COVID-19 - The Independent Florida Alligator

Kelvin Cheruiyot runs during the Gans Creek Classic cross country meet on Friday, September 26, 2025 at Missouri in Columbia, Mis. / UAA Communications photo by Dylan Cannella

Sports

Florida cross country posts strong performances at the John McNichols Invitational

By Katie Mosley | Sep. 19

In its second of three regular-season meets, Florida cross country came out of the gates strong and posted solid performances. The Gators traveled to Terre Haute, Indiana, for Saturday's John McNichols Invitational. If all goes well for the Gators this season, both the men’s and women’s teams will return to Terre Haute in November to compete in the NCAA Championships.

Florida opposite Logan King (8) celebrates winning a point during an NCAA Volleyball match against FAU, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Florida defeats FSU to cement best start since 2023

By Sofia Alamo | Sep. 18

After 13 ties and seven lead changes in the third set, Florida trailed 25-24 to Florida State. The set had been a constant back-and-forth, but after losing the second set, the Gators needed to find a way to regain control. Behind two straight kills from opposite hitter Kamryn Chaney, Florida did just that, winning the third set 27-25.

Santa Fe is participating in AFC hunger action challenge which is a food drive to support Santa Fe students dealing with food insecurity.

University

Santa Fe joins 28 state colleges in Hunger Action Challenge

By Lilyanna Collado | Sep. 18

After a week spent collecting donations, Santa Fe’s liberal arts and science department won in the school’s first Hunger Action Challenge food drive on Friday, having donated over $2,000 in food and toiletries.

Freshman midfielder Courtney Hogan pursues a ball for Florida soccer.

Sports

Florida rallies back twice to force 2-2 draw at Mississippi State

By Zach Moore | Sep. 18

Nov. 15, 2025, may not have seemed like a particularly significant date at the time. But 307 days later, it became the centerpiece of a full-circle storyline.

Metro

Gainesville City Commission votes to eliminate roam towing

By Olivia Lofaso | Sep. 18

The Gainesville City Commission voted Thursday to eliminate roam towing and booting throughout the city. The ordinance must pass an additional vote before it can take effect.

Contestants eat during the UF Lettuce Club’s lettuce eating competition, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

University

UF Lettuce Club crowns second-ever ‘Head of Lettuce’ in salad-scarfing sequel

By Sofia Garcia | Sep. 18

The lettuce-eating competition returned to UF’s campus for the second time after seven months, crowning one victorious “lettuce head” with the prized “Head of Lettuce” tiara.

Florida head coach Ryan Theis talks to outside hitter Jordyn Byrd (14) during an NCAA Volleyball match against FAU, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Florida rides five-match win streak into rivalry game with FSU

By Sofia Alamo | Sep. 18

Off to its best start since 2023, Florida is re-establishing itself as a force in collegiate volleyball. The Gators have won their last five matches, the longest winning streak during head coach Ryan Theis’ tenure.

Florida inside linebacker Aaron Chiles (8) celebrates by holding the ball in the air during the first half of an NCAA football game against Campbell, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Gators head to Auburn, kick off conference play Saturday

By Curan Ahern | Sep. 18

Though the two teams haven’t faced off since 2019 and the Gators haven’t headed to Auburn since 2011, there’s been no love lost between the intraconference rivals.

Runner with dog at UF’s Gator Growl Chomp for Charity 5k with The Humane Society of North Central Florida in Depot Park on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026 in Gainesville, Fla.

University

Chomp For Charity 5K opens UF’s 103rd Homecoming celebration

By Juleidi Machuca | Sep. 17

UF’s Homecoming & Gator Growl kicked off its 103rd annual homecoming programming Sept. 16 with a charity run as part of a new partnership with The Humane Society of North Central Florida, a nonprofit no-kill shelter dedicated to eliminating the needless euthanasia of healthy pets.

The Florida soccer team huddles pregame before its match with the Arkansas Razorbacks Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.

Sports

Florida gears up for its second conference road test

By Zach Moore | Sep. 17

Any match in conference play will be difficult, and the result at South Carolina proved the road to the postseason won’t get any easier for Florida. Its second match in conference play, however, will be filled with emotion as Nick Zimmerman and Co. return to Starkville.

A shoreline along Lake Alice, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Enterprise

Mayor Harvey Ward’s 1,000-acre conservation goal

By Christian Haas | Sep. 17

Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward set a goal of conserving an additional 1,000 acres of land before he leaves office in 2031. Ward said he and his colleagues are always looking for new land to conserve. The city has acquired nearly 2,000 acres over the past nine years, but finding another 1,000 could prove challenging as Gainesville simultaneously tries to address housing shortages.

Alec Rothe (25) attacks the ball during the Gators’ matchup against Stony Brook for their homeopener, Aug. 30, 2026 at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

How Alec Rothe has elevated Florida volleyball’s success

By Nicole Scura | Sep. 17

Rothe has shined in all facets of the game. Sunday against the Troy Trojans, she recorded a school-high hitting percentage of .909. The previous record was held by former Gator Chloe Mann in 2011 (.900).

Florida head coach Todd Golden yells during the second half of an SEC Men's Basketball Tournament semifinal game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn.

Sports

Florida to host exhibition game against Stetson

By Jeffrey Serber | Sep. 17

Florida men’s basketball will host Stetson in an exhibition game on Oct. 27, with tipoff set for 7 p.m., per release.

Kelvin Cheruiyot passes the finish line at the 2025 SEC Cross Country Championships.

Sports

Gators cross country set to compete in John McNichols Invitational

By Katie Mosley | Sep. 17

Following a successful start to the season for both the men’s and women’s squads, the Gators are set to race in the John McNichols Invitational hosted by Indiana State on Saturday.

Florida head coach Jon Sumrall walks to the locker room after winning an NCAA college football game against Campbell, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

News

Florida releases injury report ahead of Auburn game

By Max Bernstein | Sep. 16

For the first time this season, Florida football released an official injury report ahead of its SEC opener against Auburn (2-0) on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Metro

18-year-old Gainesville man charged with murder

By Teia Williams | Sep. 16

Christian Eugene Howard, an 18-year-old Gainesville man, was arrested Tuesday on charges of murder and attempted robbery.

Director of the US Office of Personnel Management Scott Kupor gives an interview to Alligator reporter Alexa Ryan on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Enterprise

Fed Scott Kupor details government-wide hiring practice overhaul

By Alexa Ryan | Sep. 16

Scott Kupor, the director of the federal Office of Personnel Management, kicked off his college speaking tour at UF on Tuesday with the goal of recruiting college students to the public sector. In an exclusive interview Tuesday before his campus event, Kupor spoke with The Alligator about the goals and policy initiatives he hopes to implement during his next three years in office.

Fans sit inside the Swamp during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Campbell, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

The Conference Call: The Alligator’s football reporters pick Week 3 SEC matchups

By Ava DiCecca , Max Bernstein , Curan Ahern and Riley Orovitz | Sep. 16

After another exhilarating week of college football action, headlined this time by Texas’ thrilling 24-23 comeback win over Ohio State, 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 11-game slate.

Rent signs for Silver Creek Apartments along Old Archer Road, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Enterprise

The Fed might raise interest rates Wednesday. How could it hit Gainesville?

By Jessica Yang | Sep. 15

The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates on Wednesday for the first time since July 2023, reversing a series of cuts made in 2024 and 2025.

A tip jar at Opus Coffee, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Opinion

OPINION: Tipping fatigue shouldn't fall on frontline workers

By Angel Perez | Sep. 15

Tipping fatigue is completely real, and I feel like almost everyone has felt this tension at the register. But there’s a difference between being annoyed by a checkout screen and misunderstanding why that screen exists in the first place.