COVID-19 - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier during warmups before a football game between the South Florida Bulls and the Florida Gators on Sept. 6, 2025, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Florida falls out of AP Top 25 Poll

By Max Bernstein | Sep. 7

The Florida Gators football team fell outside the AP Top 25 rankings following an upset loss against South Florida.

News

Mini crossword for Sept. 7, 2025

By Rohit Paranjape | Sep. 7

Play The Alligator's original daily mini crossword

Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier talks to a referee during a football game between the South Florida Bulls and the Florida Gators on Sept. 6, 2025, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

‘Spot the ball’ (five yards back): Gators collapse to Bulls in penalty-ridden affair

By Luke Adragna | Sep. 6

Throughout the weeks leading up to the Gators’ season opener, head coach Billy Napier coined the phrase, “Spot the ball.” Florida spotted the ball several times on Saturday — 15 yards, 10 yards and five yards behind the line of scrimmage.

The Florida Gators face off against the USF Bulls at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Florida vs. South Florida: Live updates

By Max Bernstein | Sep. 6

The No. 13 Florida Gators (1-0) are set to face off against the South Florida Bulls (1-0). Florida is fresh off a 55-0 victory over Long Island, while South Florida defeated then-No. 25 Boise State 34-7 last week. Follow along for updates throughout the contest.

Government agencies are watching immigrants’ social media more closely, which makes many people afraid to post online, causing censorship.

El Caimán

Social media vetting is now part of the visa application process

By Sofia Alamo | Sep. 6

Social media surveillance is now a matter of national security. After a three-week suspension in May, international student visa appointments resumed on June 19 — this time, with new regulations from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Florida Ice Hockey Club celebrates its first National Championship win on Wednesday, March, 13, 2024.

Sports

Florida hockey routs Embry-Riddle in season opener

By Daniela Ortiz | Sep. 6

The Gators hockey team kicked off its season in a matchup against Embry Riddle on Friday.

Florida Gators wide receiver Vernell Brown III (8) and offensive lineman Knijeah Harris (77) celebrate a play during a football game between the Long Island Sharks and the Florida Gators on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Gators look to put brakes on South Florida offense, Byrum Brown

By Riley Orovitz | Sep. 6

The Gators' defense will look to stop dual-threat Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown and South Florida's quick-tempo offense.

People line up at the new Express Entry a new facial authentication system for faster access, to enter Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for the UF vs. LIU game on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Sports

At Gator football games this season, your ticket could be your face

By Saugat Shrestha | Sep. 6

Getting into Gators games just became as easy as taking a selfie.

News

Mini crossword for Sept. 6, 2025

By Rohit Paranjape | Sep. 6

Play The Alligator's original daily mini crossword

Sports

Gator Esports Center grand opening gives UF’s gaming community a home base

By Amanda Roman | Sep. 5

With the launch of the Gator Esports Center, the club has shown it’s here to stay.

"Caught Stealing" tells the story of a baseball player who finds himself playing a whole different ballgame after falling into the crime-ridden underbelly of 1990s New York City.

The Avenue

‘Caught Stealing’ throws curveball after curveball

By Isabel Kraby | Sep. 5

Darren Aronofsky’s latest film will have viewer’s hearts racing, and not just during Austin Butler’s shirtless scenes.

Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, front left, gestures as he speaks to supporters and members of the media before a bill signing by Gov. Ron DeSantis, front right, Nov. 18, 2021, in Brandon, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

Enterprise

As Florida plans to end vaccine mandates, UF Health calls them ‘safe and effective’

By Bruna Arnaes Baptista Moreira | Sep. 5

After Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo announced plans to eliminate all vaccine mandates in Florida, UF Health released a contradictory statement emphasizing the importance of immunizations.

Metro

Gainesville City Commission selects interim city manager, plans to replace historic building with trailhead

By Grace Larson | Sep. 5

In a unanimous vote, the Gainesville City Commission named current Chief Operating Officer Andrew Persons as interim city manager.

Principal Investigator of the RNA Engineering Laboratory Elias Sayour discusses a potential new vaccine for pediatric brain cancer Assistant Scientist Chao Xie on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025.

Enterprise

A universal vaccine for cancer? UF scientists say they’re one step closer

By Sofia Bravo | Sep. 5

A universal vaccine developed by UF scientists has shown breakthrough results for cancer treatment.

Immigrant and bilingual children in Florida classrooms face uncertainty after the U.S. Department of Education rescinded 2015 guidance on English learner services, affecting more than 1,000 students in Alachua County.

El Caimán

Docentes de Alachua se encuentran en “incertidumbre” tras retrocesos nacionales en la enseñanza del inglés

By María José Cordero Castillo and Logan McBride | Sep. 5

Durante casi una década, Kevin Kelsey ha enseñado inglés a estudiantes del condado de Alachua. Ahora, al iniciar otro año en Gainesville High School, teme que los cambios en la política federal estén erosionando las protecciones para los estudiantes.

UF tennis player Henry Jefferson pictured during a match against the University of North Florida on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.

Sports

‘I think they’re really hungry’: Gators hopeful preseason will define a successful spring.

By Hunter DeLauder | Sep. 5

Florida men's tennis has optimism heading into the fall that a successful preseason will carry over to the regular season.

News

Mini crossword for Sept. 5, 2025

By Rohit Paranjape | Sep. 5

Play The Alligator's original daily mini crossword

Florida Gators forward Njeri Butts (14) during the first half team’s game vs the UCF Knights at Donald R. Dizney Stadium on Thursday, August 28, 2025.

Sports

Gators soccer ties 2024 win total, survives thriller against FGCU

By Adrian Carmona | Sep. 4

Florida soccer tied its win total from 2024 and secured its fourth win of the season against Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday.

Metro

Alachua teachers left ‘uncertain’ after national English language-learning rollbacks

By María José Cordero Castillo and Logan McBride | Sep. 4

On Aug. 20, the U.S. Department of Education rescinded a 2015 guidance on English learner services. The guidance served as a roadmap for how these tools are provided to nearly 5 million students nationwide, including more than 1,000 in Alachua County.

Metro

Two-car crash misses Midtown apartment complex by only a few feet

By Alexa Ryan | Sep. 4

On Wednesday afternoon, two cars crashed into each other in front of the Hub on Third apartment complex, missing the building by a few feet and hitting a traffic light pole.