I went through my entire college experience thinking the piece of paper they give you at the end was all that mattered. In reality, that is what matters the least.
Starting Sept. 5 with a faceoff against the Florida Atlantic University Owls, the Gators will begin to host opponents at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for the 2026-27 football season. With this, fans will once again combat the challenges of game-day parking. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the largest stadium in Florida, has a capacity of nearly 90,000 people. Fans, students, alumni, families, and more swarm The Swamp, driving parking demand even higher.
The Pathway to Campus Enrollment program, better known as PaCE, allows students to begin their degrees online before transitioning to campus. Students are required to complete their first two semesters and 60 credits through UF Online before becoming eligible for in-person classes. While students go through a different experience from the traditional path, some have reported their unique positions allow them to make the most of their time at UF.
Fresh off a 2025 national championship and a 2026 Southeastern Conference regular-season title, Florida has become one of the prominent basketball programs over the last few years. Moreover, the Gators have lost just three home games in as many seasons, making the O’Connell Center one of the hardest college arenas to play in.
When the Florida Gators hit the road, plenty of students still want to experience a Gator game day with a crowd. Several restaurants and bars around Gainesville have become go-to destinations for students looking for a lively atmosphere, big screens and fellow Gator fans.
Tucked in between Saturdays in The Swamp and camping in front of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center for basketball games are national championship contenders, Olympians, rising stars and some of the most exciting sporting events on campus. Whether you’re looking for a fun new activity, an indoor escape from the Florida heat or your next favorite team, here’s what you need to know before every Gator season begins.
With three of Florida’s most historic rivals off the table for the upcoming season, UF faces a list of teams it has a varied past against. Here’s a definitive ranking of how much you should despise the Gators’ opponents this season.
Moving away for college and leaving family can be an emotional adjustment. But for some, one of the hardest goodbyes is their pets.
If you ask about local politics in Gainesville and Alachua County, many will likely describe the area as a “blue dot in a sea of red.”
Beginning a new chapter of education comes with several challenges, from picking classes to navigating an unfamiliar campus. But one of the most daunting questions for incoming students has little to do with education: How can they get around town without a car?
With Florida football through six practices of fall camp, buzz has been building around the new-look offense the Gators will show under offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner. When asked to describe the offensive scheme, junior offensive lineman Harrison Moore dropped one word: “Explosive.”
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurred in San José del Palmar, Colombia, Monday morning, killing at least 69 people and forcing evacuations from homes as far as 250 miles from the epicenter. The earthquake was also felt in neighboring countries, such as Panama and Ecuador, according to The Associated Press.
Florida head coach Jon Sumrall spoke with the media following the Gators’ fifth practice of fall camp, and his message remained unchanged: Players have been elevating, and consistent reps have made play a lot smoother, but more work is needed to build competitive depth.
For most new students, coming to UF means a brand-new city with a brand-new food scene. If you’re a new Gator already tired of the dining halls’ menus, check out these five food stops within walking distance of campus.
Throughout the city, Gainesville overflows with music of every style and taste. This list highlights music venues of various genres across Gainesville.
Though only one of Florida’s front-running young quarterbacks will be penciled in as a starter when the Gators kick off the 2026 season against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 5, the team has seen flashes of arm talent and leadership from both redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. and redshirt sophomore Aaron Philo.
The Trump administration is planning on opening a new facility for migrant families and unaccompanied children next to an airport hub in Alexandria, Louisiana, a strategy intended to speed up deportations.
Before her professional career, Larson studied musical theatre in UF’s School of Theatre and Dance. Prior to her 2022 graduation, she performed in the ensemble of “Pippin” as a freshman. She starred as Sally in “Cabaret” in her senior year after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a gap between productions.
Following a lost 2025 season under former head coach Billy Napier and interim head coach Billy Gonzales, where the Gators dropped to a 4-8 record, Florida football is ready to turn over a new leaf.
After the multiversal scale of “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” succeeds by telling a smaller, more personal story. By the time the credits rolled, I’d cried three separate times.
Solutions by The State News
