sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida Gators defensive specialist Emily Caanan (7) celebrates with her teammates after winning a point in a match against the Missouri Tigers in the O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla., on Oct. 10, 2025.

Sports

Florida volleyball tops Missouri in four sets behind Milica Vidacic’s late push

By Ava DiCecca | Oct. 10

Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier during warmups before a football game between the Texas Longhorns and the Florida Gators on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

How can Florida upset the No. 5 Texas A&M Aggies?

By Riley Orovitz | Oct. 10

The Gators are facing one of their biggest challenges of the season Saturday against the No. 5 Texas A&M Aggies. Here are three keys to the Gators' potential upset victory.

Sports

Major rule change could allow NCAA Division I athletes to bet on professional sports

By Riley Orovitz | Oct. 9

On Wednesday, the Division I Administrative Committee adopted a proposal allowing student athletes and athletics department staff members to bet on professional sports.

Florida Gators Men’s Basketball celebrates on stage with their trophy after winning the National Championship against the Houston Cougars in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas.

Sports

2025 Final Four court donated to Florida Victorious

By Adrian Carmona | Oct. 9

The hardwood of Florida basketball’s historic 2025 championship run was purchased by an anonymous donor and donated to Florida Victorious, the UF Name, Image and Likeness collective, Florida Victorious announced Wednesday morning.

Sports

Florida men’s golf finishes third in the Marquette Intercollegiate

By Brooke Bastedo | Oct. 8

Gators men's golf had an impressive comeback at the Marquette Intercollegiate tournament following impressive individual performances.

A UF women’s golf athlete swings her club at Mark Bostick Golf Course during the Women’s Golf Invitational in March 2024.

Sports

Florida women’s golf wins first tournament of the season at the University of Oklahoma Intercollegiate

By Brooke Bastedo | Oct. 8

Gators women's golf found mixed results at the Oklahoma Intercollegiate tournament, but an individual's performance stood out among competitors.

UF Women's Tennis player Nikola Daubnerova sends a ball over the net during the Florida Invitational on Jan. 11, 2025. (Credit: Kade Sowers)

Sports

Florida women’s tennis goes undefeated in doubles at annual Bedford Cup

By Nicole Lopez | Oct. 8

Florida women's tennis went undefeated in doubles following an impressive showing from its underclassmen.

Florida Gators defensive strategist Bella Lee (21) goes to dive the ball in a match against the Auburn Tigers on Oct. 3, 2025 in the O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Florida volleyball stares down five ranked opponents to finish season

By Ava DiCecca | Oct. 8

Gators volleyball is unranked for the first time since 1991. Now, they're entering one of the most difficult stretch of matches during their season.

Florida Gators Center Rueben Chinyelu (9) flexes after a slam dunk during the second half against the Grambling State Tigers at Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Monday, November 11, 2024.

Sports

Rueben Chinyelu prepares for expanded role heading into his third year

By Jeffrey Serber | Oct. 8

Gators center Rueben Chinyelu is one of the key returning players to Florida's 2025-26 roster. This season, he looks to expand his role as an offensive threat and spoke to the media about what skills he worked on during the offseason.

Florida Gators outside hitter Kira Hutson (12) bumps the ball in a match against the Auburn Tigers on Oct. 3, 2025 in the O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Florida volleyball unranked for the first time since 1991

By Ava DiCecca | Oct. 6

Gators volleyball is unranked for the first time since 1991. Florida fell to 7-6 following a loss to unranked LSU on Sunday.

Gators men's tennis freshman Jeremy Jin goes to return the ball in the team's win over Ole Miss on Friday, March 22, 2024.

Sports

UF freshman Andreas Timini’s perfect weekend at Holmes Cathrall Memorial Invitational

By Hunter DeLauder | Oct. 6

Andreas Timini's perfect record leads Gators to a successful weekend at Holmes Cathrall Memorial Invitational.

Sports

Gator Motorsports captain races against the clock in his last year on the team

By Jeffrey Serber | Oct. 6

Daniel Patel has one more chance to bring his Gator Motorsports team to the podium. He’s not leaving anything on the circuit.

Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) throws the ball during warmups before a football game between the Texas Longhorns and the Florida Gators on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Lagway cashes in on his ‘guarantee’ in season-high performance

By Curan Ahern | Oct. 6

Lagway made an explicit promise to fix the Gators’ offense, which ranked among the worst in the SEC and scored just 11 points per game against FBS opponents.

Florida Gators libero/defensive specialist Lily Hayes (13) exclaims during a volleyball match against the Norfolk State Spartans on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, at the O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

From world stage to the SEC, Lily Hayes digs deep for Florida

By Isis Snow | Oct. 6

Standing 5 feet, 9 inches tall, Hayes commands attention as the Gators’ starting libero and defensive specialist.

Florida Gators assistant coach Ryan Walthall watches his team in a volleyball match against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in the O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Florida falters in Baton Rouge after Louisiana State's fifth-set comeback

By Isis Snow | Oct. 5

Gators volleyball dropped its fourth match out of its last six. The program is at risk of falling out of the AVCA rankings for the first time since 1991.

Florida Gators wide receiver Dallas Wilson (6) reaches into the end zone to score during a football game between the Texas Longhorns and the Florida Gators on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Dallas Wilson smashes Florida program records in dominant debut

By Max Bernstein | Oct. 5

In his collegiate debut, the freshman wide receiver grabbed six passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns, setting UF debut records in all three categories. Wilson's electric performance helped guide the Gators to a crucial 29-21 win over the Longhorns.

Florida Gators defender Abby Gemma (22) kicks the ball in a match against the Kentucky Wildcats on Oct. 2, 2025, at Donald Disney Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. The Gators tied the Wildcats 1-1.

Sports

Florida soccer earns first SEC victory with win over Texas

By Adrian Carmona | Oct. 5

Florida soccer earned its first conference win since Oct. 4, 2024.

Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) during warmups before a football game between the Texas Longhorns and the Florida Gators on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

Lagway finds his footing, Wilson shines in victory against Longhorns

By Luke Adragna | Oct. 4

Gators quarterback DJ Lagway found his footing following several miserable performances in Florida's upset victory against the No. 9 Texas Longhorns.

Florida Gators outside hitter Aniya Madkin (9) hits the ball during a volleyball match against the Baylor Bears at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Sunday, September 14, 2024.

Sports

Four players clinch double digits in kills, Florida tops Auburn

By Ava DiCecca | Oct. 3

Gators volleyball improves to 7-5 after topping Auburn at home. Alexis Stucky clinched a triple-double in the Gators' second SEC win.

Florida Gators center Micah Handlogten (3) and guard Urban Klavzar (7) applaud their teammates during a basketball game against UConn in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C.

Sports

Micah Handlogten eyes return to the court after a successful offseason

By Jeffrey Serber | Oct. 3

Florida center Micah Handlogten spoke to the media about the progress he made during the offseason and his enthusiasm heading into his second-ever opener with the Gators.