Sports Editor Curan is a senior sports journalism student in his fifth semester at The Alligator. He is currently the sports editor, and previously served as a reporter for men's tennis, sports enterprise and football. He is currently pursuing a public relations minor and is an avid Duval sports fan. (#DTWD)
The 2027 recruiting trail has been nothing shy of a commitment cycle chock-full of blue-chip prospects and touted talents.
To say the least, the 2026 campaign has been a whirlwind of a time for Florida softball. Despite the raw power and long-term dominance the Gators flashed throughout the season, they fell short of their 14th Women’s College World Series. After three hard-fought games in the NCAA Super Regionals, UF saw its season end at the hands of the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Logging only three hits, Florida (48-10) fell to Alabama (49-6), 9-1, in the SEC Tournament semifinal at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky.
Florida (47-9, 17-7 SEC) showed up with sloppy defense, and Georgia (36-17, 12-12 SEC) continued to put the ball in play, leading to a lopsided five-inning run-rule loss for the Gators in Athens.
Train, recover, repeat. It’s a cycle college athletes across the country face daily.
After months of apprehension surrounding Florida football’s new-look defensive scheme under Brad White, the Gators took to the field to display their progress and in the annual Orange & Blue Spring Game.
With many question marks revolving around Buster Faulkner’s offensive scheme and how Brad White has developed his defense through 14 spring practices, the Orange & Blue Spring Game gave Gator Nation a way to gauge whether Florida has become a cohesive unit on both sides of the ball.
For Florida gymnastics, momentum inside the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center doesn’t just build, it echoes through the dome and courses through every gymnast as the Gators surge. By the time UF takes the floor, the noise is already deafening.
Tradition. History. Coaching. Three things senior safety DJ Coleman harped on in explaining why he transferred to Florida. Following UF’s 13th practice of the spring, the former Baylor standout noted what drove him to play in Gainesville and what he hopes to prove in 2026.
Not only has Baugh taken on a leadership role, but he’s gotten stronger, faster and leaner through his offseason work at Florida. He said the urgency the new coaching staff demands is a major difference from that of Napier’s regime, and that UF’s disheartening four-win season has driven him to work even harder.
Solutions by The State News
