Florida Rallies to Defeat No. 7 Texas in Austin
The unranked Florida Gators erased a 14-point deficit to defeat the No. 7 Texas Longhorns 27-24 at Royal-Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon, handing Steve Sarkisian’s squad its second consecutive defeat of the season. Florida scored 24 unanswered points after trailing 17-3 in the second quarter, utilizing a rushing attack led by Jadan Baugh and a resilient performance from backup quarterback Tramell Jones. The loss drops Texas to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in SEC play, while Florida improves to 5-2 under head coach Jon Sumrall.
Longhorns Jump Out Early Before Offense Stalls
Texas seized control early when Ryan Niblett returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 17-3 after a 32-yard run by R. Texas quarterback Arch Manning finished with 173 passing yards and a touchdown, connecting with Emmett Mosley on a 62-yard gain and hitting Cam Coleman for a 9-yard score with 4:21 remaining to cut the deficit to 27-24. Yet, a late fumble by Manning when sacked by the Gators defense snuffed out the potential game-winning drive with 1:58 left on the clock.
Baugh player. 🤙 pic.twitter.com/votoHq56Qp
Gators Overcome QB Injury Behind Jones and Baugh
Florida entered the contest missing starting quarterback Aaron Philo, who suffered a shoulder injury the previous week against South Carolina. Stepping into a hostile environment for his first career start, Tramell Jones completed 22 of 35 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns, both caught by Lacota Dippre. Jadan Baugh anchored the ground game with 25 carries for 91 yards and an 11-yard touchdown run with 6:22 left in the fourth quarter that stretched the Gators’ lead to 27-17. Patrick Durkin added two field goals, including a 28-yard kick that gave Florida the lead for good at 20-17.
Injuries and Historical Precedent Shadow Texas Season
The defeat places the Longhorns in unfamiliar historical territory, as 2026 Texas becomes the first AP No. 1 to lose back-to-back games to unranked opponents since 1961. Compounding the offensive struggles, Texas lost star pass rusher Colin Simmons in the fourth quarter to an apparent leg injury that required a cart to take him to the locker room. Simmons leads the nation with 10.5 sacks this season, and his absence leaves a glaring void in a defense that has carried the team through stretches of inconsistent play. Head coach Steve Sarkisian now faces an uphill battle to keep the program’s College Football Playoff aspirations alive with a matchup against Ole Miss looming next Saturday night.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Upset
How did Florida’s defense perform?
Florida forced crucial turnovers and held the Longhorns to 99 rushing yards on 30 carries.
DE-FENSE 👏 👏Myles Graham forced it. Kanye Clark recovered it. pic.twitter.com/DzOTNwMUZS
What were Tramell Jones’s final statistics in his debut?
In his first career start, Tramell Jones completed 22 of 35 pass attempts for 155 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception, while also adding 41 rushing yards on 10 carries.
Who are the upcoming opponents for both teams?
Following this SEC showdown, Florida prepares to face Georgia, while Texas returns home to host Ole Miss on Saturday night.
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