With a trip to the Southeastern Conference Championship in clear sight, the No. 10 Florida Gators (7-1, 5-1 SEC) host Vanderbilt (3-5, 1-3 SEC) Saturday at noon for a homecoming showdown.
Usually a festive occasion, the Gators have been anything but fortunate the last two years, losers of their last two homecoming games, including a 34-17 loss to the Commodores in 2013.
Here are three things Florida will need to do in order to avoid a third consecutive homecoming loss:
1.) Make a big play, and make it early
In other words, Florida needs to get Antonio Callaway involved from the get-go.
Callaway, the Gators’ phenom freshman wideout, has flashed his potential time and time again this year.
In eight games, Callaway is averaging 22 yards per catch, which ranks seventh nationally and first among freshmen.
The rest of the offense, on the other hand, is averaging just 11.2 yards per catch.
From his last-second game-winning touchdown against Tennessee to his punt return against LSU to his 66-yard touchdown against Georgia last weekend, Callaway has proven he can the big play.
"Each week, it’s fun to see what that guy does and just the way he goes about what he does too," tight end Jake McGee said.
"He’s a guy that loves football and loves his team. He’s fun to be around and has a good energy that he gives off to the guys."
But Callaway and the Gators’ offense will face a tougher test than usual against Vanderbilt’s defense.
The Commodores ranks sixth in the SEC in yards allowed per game (323.4) and are in the top five in both rushing defense (fourth, 114.9 yards per game) and scoring defense (fifth, 18.5 points per game).
They hold opponents to just a 25.2-percent third-down conversion rate — top in the SEC and fifth in the country — and have forced 38 three-and-outs this year, tied for third in the conference with Missouri and behind only Florida (42) and Alabama (50).
If UF’s offense can find a way to make a big play early on Saturday, they should have no problem coasting to the finish line.
2.) Win the Turnover Battle
Florida should have no problem winning this aspect of the game, but it’s a crucial point nonetheless. The Gators enter the game atop the SEC and are second nationally with a +13 turnover margin, while Vanderbilt ranks last in the conference and is tied for 120th out of 128 teams with a -11 margin.
Florida’s defense has forced three opponents to turn the ball over at least three times this year, most recently a five-turnover outing by Georgia on Saturday.
And the Gators have made the most out of their turnovers.
Of the SEC-leading 19 turnovers UF has forced, 12 have resulted in touchdowns while a 13th ended in a field goal.
And while UF’s defensive players said they don’t compare stats, being in a group rich in talent makes each player strive to compete on every single down to secure playing time.
"Being a good player and being a competitive player, you want to go with the best players," said sophomore cornerback Jalen Tabor, who has both of Florida’s pick-sixes this year. "That’s only to make you better."
On the other side of the ball, Vanderbilt’s offense — which ranks 10th or worse in every offensive category this year — has coughed the ball up at least three times on five occasions, including three of its last four matchups.
With Florida’s ball hawking secondary going up against an inexperienced and easily rattled Vanderbilt offense, expect the Gators to set the tone early.
3.) Win the field position battle
UF punter Johnny Townsend has flat-out dominated this season.
In his first full year as a starter, the redshirt sophomore is averaging 43.6 yards per punt, which puts him fourth in the SEC.
His ability to flip the field has reaped dividends for the Gators.
Of his 44 punts this year, Townsend has booted 12 at least 50 yards, pinned 15 inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and only had two land in the end zone for a touchback.
If Townsend can continue his success into Saturday’s matchup against Vanderbilt, the Commodores lackluster offense will have an even tougher road to travel to put points on the board.
Follow Jordan McPherson on Twitter @J_McPherson1126
UF wide receiver Antonio Callaway breaks free for a 66-yard touchdown during Florida's 27-3 win against Georgia on Oct. 31, 2015, at EverBank Field in Jacksonville.
