense to have a successful game, and recording five sacks on Texas senior quarterback Arch Manning caused him to struggle throwing the ball in this game. Florida’s defense found a blueprint for success they can rely on in the final five games of the season, and the biggest question for the unit is if they will be able to build on this performance and not allow it to be an outlier. The task doesn’t get easier, as they will face fifth-ranked Georgia coming out of the bye week.
- Who will be the starting quarterback after the bye week? With Aaron Philo currently dealing with a shoulder injury, Tramell Jones Jr. started against Texas and led Florida to its first road win against a top-10 opponent since 2012. He threw for 155 yards and two touchdowns, but he was able to make key plays running the ball to help his team secure the win. Coming off a win, Philo’s health also remains a question for coach Jon Sumrall when making the decision for who starts against Georgia. If Philo is healthy, Sumrall will be tasked with making his most important decision so far as Florida’s head coach. He’ll have to decide if he goes back to Philo, or if he will reward Jones Jr. for leading Florida to a win over a top-10 team.
One Prediction
- Florida will finish the season 9-3, and they will secure at least one more ranked win before the season ends. Holding at 5-2 record, Florida still has to play No. 5 Georgia and travel to No. 12 Kentucky. With the win over Texas, Florida has shown the ability to face adversity against a top-10 team and win. Since they were able to prove this, this creates a path for Florida to finish 9-3 in Sumrall’s first year. If Sumrall is able to navigate this schedule and continue to collect ranked wins, this will be a successful end to his first year after saying “You would’ve thought someone’s dog died” about the locker room at halftime the previous week against South Carolina.
0 comments