The Alligator’s Florida football beat reporters, Ava DiCecca, Max Bernstein, Curan Ahern and Riley Orovitz, are back to make picks for this week’s seven-game slate.
The season began on Sept. 19 with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) All-American Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Six Gators participated, tacking on numerous wins to their respective career stats.
Headed into Sunday’s matchup at EverBank Stadium, the Jacksonville Jaguars had a difficult task: scoring against the New England Patriots defense. In their first two games of the season, the Patriots ranked No. 4 in the NFL, allowing 260 yards per game while surrendering only one touchdown. But Trevor Lawrence, along with his variety of offensive weapons, rose to the occasion and made it look easy.
Finally back in action, senior Scarlett Nicholson has begun her first eligible season as a Gator. In fall 2025, Nicholson transferred from Georgia Tech to Florida, coming in ranked No. 16 nationally.
In Florida’s last game of the 2025-26 season, a 73-72 loss to Iowa in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Chinyelu was held to a season-low 0 points and one rebound. That game tacked on a sour end to his historic season.
In the second USTFCCCA poll of the season, Florida men’s and women’s cross country were both ranked in the top 15, with the men at No. 10 and the women at No. 14.
Following a 1-0 loss at South Carolina on Sept. 10 and a comeback 2-2 draw at Mississippi State on Friday, the Gators sit in 11th place in the Southeastern Conference standings. Next up is a date with the Texas Longhorns (5-2-2).
Anchored by junior setter Taylor Parks’ 30 assists, No. 8 Florida (9-1) swept the Dolphins (6-7) at home Wednesday to remain undefeated against JU and extend its win streak to seven matches.
Looking to extend that success, Florida (8-1) faces Jacksonville (6-6) on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
The 11-game Week 3 SEC slate was the most unpredictable one yet. Texas A&M was vanquished by unranked Kentucky at home; Florida and Ole Miss picked up emotional rivalry game victories; and Vanderbilt beat NC State in one of the most unforgettable finishes to any football game in recent memory. Now, the Alligator’s Florida football beat reporters, Ava DiCecca, Max Bernstein, Curan Ahern and Riley Orovitz, are back to make picks for this week’s nine-game slate.
For the first time since 2019, the Florida Gators are 3-0. UF’s offense is ranked third in yards per game (544.3) and second in points per game (54.0) in the nation. The Gators’ defense has forced two turnovers per game and ranks fourth nationally with 4.5 sacks per game.
After its first two Southeastern Conference games against South Carolina and Mississippi State, plenty of questions remain about Florida soccer's potential moving forward. While the question of the team's identity was firmly answered with a positive nonconference slate, it remains to be seen whether the Gators can compete in a tough conference like the SEC.
Headed into Sunday’s matchup against the Denver Broncos, the Jacksonville Jaguars were on one of the best runs in franchise history. The Jags had won nine straight regular-season games, the second-longest streak in the organization's 30-year history. But that streak was snapped at Empower Field at Mile High.
Florida comes off a thrilling road win over Auburn on Saturday, but Jon Sumrall won’t let his team get too high. “I'm not thinking about that game ever again,” Sumrall said.
We should acknowledge and learn from the history of the phrase, but we shouldn’t let it define the future. As long as the term is used for opposing offenses during a football game, everyone should chant it with pride and joy.
Solutions by The State News
