Florida vs. Texas score, takeaways: Shorthanded Gators routed by No. 5 ‘Horns in first SEC meeting

Football

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Image Credit: UAA

Down multiple key starters on both sides of the ball, the Florida Gators limped into Darryl K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon to play the No. 5 Texas Longhorns for the first time in 84 years. Florida limped out with its worst loss in four years, a 49-17 defeat in Austin, Texas.

There is usually not much context that makes such a loss acceptable; however, the Gators entered their ninth game of the season immensely shorthanded against a ‘Horns team that got healthier coming off its bye. UF played without its top two quarterbacks, top two running backs, top two wide receivers and top three cornerbacks while also missing additional starters on both sides of the ball.

Limited attrition should be overcome but absences that significant are difficult to play through. A Florida team that stood tough in prior top-10 matchups against Tennessee and Georgia over the last month — both games it was positioned to win only to see redshirt senior Graham Mertz and freshman DJ Lagway knocked out in the respective contests — fell apart against Texas.

The Gators trailed 42-0 at one point, committing three costly turnovers that ballooned their deficit as the Longhorns converted all of them into touchdowns.

Florida did keep its ongoing NCAA-record 457-game scoring streak alive, initially because head coach Billy Napier decided to kick a field goal early in the second half, but it also punched in a couple late touchdowns despite never drawing closer than 32 points.

Let’s take a look at what went down Saturday afternoon in Austin.

What went wrong

• Redshirt freshman QB Aidan Warner was put in an impossible position, but his play — particularly in the first half — raised legitimate questions as to why he was starting over redshirt junior Clay Millen. Warner threw two tipped interceptions while completing 12 of 25 passes for 132 yards. He did help engineer four potential scoring drives (three converted) and flashed occasionally on play-action calls, but he missed multiple key throws in addition to the back-breaking turnovers.
• Redshirt junior running back Ja’Kobi Jackson played extremely well overall (see below), but his first-quarter fumble on a throwaway third-and-15 down helped Texas balloon its lead early.
• Florida’s secondary has been devastated by injuries this season, but Napier nevertheless preached the unit’s depth this week. The Gators safeties got worked throughout the game, and the replacement cornerbacks missed a half dozen key tackles that led to huge gains and scores.
• Junior kicker Trey Smack shanked a gimmie 30-yard field goal early in the second quarter. This on what was Florida’s best scoring opportunity of the second half, a drive that got stalled partially due to helmet communication issues.
• Redshirt senior EDGE Ja’Markis Weston made one of the most bone-headed plays in memory by spearing a punt returner about 2 seconds before he would have touched the ball.

What went right

• Jackson and freshman RB Jadan Baugh were again excellent running the ball against a ‘Horns defense that knew the Gators would be making their hay on the ground. Jackson picked up a game-high 116 yards on 19 carries, while Baugh rumbled for 88 on 19 touches with both players finding the end zone. Given all of the Gators’ offensive problems, the consistent running game remains a bright spot even with redshirt senior Montrell Johnson Jr. sidelined for the last month.
• Senior wide receiver Chimere Dike continued his stellar play, too. While Dike transferred from Wisconsin to play with Mertz, he’s been a consistent weapon for all three QBs. On Saturday, he grabbed five passes for a game-high 95 yards, including huge receptions that twice put Florida in the red zone.
• Freshman linebacker Myles Graham forced the first fumble of his career with a perfect punch out in the fourth quarter. Redshirt freshman CB Aaron Gates recovered making it eight of nine games this season in which Florida has created a turnover. Gates also had a game-high seven tackles.

Odds & ends

Florida fell to 0-3-1 all-time against Texas after the team’s first meeting in 84 years … the Gators have forced turnovers in eight of nine games this season … UF fell to 3-9 on the road and 3-13 away from home under Napier putting the program on an extended 3-19 drought away from The Swamp with a 3-14 mark in its last 17 true road games … Florida under Napier is 3-14 when opponents score first, 1-12 when scoring less than 21 points, 5-19 when allowing 21+ points, 1-17 when tied or trailing after the third quarter and now 12-5 when rushing for at least 150 yards … the Gators are 2-14 against AP Top 25 teams under Napier, 1-9 over the last two seasons … Florida has scored in 457 consecutive games, an NCAA record

What it means

Not much given the Gators’ injuries and early turnovers, which put Florida in a devastating hole early in the second quarter. Napier’s vote of confidence from (still somehow active) athletic director Scott Stricklin was released ahead of this game for a reason. Fans will continue calling for Napier’s ouster despite that statement, and those feelings are certainly justified given Florida’s continued poor play and lack of results through three seasons under this coach.

Still, circumstances should not be ignored for convenience. The Gators have played exceedingly well over the prior month — even as these injuries piled up — and it’s difficult to beat any team when shorthanded to this degree, particularly a top-five program coming off extra rest with starters playing every position except running back.

All five of Florida’s losses this season are to opponents currently ranked in the top 10 nationally, and while those are games the Gators used to win and should expect to win, their record might look more like 2-3 in those games had starting QBs Mertz and Lagway had not gone down against UT and UGA.

What’s next?

The toughest schedule in the nation does not get any easier next Saturday as Florida hosts No. 15 LSU at 3:30 p.m. in a game that will air live nationally on ABC. There is an outside chance the Gators get Lagway back for that contest, but his health will be monitored throughout the week as hamstring injuries are tricky and must be managed tightly.