Sports | Football - The Independent Florida Alligator

Freshman wide receiver Eugene Wilson III dives toward the end zone in the Gators' 39-36 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Napier finds silver lining in Gators’ Arkansas loss

By Krisha Sanghavi | Nov. 8, 2023

Disappointment flooded Ben Hill Griffin Stadium as the Florida Gators suffered a 39-36 loss against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Arkansas snapped a six-game losing streak and clinched its first-ever victory in the Swamp to halt the Gators’ undefeated season at home. Although fans found the loss a tough pill to swallow, Florida head coach Billy Napier found silver linings in the performance.

Redshirt junior quarterback Graham Mertz is embraced by his teammates in the Gators’ 39-36 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Hogs run wild, create questions for rest of Florida’s season

By Jackson Reyes | Nov. 6, 2023

The Gators have now dropped their last two games and face a gauntlet the rest of the way in search of clinching bowl eligibility. While one loss is more excusable as it came against the No. 1 team in the country — the Georgia Bulldogs Oct. 28 — the other spells questions for Florida the rest of the way out.

Sophomore running back Trevor Etienne runs the ball in the Gators' 39-36 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Hogs break Gators' hearts in overtime

By Topher Adams | Nov. 4, 2023

The Florida Gators (5-4, 3-3 SEC) fell to the Arkansas Razorbacks (3-6, 1-5 SEC) 39-36 in overtime. The loss was Florida’s first overtime game since Dan Mullen’s last game in charge when the Gators lost to Missouri in 2021.

Sophomore Trey Smack warms up before the Gators' game against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida vs. Arkansas: Live Updates

By Luke Adragna | Nov. 4, 2023

Follow along here for live updates from the Gators matchup with the Arkansas Razorbacks

Running back Montrell Johnson rumbles through the defense in the Gators’ 43-20 loss against the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators look to get back on track against Arkansas

By Luke Adragna | Nov. 3, 2023

After a miserable 43-20 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs, the Florida Gators (5-3, 3-2 SEC) have the opportunity to clinch bowl eligibility with a win against the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-6, 0-5 SEC) Saturday at home.

Austin Simmons flipped his commitment to Ole Miss Saturday, June 17, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida linebacker Shemar James out for season with knee injury

By Luke Adragna | Nov. 1, 2023

Florida Gators sophomore linebacker Shemar James underwent season-ending knee surgery Tuesday and will sit out the remainder of the 2023 season, Florida head coach Billy Napier confirmed Wednesday.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida linebacker Shemar James out for season with knee injury

By Luke Adragna | Nov. 1, 2023

Florida Gators sophomore linebacker Shemar James underwent season-ending knee surgery Tuesday and will sit out the remainder of the 2023 season, Florida head coach Billy Napier confirmed Wednesday.

Freshman wide receiver Eugene Wilson III runs with the ball past a Georgia defender in the Gators’ 43-20 loss against the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators show signs of promise amid humbling defeat to No. 1 Georgia

By Topher Adams | Oct. 30, 2023

UF couldn’t compete with Georgia — and has now lost the last three to the rival Bulldogs. Even in a blowout loss, however, Florida head coach Billy Napier’s program continues to build and show glimpses of a future where the Gators can once again rival their northern neighbors.

Two Gators volleyball players attempt to block the ball in Florida's 3-0 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

No. 10 Arkansas takes down No. 19 Gators in a three-set sweep

By Alyssa Britton-Harr | Oct. 29, 2023

The No. 19 Florida Gators (14-5, 6-4 SEC) were swept by the No. 10 Arkansas Razorbacks (20-3, 10-1 SEC) 3-0 Sunday afternoon in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

Senior wide receiver Ricky Pearsall catches the ball in the Gators' loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in Jacksonville, Florida, on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Swamped: Bulldogs pummel Gators in Florida-Georgia rivalry

By Luke Adragna | Oct. 28, 2023

The Florida Gators (5-3, 3-2 SEC) lost to the Georgia Bulldogs (7-0, 5-0 SEC) 43-20 Saturday at EverBank Stadium. Georgia’s defense earned four sacks and three turnovers against Florida’s offense, which struggled despite an optimistic first drive.

Punter Jeremy Crawshaw warms up before the Gators' game against the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida vs No. 1 Georgia: Live Updates

By Jackson Reyes | Oct. 28, 2023

Follow along here for live updates from the Gators rivalry matchup with the Bulldogs

Running back Montrell Johnson Jr. runs the ball against a Georgia defender in the Gators' 42-20 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida renews its rivalry with Georgia Saturday in Jacksonville

By Jackson Reyes | Oct. 27, 2023

The Gators (5-2, 3-1 SEC) still control their destiny in the SEC East but will face their biggest test all season against the reigning back-to-back national champion Bulldogs (7-0, 4-0 SEC). Florida is riding a two-game winning streak into the matchup.

Gators safety Tre'Vez Johnson dives to make a tackle against a Georgia player in Florida's 42-20 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Know Your Enemy: Georgia Bulldogs

By Jackson Reyes | Oct. 27, 2023

I sat down with Owen Warden, the assistant sports editor at the Red & Black, the independent student newspaper at the University of Georgia, to break down the matchup and learn more about the Bulldogs this season.

Redshirt senior linebacker Teradja Mitchell makes a tackle in the Gators’ 38-14 win against the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators tighten up for Georgia during bye week

By Krisha Sanghavi | Oct. 25, 2023

The Florida Gators caught a breather in their schedule last weekend, but there was no rest in sight. With a well-timed bye week, UF head football coach Billy Napier took the time to gear up for UF’s annual rivalry match against the No.1 Georgia Bulldogs.

Kyle Pitts against Vanderbilt in November of 2019.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators in the NFL: Week seven roundup

By Luke Adragna | Oct. 24, 2023

Six teams were on bye in week seven of the NFL season. However, despite less football, several Gators stepped up in big ways for their teams.

Running back Errict Rhett dives into the end zone in the Gators' 33-26 win against the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Oct. 30, 1993.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Anthone Lott calls his shot: Remembering the “Timeout Game” on its 30th anniversary

By Jackson Reyes | Oct. 23, 2023

The year is 1993. The Florida Gators opened the season with a dominant 5-0 start and were the No. 4 team in the country before a heartbreaking 38-35 loss on the road against Auburn. With Florida’s perfect season ruined, the Gators turned their direction to Jacksonville, to play against hated rivals, the Georgia Bulldogs on Oct. 30, 1993.

Redshirt junior quarterback Graham Mertz and junior offensive lineman Richie Leonard IV celebrate a Florida touchdown in the Gators' 38-14 win against the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida football midseason review

By Topher Adams and Jackson Reyes | Oct. 23, 2023

Despite the season-opening defeat, Florida is now 5-2 and 3-1 in the SEC. Napier secured his first win against an AP Top 25 SEC opponent when UF defeated the then-No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers 29-16 Sept. 16.

Florida head coach Billy Napier greeting fans during Gator Walk Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Napier’s connections to the Peach state

By Brandon Hernandez | Oct. 23, 2023

On any given Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in 1990s Chatsworth, Georgia, Kurt Napier and his family would gather around the TV to watch Southeastern Conference teams duke it out on CBS. To them, football was tradition. The SEC in some parts of their northern Georgia town was religious. No one would’ve imagined that on that same television, 30 years from those moments, someone in the family would have an impact on what they saw on Saturdays.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart looks on during an NCAA college football practice at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Kirby Smart created a monster and became Florida’s next great villain

By Topher Adams | Oct. 23, 2023

Florida-Georgia is a rivalry of era-defining coaches. Vince Dooley dominated the Gators in the 1980s, and Steve Spurrier flipped the series with an 11-1 record against the Dogs. Urban Meyer kept the dominance alive in the late 2000s with five wins against Georgia in six years.

Florida Gators alternate white football helmet.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators land elite 5-star defensive lineman LJ McCray

By Jackson Reyes | Oct. 21, 2023

The Florida Gators still managed a victory during their bye week with a big win on the recruiting trail after landing five-star defensive lineman LJ McCray Saturday.