Sports

Taylor and Emmanuel earn SEC weekly honors

By Zach Moore | Aug. 24

After a magical Sunday in which everything went right for the Gators, Florida seniors Kyra Taylor and Jayden Emmanuel earned Southeastern Conference Player of the Week honors. Taylor was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week after recording a brace in each of Florida’s two victories, while Emmanuel earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

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Sports

Jon Sumrall announces Aaron Philo as expected Week 1 starting quarterback

By Ava DiCecca and Riley Orovitz | Aug. 24

After months of a quarterback battle in The Swamp, Jon Sumrall announced Monday that he is preparing for Aaron Philo to be the starting quarterback Week 1 against Florida Atlantic.

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Sports

Nick Zimmerman ushers in new era for Florida soccer

By Zach Moore | Aug. 24

A new coach often brings familiar players, and a significant portion of Florida’s 2026 transfer class followed Zimmerman from Mississippi State to Gainesville. Seven Bulldogs made the move after combining for 17 goals in 2025, accounting for almost half of their scoring.

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Sports

Can the Gators come back as a top contender this 2026-27 season?

By Sofia Alamo and Nicole Scura | Aug. 24

With a tough schedule ahead, the Gators must capitalize on their returning stars, challenge their ranked opponents and fill the gaps left by transfers to find success on the court again. The Gators’ 2025-26 season proved adjustment takes time. After 34 years under head coach Mary Wise, Florida experienced a shake-up when she announced her last full season would be 2024. 

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Sports

How Florida basketball can get Denzel Aberdeen eligible for this season

By Jeffrey Serber | Aug. 23

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 in favor of halting the U.S. District Court of Colorado's ruling that granted thousands of college athletes who were freshmen during the 2022-23 season an extra year of eligibility, which included Denzel Aberdeen.

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Sports

Florida stuns No. 3 Florida State on home turf

By Zach Moore | Aug. 23

Florida (2-1) snapped its eight-game losing streak to Florida State (3-1) with a 3-1 win at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The remarkable triumph was one of the biggest upsets in the country and gave Florida fans hope that the Nick Zimmerman era will provide excellence.

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Sports

The Alligator’s UF football beat reporters predict SEC football standings

By Ava DiCecca , Max Bernstein , Curan Ahern and Riley Orovitz | Aug. 23

The Alligator’s UF football beat reporters — Max Bernstein, Curan Ahern, Ava DiCecca and Riley Orovitz — ranked every team in the SEC from top to bottom, and the average ranking for each team determined our ultimate order.

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Sports

Early preseason takeaways: Rookies and backups lead the way through two preseason games

By Curan Ahern | Aug. 21

A combination of rookies and backups paved the way in a 24-20 road win over New Orleans, in which the Jaguars held the Saints scoreless in the second half, and Jacksonville’s depth pieces continued to shine against the Carolina Panthers.

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Sports

Kyra Taylor’s brace powers Florida to victory in home opener

By Zach Moore | Aug. 21

The first half of the match followed a familiar script from the loss against Central Florida on Aug. 13, with the Gators jumping out to a 2-0 lead before Coastal Carolina battled back. However, unlike in the opener, UF fought through adversity to regain the lead and secure its first win under Zimmerman.

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Sports

The Alligator expands sports coverage to NFL with newly established Jacksonville Jaguars beat

By Max Bernstein and Curan Ahern | Aug. 20

The Independent Florida Alligator has an extensive history of covering the University of Florida and the greater Gainesville area. But beginning in 2026, the publication is expanding its sports coverage to include an NFL beat covering the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Sports

Florida football defense preview: Returning linebackers, revamped secondary shape defensive identity

By Max Bernstein and Curan Ahern | Aug. 20

While the Gators defense will be welcomed back with an ear-popping roar from fans at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium when it faces Florida Atlantic and quarterback Caden Veltkamp in the Sept. 5 season opener, this holistic review examines Florida’s defensive unit entering a much-anticipated 2026 season.

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Sports

Florida football offense preview: Mix of returners and fresh faces contribute to new-look attack

By Ava DiCecca and Riley Orovitz | Aug. 20

For UF students, the Fall semester marks more than just the start of a new school year: It stamps the beginning of another football season in The Swamp. While the excitement is overwhelming, it can be hard for students to keep track of exactly who they will be cheering for on Saturdays and what kind of season they should expect the Gators to have.

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Sports

NCAA, U.S. District Court clash poses major implications for Florida men’s basketball

By Jeffrey Serber | Aug. 20

Now, as teams and athletes await the NCAA’s eligibility rules for the upcoming athletic season, many programs are forced to question what players they may be able to roster in 2026. For example, Florida is looking to transfer guard Denzel Aberdeen to get his waiver for a fifth year approved.

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Sports

Sumrall talks injuries, urgency following first fall scrimmage

By Curan Ahern | Aug. 17

Jon Sumrall and the Gators held their first fall scrimmage of 2026 on Saturday. While the coach was procedurally displeased, he said the scrimmage went well overall as the team preps for a Sept. 5 opener against Florida Atlantic. The biggest areas of improvement Sumrall identified following the scrimmage were procedural issues and space tackling.