Entering his fourth season as Florida’s head coach, Billy Napier returns to action, accompanied by a star sophomore quarterback. While Lagway’s limited, this Orange and Blue game will feature key position battles. Most notably, Florida needs to replace its departing senior receivers. The team has two main choices: UCLA transfer fifth-year senior Michael J. Sturdivant and freshman Dallas Wilson.
On defense, the Gators look to fill the gaps left by veteran linemen Cam Jackson and Desmond Watson. The two biggest contenders have been split to ensure both have enough time to demonstrate their talents. Sophomore Michai Boireau joins Orange. Redshirt junior Jamari Lyons is on Blue.
No matter what happens, the Gators are riding high from their four-game win streak that ended the 2024 season on a positive note. Kickoff time for the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is set for 1:02 p.m. Follow along below for live game updates.
FINAL: Blue 38, Orange 32. It was a record-breaking day for the Gators this afternoon in Gainesville. Dallas Wilson tied Trevon Grimes’ 2019 record for most receiving yards in a spring game with 195 and set the receptions record with 10. It was a strong showing for the freshman currently competing for a starting position. Not to be outdone, Jackson smashed the Orange and Blue rushing record with 198 yards. The Orange team scored touchdowns on back-to-back drives to open the second half. Led by Bailey, Orange set a new record for total passing yards, completing 31-47 for a total of 393 yards. It’s Blue’s second win in a row and third in the past five years. However, they couldn’t ultimately come back. Blue led by an 18-score margin going into the third quarter and expanded further with a Smack field goal.
Q4 | 02:57 - Bailey finds Dallas Wilson up the middle for a 19-yard touchdown, his second of the afternoon in his collegiate debut. The score concluded a sub-two-minute two-play drive for the Orange team which covered 70 yards, including a 51-yard completion to Montgomery. Blue: 38, Orange: 32
Q4 | 4:33 - Smack adds another three points with a 56-yard field goal. Blue 38, Orange 25
Q4 | 11:23 - Wilson catches a 20-yard pass from Bailey and runs it a yard into the endzone. A two-point conversion pass attempt to Clark is good. Orange is now within 10 points. Blue 35, Orange 25
END OF THE THIRD QUARTER: Blue 35, Orange 17 - Florida’s running game has been outstanding so far. Between Jackson, Warner and Baugh, the Blue team has rushed 220 yards. On the other side, the Orange quarterbacks have completed 20 of 32 passes for 212 yards. Though Orange has shown signs of life, it’s going to take some instrumental plays to claw back from the 18-score deficit.
Q3 | 1:58 - On the first play of the drive, Jackson escaped from a scrum in Blue’s 10-yard line and ran it down to the endzone. His 189 yards in the game so far are a new Orange and Blue rushing record. Smack’s kick is good. Blue 35, Orange 17
Q3 | 8:20 - Assisted by two Blue penalties, Bailey throws a 25-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Tank Hawkins. It’s the second scoring drive in a row for the Orange team, which was able to make quick work with 70 yards in nine plays. Rabasco's kick is good. Blue 28, Orange 17
END OF THE FIRST HALF: Blue 28, Orange 10 The Blue team has firmly been in the driver’s seat, though Orange snagged a last-minute touchdown to end the half. On both sides, the Florida squads have prioritized the run, which seemed to be more effective than anything through the air with Lagway not throwing. Collectively, Blue has rushed 130 yards on 14 attempts (compared to Orange’s 24 yards). The majority of Blue’s came from Jackson who has totaled 99 yards on seven carries, including a 40-yard touchdown.
Comparatively, the Orange team has looked lost at times. Bailey threw an interception in the first quarter and ended the half with a 52% completion percentage. He threw nine incomplete passes.
Q2 | 00:01 - After a 15-play drive, the Orange team is finally able to score a touchdown after freshman running back Duke Clark shoves his way into the endzone. Freshman kicker Brandon Rabasco’s attempt is good. Blue 28, Orange 10
Q2 | 2:17 - Left unguarded, sophomore wide receiver Aidan Mizell catches a 24-yard pass from Warner and sprints to the end zone to score. The Blue team has been efficient throughout the first half, this time scoring on a nine-play, 62-yard drive. Blue 28, Orange 3
Q2 | 9:46 - Dodging defenders, sophomore running back Jadan Baugh gains 48 yards to the Orange’s 40-yard line. On the next play, Jackson advances another 40 into the endzone. In a four-play drive, the Blue team dashed 88 yards, largely due to its running back duo, and tacked on another seven points. Blue 21, Orange 3
END OF THE FIRST QUARTER: Blue 14, Orange 3. Blue has been electric on the field, putting together multiple key offensive plays. On its first drive of the game, Hansen scored the team’s first touchdown on an 8-yard pass. On defense, Stubbs collected his first interception of his young career, which was followed by a Jackson touchdown. Blue leads with 64 yards on the ground. It’s up to Orange, who remain scoreless in the game so far, to figure out how to respond.
Q1 | 00:39 - Blue’s redshirt senior running back Ja’Kobi Jackson rushes up the middle for a 23-yard touchdown, cementing what's been a strong spring. Smack’s kick is good. Blue 14, Orange 3
Q1 | 4:26 (INTERCEPTION) - Blue's freshman defensive back Drake Stubbs intercepts quarterback graduate student Harrison Bailey's pass at Blue's 30-yard line after it bounces off of redshirt freshman receiver TJ Abrams' hands. Stubb returns the ball for 15 yards, setting up the Blue at its 45-yard line.
Q1 | 10:06 - On the Blue team’s first drive of the game, redshirt sophomore quarterback Aidan Warner completes an 8-yard pass to redshirt junior tight end Hayden Hansen who advances into the end zone. Senior kicker Trey Smack’s kick is good, and the Blue takes the lead. Blue 7, Orange 3
Q1 | 15:00 (KICKOFF) - Orange wins the coin toss and elects to defer possession to the second half. After the punt, Blue returned to the 30-yard line. Before the game, Orange earned an extra three points after winning a team competition period on Thursday. Blue 0, Orange 3
Liana is the Gators gymnastic beat reporter for the Alligator and a junior sports journalism major. In her free time, she likes to play dominos and listen to Celia Cruz.
