One week after suffering their first loss under head coach Jon Sumrall, the No. 16 Florida Gators (4-1, 2-1 SEC) return home to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to battle the South Carolina Gamecocks (2-3, 0-3 SEC).
It's the first time that Florida and South Carolina will face off since 2023. Overall, UF leads the all-time series 31-10-3 and has won five of the last six battles between the sides.
Kickoff is set for approximately 12:45 p.m. ET on Saturday in Gainesville. Follow along for live updates.
Q3 | 2:40: On 1st and 10 from the UF 31, Sellers hands to Coleman. South Carolina left tackle Jacarrius Peak got rolled up there, and it didn't look good. However, he got up on his own power.
Q3 | 4:19: South Carolina begins its drive at its own 41. After a short 1st-and-down run, Sellers hits Bennett for a gain of 6. On the ensuing 3rd and 3, Sellers takes it himself and barely extends for the 1st.
Q3 | 5:38: On 3rd and 8, Philo is immediately pressured, sacked, and his helmet flies off. He wanted a facemask call, but no dice. Florida will punt.
Q3 | 5:47: On 2nd and 8, Philo fires towards Stockton, who seemingly makes a grab through contact. However, after review, the ruling is reversed. Big 3rd and 8 incoming.
Q3 | 7:03: On 3rd and 3 from the UF 26, Philo keeps it himself and comes up a yard short of the line to gain. On 4th and 1, Baugh gets a shotgun snap and bursts through on his second effort. First down.
Q3 | 7:57: On 1st and 10, Philo pitches left to Baugh, who gains 7. On the following play, Baugh receives another handoff, but this time he is taken down behind the line.
TOUCHDOWN | Q3 | 8:36: On 1st and 10, Sellers hits Murph, who beat McClain easily with an inside route, in the end zone for a 26-yard score. Orsan hits the PAT.
That drive was 6 plays, 75 yards and took 2 minutes and 41 seconds.
SOUTH CAROLINA 24, FLORIDA 13.
Q3 | 8:58: On 3rd and 14 following an incompletion, Sellers evades pressure, rolls right, and finds a wide-open Harbor, who adjusts to make the catch. A gain of 35 yards flips the field. Overall, SC is 8-12 on third down.
Q3 | 9:55: On 1st and 10, Sellers rolls left trying to make a play, but Kanye Clark stops that from happening. SC's QB loses four.
Q3 | 10:42: On 2nd and 2, Fuller bursts up the middle and Florida misses another tackle. Gain of 10.
Q3 | 11:11: On 1st and 10 from the SC 25, Sellers passes deep for Black, but it's over his head. However, it was a free play, as McCloud was offside. Either way, McClain was beat deep again there.
FIELD GOAL | Q3 | 11:47: Durkin trots back out to attempt a 48-yard field goal. This time, Durkin's kick is right down the middle. Good recovery by the experienced kicker.
That was a 9 play, 45 yard drive that went 3 minutes, 43 seconds.
SOUTH CAROLINA 17, FLORIDA 13.
Q3 | 11:47: On 3rd and 5 from the SC 27, Philo hands to Evan Pryor, but he's swallowed up behind the line for a 3-yard loss.
Q3 | 13:35: On 2nd and 5, Philo hands to Baugh, who finally breaks out a run for a big gain of 26. Shades of his play in the first four weeks. UF up to the SC 26.
Q3 | 14:12: After an 8-yard completion on 2nd down to Micah Mays Jr., Baugh keeps it himself on a Columbia carry and gets the first down.
Q3 | 14:52: We are back underway in Gainesville. After a touchback, Philo keeps it on a read option and gains 1 yard.
BREAKING UPDATE: After a 45-minute delay, Florida vs. South Carolina is set to resume around 3:05 p.m. ET following a 10-minute warm-up period.
Duke Clark is in a walking boot. He will be out of the remainder of the game.
WEATHER UPDATE: Due to lightning in the area, play has been delayed.
HALFTIME: SOUTH CAROLINA 17, FLORIDA 10.
After scoring on its opening drive, Florida has been all out of whack since. South Carolina has taken advantage, as Sellers has dished two touchdowns to put the Gamecocks ahead.
MISSED FIELD GOAL | Q2 | 0:00: On 1st and 10, Philo hits Harpring for a 5-yard gain. Durkin trots out to attempt a 43-yard field goal. After being iced, he shanks his kick to the right.
Q2 | 0:07: On 2nd and 1, Philo airs it to Wilson, who secures it for a 13-yard gain. UF up to the SC 30.
Q2 | 0:14: On 1st and 10, Philo throws a screen pass to Evan Pryor, who gains 9. UF up to the SC 43.
Q2 | 0:19: On 2nd and 9, Philo hits Wilson near the sideline for 20 yards and a first down to the SC 48. That play was reviewed and upheld. Lightning can be spotted near the horizon. For now, play remains on.
Q2 | 0:22: On 3rd and 1 from the UF 32, Philo keeps it himself and gets the first down. On the next play, Baugh is stuffed on a carry. The Florida faithful are booing due to the lack of urgency from UF's offense.
TOUCHDOWN | Q2 | 1:47: On 2nd and 11 from the UF 12, Sellers hits a wide-open Bennett for a score. Cormani McClain didn't even move to cover the pass.
Orsan hits the PAT. That drive was 5 plays, 26 yards and took a minute and 42 seconds.
SOUTH CAROLINA 17, FLORIDA 10.
Q2 | 2:36: On 3rd and 11 from the UF 27, Sellers finds DJ Black, who breaks a tackle and gains 15 yards. First down, Gamecocks.
INTERCEPTION | Q2 | 3:29: On 2nd and 11, Philo throws a pass directly to Swain, and it's picked off. Easily the worst throw that Philo has made in his UF career thus far. South Carolina will take over on the UF 26.
FIELD GOAL | Q2 | 4:09: On 3rd and 17, Coleman gains 11. The Gamecocks trot out Orsan to attempt a 37-yard field goal. This time, his kick sails through the uprights.
That was a 10 play, 56 yard drive that took 4 minutes, 41 seconds.
FLORIDA 10, SOUTH CAROLINA 10.
Q2 | 5:29: On 2nd and 9, Sellers is sacked by Graham for a loss of 8. A big play by one of UF's defensive leaders.
Q2 | 6:37: On 3rd and 2 from the UF 25, Sellers hands to Fuller, who is tackled at the line to gain. First down, Gamecocks.
Q2 | 7:49: On 2nd and 7, Sellers lofts a pass towards Harbor, who makes a sliding 21-yard grab. On the next play, Sellers hits a wide-open Bennett for a gain of 16.
FIELD GOAL | Q2 | 8:50: Florida opts to take the points and the lead. Durkin connects from 21 yards out. That was a 13-play, 72-yard drive that took 6 minutes and 22 seconds.
FLORIDA 10, SOUTH CAROLINA 7.
Q2 | 9:03: On 3rd and goal from the 3-yard line, Philo fakles the handoff, tries to run it himself and goes nowhere.
Q2 | 10:55: On 2nd and 8, Philo keeps it once again and gets the first down. UF inside of the 10.
Q2 | 11:29: On 1st and 10, Philo runs it up the gut for a big 24-yard gain. The Gators are in the red zone. Rain is picking up, and its heavier now.
Q2 | 12:38: On 3rd and 9 from the UF, Philo finds an open Wilson near the heart of the field. He bobbles the ball but secures it for a 20-yard grab. UF up to the SC 43-yard line.
Q2 | 13:59: Before a 3rd and 1 at the UF 34, Ugorji is flagged for a false start. On the ensuing 3rd and 6, Philo hands to a sweeping Singleton, who gats towards the line for a first down. Singleton limped off the field favoring his left foot and is noticably frustrated on the sideline.
END OF THE FIRST QUARTER: FLORIDA 7, SOUTH CAROLINA 7.
While the Gators opened up the scoring with a 59-yard touchdown catch from Bailey Stockton, the Gamecocks have recovered well to tie it up at 7-apiece.
TOUCHDOWN | Q1 | 0:12: On 3rd and 10 from the UF 15, Sellers shoots for Harbor, and the 6-foot-5 wideout goes up and gets it over Bryce Thornton in the end zone. One of his best plays of his up-and-down season thus far. Orsan's PAT is good.
That drive went 10 plays, 65 yards and took 3 minutes and 40 seconds.
FLORIDA 7, SOUTH CAROLINA 7.
Q1 | 1:09: On 1st and 10, Sellers finds Maurice Brown II for a gain of 14. On the next play, there is a high snap, but Sellers recovers and gets back near the line to gain.
Q1 | 2:35: On 3rd and 5 at the UF 43, Sellers finds a wide open Fuller, who was not picked up. That's a gain of 15 that moves the chains.
Q1 | 3:29: After two incompletions, the Gamecocks face a 3rd and 10. On that play, Sellers is blitzed, but no one spies him. He runs up the gut for a big 17 yard gain.
Q1 | 3:53: On 3rd and 15 from the UF 25, Philo looks downfield, but Dylan Stewart was already deep in the backfield. He demolished right tackle Emeka Ugorji on that rep. That's a sack for a loss of 7. Clark punts downfield and Swain calls for a fair catch at the SC 35.
Q1 | 5:29: On 2nd and 7, Philo throws a screen pass to Wilson, but Stockton is flagged for a hold that brings the solid play back.
MISSED FIELD GOAL | Q1 | 6:00: Malik Orsan's 47-yard field goal attempt flies well left of the upright. No good. UF will take over at its own 30.
Q1 | 6:05: On 3rd and 4 from the UF 30, Sellers airs it deep for Bennett, but the ball is five yards over his head. SC sends out the kicking unit.
Q1 | 6:41: On 1st and 10, Sellers hits Bennett on a screen, but the play is diagnosed by LB Aaron Chiles. Loss of one yard. On the next play, Sellers hits Donovan Murph for a 7-yard gain.
Q1 | 7:16: The rain has come back to Gainesville as fans put on their ponchos. Meanwhile, SC gains another first down on a solid 11-yard run by RB Matt Fuller. However, he is shaken up a bit after the play, and a timeout is called.
Q1 | 8:14: On 2nd and 13, Sellers is taken down by JACK Jayden Woods. That sack lost SC five yards.
Before a 3rd and 18, UF's Jeramiah McCloud jumps offside, making it a 3rd and 13. On that play, Sellers throws a screen pass to Coleman, who gets a gain of 14. That's a first down. Well executed play there.
Q1 | 9:30: On 1st and 10, Sellers finds a sweeping Mazeo Bennett Jr., but Jaden Robinson swallows him up for a loss of three. Nice play there by the veteran LB.
Q1 | 10:10: After two solid runs by SC running back Jabree Coleman, the Gamecocks face a 3rd and 3. On that play, Sellers takes a QB draw, and gains five. First down, South Carolina.
TOUCHDOWN | Q1 | 11:20: On 3rd and 6 from the UF 41, Philo airs it out towards a wide-open Stockton, who can't be stopped as he runs all the way to the end zone for a 59-yard touchdown. A huge throw and catch for the pair of close friends, who put UF up early. Durkin hits the PAT.
That was a 3 play, 63 yard drive that took 50 seconds.
FLORIDA 7, SOUTH CAROLINA 0.
Q1 | 12:18: Sellers logs a four-yard run and two incompletions as Florida forces another three-and-out. The Gators will start their next possession at their own 37-yard line.
Q1 | 13:00: After a 6-yard Baugh gain on second down, Philo fires towards Bailey Stockton, but they can't connect. The Gators send out the punting unit. Alec Clark takes the low snap and boots it towards Vicari Swain, who calls for a fair catch near the SC 20-yard line.
Q1 | 13:55: On 1st and 10, Philo hands to Baugh, who is swallowed up behind the line for a loss of one.
Q1 | 14:20: On 3rd and 7, Sellers is forced to roll out right thanks to an effective Florida blitz led by Myles Graham. Sellers fires, and it's incomplete. South Carolina will punt.
Q1 | 14:54: On 1st and 10, SC quarterback LaNorris Sellers drops back and is pressured by Brendan Bett. Good defensive play there to kick off the game.
KICKOFF: Patrick Durkin boots his opening kick into the end zone for a touchback. South Carolina will begin possession at its own 25-yard line.
COIN-TOSS: Florida has won the toss and has elected to defer to the second half. South Carolina will defend the south end zone.
PRIOR TO KICKOFF: UF Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Vernon Maxwell is today's honorary Mr. Two Bits.
WARM-UPS: Florida, sporting their retro White throwback uniforms and blue logo "F" helmets, have taken the field for warm-ups. The crowd was loudest for QB Aaron Philo, RB Jadan Baugh and WR Dallas Wilson.
PREGAME: With Isaias impacting the US Gulf Coast as a major hurricane, isolated thunderstorms are expected in Gainesville this afternoon. Temperatures are expected to sit around 84 degrees at kickoff. Wind will be a major factor as well, as gusts of approximately 23 miles per hour have been forecast.
INJURY REPORT: Vernell Brown III, listed as questionable from Wednesday through early this morning, is expected to miss today, per ESPN's Pete Thamel. No other Florida players are on the injury report.
Max Bernstein is a fourth-year sports and media journalism major and sports management minor. This Fall, he is a Sports Editor and a Florida Gators and Jacksonville Jaguars reporter at The Alligator. Now in his ninth semester with The Alligator, Max previously served in roles including Digital Managing Editor, Sports Editor, Assistant Sports Editor and Football Reporter. He has also made appearances on the Paul Finebaum Show. In the rare moments Max isn't working, he's usually with his girlfriend Reese, watching sports with his fraternity brothers or missing his family and his two cats.
