It’s year 30 for the Visor and GatorFootball.com.  It’s been a wild ride, all the more due to the rollercoaster of the last 15 seasons.  Speaking of which……

Florida once again had to hit the reset button, firing Billy Napier after 4 years of incompetence and damage to the program and brand.  After an actual full-scale coaching search and multiple interviews (things that had to be forced upon AD Scott Stricklin, sadly), Jon Sumrall was hired from Tulane as the new head coach.  From the day he was introduced to Gator Nation, he has instilled more excitement into the fan base than seen in over a decade.  His coaching hires were made quickly and smartly, gathering actual professional and competent coaches that are familiar with SEC football and the southeast.  No more “coaches-in waiting” or buddies or yes-men or inexperienced Boy Blunders – the staff is now filled with experience and coaches that are aggressive on the recruiting trail.

The Gators are coming off their 4th losing season in the past 5 – a shocking and unnecessary fall from the elite circle of programs.  Napier and his band of fools were made a mockery by the college football world, and that makes Sumrall’s first 8 months of job performance all the more remarkable.  He’s already won the offseason – he was able to convince key players to return, he’s made himself publicly available to every media outlet, has bonded with his players, put together a Top 10 recruiting class for 2027, and has somehow engaged the fan base – things NEVER seen from Napier.  The entire staff knows the huge task ahead, but are attacking it wholeheartedly and with great energy.

Florida suffered some key losses due to graduation, portal departures, and the NFL Draft.  DT Caleb Banks, CB Devin Moore, C Jake Slaughter, OT Austin Barber, EDGE George Gumbs, PK Trey Smack, P Tommy Doman, QB DJ Lagway, WR Tre Wilson, RB Ja’Kobi Jackson, TE Hayden Hansen, S Jordan Castell, S Sharif Denson, DT Michael Boireau, and CB Aaron Gates all were either starters or key rotation pieces.  Florida again placed most of it’s financial resources towards retention of personnel ahead of going after even a handful of elite portal players – mostly due to the coaching change.  Importantly, the players retained include RB Jadan Baugh, EDGE Jayden Woods, and WR Dallas Wilson – potential all-SEC candidates and team leaders.

Coach Sumrall played in the SEC and has coached across the southeast.  He knows the expectations at Florida and, instead of talking about a “slow rebuild” or a “process”, has embraced those expectations and has publicly stated over and again he wants to win right now.  How and if/when that happens will be fascinating to watch. 

Offense

2025 was, to be kind, a complete crap fest on offense, mainly due to the incompetence of Napier, his inept staff, and his blind loyalty to an injured QB who played OK at best and often badly.  Now, the new staff has to try and pick up the broken pieces of what’s left over and somehow mold them into a SEC-worthy group in only a few months.  New OC Buster Faulkner and new Offensive Line coach Phil Trautwein have a huge task ahead of them.  At least their resumes to date are both excellent, so there’s hope that we will see an actual coherent scheme and smarter play in 2026.  Let’s break it down.

I’m starting with the offensive line because this unit has the most question marks and the farthest to come to allow Florida to be competitive on offense.  It’s gratifying to have a proven commodity like Coach Trautwein – a Gator alum and national champion under Urban Meyer – leading these guys.  Unfortunately, he was left with little to work with, due to a lack of talent and experience due to bad recruiting and coaching by Rob Sale, and losing C Jake Slaughter and OT Austin Barber to the NFL.  Fortunately, he was able to acquire some upgrades through the portal that will be relied upon right away.  At center, Harrison Moore came in from Georgia Tech, where he played for Faulkner and already knows the scheme and line calls.  This is hugely important to the success of the entire O-line.  Jason Zandamela will be his backup.  At guard, Trautwein has 3 guys with some experience to work with in Knijeah Harris, Roderick Kearney, and Bryce Lovett, who have all underachieved in their careers to date and have to step up their play.  TJ Shanahan portaled in from Penn St. where he played for Trautwein, and likely already has the coach’s trust.  The interior of the line should be solid, and will need to be, because the tackle position is a massive question mark and the single biggest worry on the entire roster.  The only players of note returning are Caden Jones (limited experience and not in the best shape previously) and Fletcher Westphal (highly-rated recruit who has been more a rumor than anything else after 3 tears of injuries and little impact when on the field).  Trautwein was able to get Eagan Boyer from Penn St. and Emeka Ugorji from Stanford through the portal, and both will immediately be in the rotation, despite limited experience.  After the fall scrimmages, Lovett may get first crack at LT.  Redshirt freshman TJ Dice could be in line for some reps if the others falter.  It’s a far from optimal situation, but if any coach can somehow mold these guys into something effective, it’s Trautwein.  He and Faulkner will have to coach their asses off this season to develop an offense that can compete against an SEC schedule.  The early returns in fall practice are good, as S&C Coach Rusty Whitt has whipped the holdovers into much better shape, and has all the OL looking leaner and quicker.  If this unit can just be “competent” relative to the rest of the SEC, I’ll take it.

Slightly less worrisome is the QB room.  The loss of DJ Lagway through the portal to Baylor has opened the starting QB position between holdover Tramell Jones and Georgia Tech portal transfer Aaron Philo.  This has been THE hot topic since spring practice, and the battle will continue into the fall and likely through September at least.  Philo has the advantage of knowledge of Faulkner’s system and more playing experience, while Jones has shown better physical traits and has picked up the offense quickly.  Even with Philo being named the game one starter, chances are that both get extended snaps through at least the first 2 games against weaker competition, and perhaps by then one will stand out and be named the starter before the trip to Auburn……or not.  Something tells me that we could see both playing in some capacity even into October for various reasons, including spotty play or injuries.  I hope not, but it’s possible.  True freshman Will Griffin is a highly-regarded recruit who has elite physical traits and has developed well so far, but obviously with no college experience he’ll be one of those “Break Glass in Case of Emergency” players unless the other QBs fail to perform.

Given the huge questions along the O-line and at QB, Florida is blessed with some of the best skill position talent in the country, starting at running back.  Jadan Baugh was priority one for Coach Sumrall to retain, and fortunately he was successful.  Baugh is an All-SEC and All-American candidate for 2026, and has everything you want – speed, strength, quick feet, and is an underrated receiver.  He will be the center of the offense and the focus of opposing defenses, which should help every other position group.  Baugh may also again be used on kickoff returns, although I’d prefer he not take on the additional risk.  Ja’Kobi Jackson was a solid #2 RB, but left for Ohio St.  The staff did a fine job of pivoting by getting Evan Pryor from Cincinnati and London Montgomery from East Carolina.  Both are experienced and also have some experience as kick returners, if needed.  Redshirt freshman Duke Clark flashed against Texas and F$U, and could be the surprise of the group.  One or all will need to spell Baugh and provide quality depth.  New coach Chris Foster should have some fun with this group.

The WR room could be one of the best in the country, and has generated the most buzz around the team.  New WR coach Marcus Davis is young, and will have a lot of pressure and expectations placed on him to maximize the talent at his disposal.  Dallas Wilson showed in just one game against Texas that he is elite, but injuries limited him to just parts of 3 other games.  He has the size, speed, and strength to be dominant, but must stay healthy and produce.  Vernell Brown III had his moments throughout 2025, but also was dinged up for much of the 2nd half of last season.  He’s quick and elusive, has experience in the return game if needed, and is a team leader.  The staff did really well in the portal, acquiring Eric Singleton from Auburn, Bailey Stockton from Georgia Tech, and Micah Mays from Wake Forest.  Singleton would have been a mid-round draft pick, but decided to reunite with his former OC in Faulkner to play in an offense that features his speed and open-field ability.  Stockton came to Florida with Faulkner and could be a sneaky good slot receiver that can extend drives and bail out the QBs when they are under duress.  Mays has good size and surprising speed, had an exceptional spring and Orange and Blue game, and is pushing for a starting role.  TJ Abrams is now in his 3rd year and needs to break out.  True freshmen Davian Groce and Justin Williams are excellent prospects, and one could earn some snaps this fall – right now Williams has looked the best in fall practice.  So much big-play potential in this group, but can the QBs exploit it (or be given enough time to by the O-line)?

The TE room has a lot of bodies but the most questions, and right now it would be a huge surprise if they were a major contributor to the offense.  Amir Jackson returns as the best pass catcher, but his blocking is suspect.  He is being flexed outside as a hybrid receiver in fall camp, and this may be Faulkner’s way of getting some production from him.  Luke Harpring is another GT portal acquisition that followed Faulkner to Florida.  He has familiarity with the offense, but is more of a receiving threat than a blocker.  Lacota Dippre portaled in from James Madison after their Cinderella Playoff run in 2025.  He appears to be the one person of the group that can contribute as a 3 down player – he is an accomplished blocker and a decent receiving threat with good size.  Another portal arrival is Evan Chieca, from small school New Haven.  He has good size and shown some promise as a receiver, but against far weaker competition.  Finally, true freshman Heze Kent was recruited as a TE even while playing at 310 lbs. in high school,  He actually showed good running ability at that weight, but has lost 30 pounds since arriving on campus and has shown some flashes in fall camp.  Overall it’s a group that shows more potential in the passing game, but how Faulkner eventually uses them and how much they actually contribute to a successful offense is a mystery.  New coach Evan McKissack has a huge task ahead of him to develop these guys and mold them into a functional unit.

Defense

Despite some improvement shown the last month of 2024, 2025 was another big disappointment for the defense.  There were some nice surprises, like the emergence of DE Jayden Woods and improved play from LBs Myles Graham and Aaron Chiles, but overall still too few impact players, too many missed tackles, poor safety play, and too many injuries to key players.  Similar to the offense, an almost entirely new coaching staff is in place.  The new Defensive Coordinator is Brad White, who came over from Kentucky.  His defenses were known for toughness and were zone-heavy in pass coverage, so it will be interesting to see if that toughness gets instilled quickly and if he continues to emphasize zone concepts in coverage or mixes things up more at Florida given the speedier athletes at his disposal.  The lone coaching holdover is DL Coach Gerald Chatman, which was a win for both Jon Sumrall and the Gators.  Given the questions on offense along the O-line and at QB, the defense may have to carry the load at least until October, if not most of 2026.

The defensive line has the potential to be one of the better units in the SEC, but it must stay healthier than in recent seasons.  The interior rotation at NG and Tackle will be led by redshirt juniors Brendan Bett and Jamari Lyons, along with sophomores Joseph Mbatchu and Jeramiah McCloud.  Bett was a pleasant surprise the last month of 2025, while the M&M boys were forced into the lineup as true freshmen due to injuries to others and played surprisingly well.  If Lyons is finally healthy, he can start to deliver on the promise he showed as a sophomore in 2024.  There are two intriguing portal transfers in DJ Kalu form Baylor and Emmanuel Oyebadejo from Jacksonville St.  Kalu could be a key depth piece in the middle, while EO is a freak athlete at 6’6″ and 300 lbs. that could be an impact player at either tackle or even DE on passing downs.  There is enough talent and depth for this group to win in the SEC.  The DE and JACK positions are led by Woods, but he has some legit help this season with the return of LJ McCray from injury, along with Kamran James and true freshman KJ Ford.  Woods is receiving preseason notice nationally, McCray looks stronger, faster, and healthier than at any time since his arrival in 2024, James is a solid contributor, and Ford has flashed so much promise in both spring and fall practices that he will be in the rotation right away.  Coach Chatman is a proven developer of talent, and this group could be especially nasty on passing downs, with so many guys able to slide between positions inside and outside.

The LB corps could be the best one in Gainesville since 2019, and will be relied upon to elevate the entire defense.  The aforementioned Graham and Chiles are the leaders going into their junior seasons.  Both have proven themselves in the SEC with the size and occasional coverage ability needed to be a big piece of an effective defense.  Myles Johnson has impressed in practice with his offseason development paired with elite speed and is pushing for more snaps. Senior Jaden Robinson and sophomore Ty Jackson should be solid rotation/depth pieces.  With the expected improved play from the D-line, this unit has the opportunity to really shine.  This group must stay healthy, as there is little experience behind the guys mentioned here.  New coaches Greg Gasparato and Gator alumnus Bam Hardmon have their work cut out for them teaching the new schemes and trying to develop depth.

The secondary is similar to the D-line in terms of potential combined with the hope for good health.  There were some good moments last season, but injuries gutted various positions and it was a very young and makeshift group by season’s end.  Those misfortunes did provide opportunities for some freshmen to get extended playing time the last month, and that could pay huge dividends in 2026.  New coaches Brandon Harris (Cornerbacks) and Chris Collins (Safeties) seem to have injected some real juice into their units, and they have some legit talent to work with.  At CB, there’s a mix of old and new.  Redshirt juniors Cormani McClain and Dijon Johnson are likely at the top of the depth chart.  Both are capable SEC-level players that have had their moments, but both have struggled with injuries and must take a leadership role.  They are followed closely by sophomores J’Vari Flowers and Gator legacy Ben Hanks III.  Both were forced into extended action the last 4 games of 2025 as true freshmen, and they embraced the challenge while showing real promise for the future.  Both showed rapid improvement despite some missed assignments (which were to be expected) and that experience has them right in the mix for big roles in the rotation.  Jordy Lowery portaled in from East Carolina and is the most experienced backup as a 5th-year senior.  The STAR position appears to be a battle between redshirt sophomore Kanye Clark (portal from UCLA) and JUCO transfer Elijah Owens (Mississippi Gulf Coast).  Clark has the edge in high-level experience, and has impressed in practice and in the S&C program.  Owens was familiar to coaches White and Collins when they recruited him while at Kentucky.  He has a larger physical presence, but lacks P4-level experience.  This position has question marks, and could see one or more of the CBs or safeties get involved based on early performance.  The safety position has been a real struggle at Florida since 2016, and perhaps there finally is enough talent and depth here to provide the last level of defense that’s been sorely lacking.  There appears to be a solid 4-man rotation among returning starter Bryce Thornton, portal transfers DJ Coleman (Baylor) and Cam Dooley (Kentucky), and sophomore Lagonza Hayward, another freshman thrown into the fire last season due to injuries to others.  There is enough experience, speed, and physicality here to appear SEC-ready.  Redshirt senior Alfonzo Allen Jr. was an afterthought for most of his career until being forced into duty the last half of 2025, and he had his moments as a fierce tackler and vocal leader, despite coverage limitations.  Sophomore Drake Stubbs played mostly on special teams last season, and is likely just a depth piece barring a rash of injuries to the others.  It will be very interesting to see if Coach White stays with his zone coverage scheme for the most part, especially with this being a new system for the secondary to learn.

Special Teams

No more “Gamechangers”, no more 12 men on the field, no more “2 players with identical numbers on the field”.  Despite the loss to the NFL of both PK Trey Smack and punter Tommy Doman, the outlook for special teams is promising.  Sumrall and new ST coach Johnathan Galante were able to get both PK Patrick Durkin and punter Alec Clark to transfer in from Tulane.  That familiarity should prove valuable, but both also had excellent seasons in 2025.

Galante’s main task is to unlock the return game by identifying the kickoff and punt returners – he has a plethora of elite athletic talent to choose from.  My hope is that Jaden Baugh isn’t used due to the unnecessary injury risk.  The talent pool of VB3, Singleton, Abrams, and Lloyd, along with true freshmen Groce and Williams, should be more than enough to provide the explosiveness missing more often than not in the return game for too many years.  There is now enough roster depth to ensure continued excellent kickoff and punt coverage units.

Coach Sumrall has injected himself into coaching the special teams, showing his acknowledgement of their importance and also getting the attention of the players.  It’s not just lip service – he’s running drills with the players and coaching them up.  It reminds me (again) of Urban Meyer’s days in Gainesville, when he prioritized elite special teams.

Schedule and Outlook

The 2026 schedule marks the start of the SEC’s new 9-game conference schedule, meaning the grind for any SEC team becomes even more challenging.  Every team’s schedule is hard – the only difference now is in just how hard based on the luck of your draw.  Florida comes off relatively better this season, getting 3 road games against opponents facing major coaching and/or roster turnover, and replacing Miami with a FCS opponent.  Jon Sumrall is a SEC alum and knows what to expect.  He also has a coaching staff that is actually professional and competent.  We should expect many fewer on-field gaffes along with actual in-game coaching adjustments.  Barring a rash of injuries, the schedule is as manageable as could be hoped, and far less daunting than recent seasons.

Florida Atlantic – Win

New coaching staff, better coaching staff, better defense, a functional Offensive Coordinator, real juice and excitement around the program again……all lead to a big win.  It may be a little spotty on offense at times as the new QBs get settled and the new offensive scheme is installed, but the Gators are much better than the in-state Owls – even if the FAU roster is filled with Florida kids that want to look good against Florida.  

Campbell – Win

The Camels  – one hump or two? – come to Gainesville for a big paycheck and an even bigger beatdown.  The team from a small private Christian university in North Carolina will be thrown to the proverbial lions, or in this case, Gators.  This is nothing but a glorified scrimmage, and the only things I’ll want to see are plenty of second- and third-team players getting snaps by the second half and – especially against this opponent – NO INJURIES.

@Auburn – Win

These programs have been similar in the wrong ways recently – poor coaching, poor records, exasperated fan bases.  The new head coaches have faced each other from their previous jobs.  Alex Golesh got the Auburn job primarily off of his win at Florida while at USF last season, but he won’t be facing a useless opposing head coach this time.  It’s the first road game and SEC game, and Jordan-Hare Stadium at night can be a tough place to play.  I’m banking on the new Gator staff plus, frankly, the better roster, to pull out a close win.  This game could be a huge momentum boost for the winner.

Mississippi – Loss

Even if Florida is coming off of a big road win and back home, the Rebels have a big edge at QB with Trinidad Chambliss and the experience of making it to the Playoff semifinals last season.  Yes, Lane Kiffin and his elite offensive playcalling are gone to LSU, but I’m just not sure if the Gators are ready to put together consecutive big efforts this early under the new regime.  Ole Miss also returns many starters and offensive skill players.  This game likely stays close until the end.  

@Missouri – Win

The Tigers have – sadly – been a thorn in the side for the Gators far too often since they joined the SEC.  Missouri lost a lot of talent to graduation and the NFL, and I believe will take a step back in 2026.  Columbia is a weird place to play, and many SEC teams have struggled there.  Here’s hoping that Coach Sumrall and his staff find a way to get the win.

South Carolina (Homecoming) – Win

The Gamecocks fell flat last season after coming into the season with high hopes – similar to what befell the Gators.  Coach Shane Beamer is on the hot seat, and will ride or die with QB LaNorris Sellers, who struggled badly last season and looks to prove the NFL talk wasn’t just hype.  It’s desperation time for Carolina, and this game could easily be decided late.  This is a huge game for Florida, coming before the toughest stretch of the schedule.

@Texas – Loss

The Longhorns were a major disappointment in 2025 despite winning 9 games.  They fell short of the Playoff and along the way suffered the indignity of losing to Billy Napier at the Swamp.  Coach Steve Sarkisian went all-in for 2026 with a lot of quality portal additions, and hopes that provides enough talent to surround overhyped QB Arch Manning and make a run at the National Championship. That’s the expectation in Austin this season, and, while I’m not sure they’ll succeed, they have enough firepower at home to win this game.  It will take a near-perfect game from the Gators along with winning the turnover battle to pull off an upset.

Bye Week

Georgia (Atlanta) – Loss

Florida travels to Atlanta this year to play the Bulldogs, while the Jacksonville Jaguars renovate their stadium.  You can easily cut-and-paste most of what I said about Texas and apply it to Georgia’s 2025 season, except the Bulldogs managed to sneak into the Playoff – just to lose in a regular-season rematch against Ole Miss.  UGA should again have a tough defense, but will need their QB play to improve to make another Playoff run.  I think the continuity of Kirby Smart’s coaching tenure and recruiting will be too much to overcome, even though there have been many surprises in this rivalry game.  The game being so close to the Georgia campus will have their fan base hyped.

Oklahoma – Loss

Florida will be looking to bounce back after two tough losses, and it won’t be easy facing the Sooners – even with the game at home.  Oklahoma made their own Playoff run in 2025 and are looking for more in 2026 after losing in the 1st round at home to Alabama.  They will be led by QB John Mateer, who played most of last season with an injured hand.  Head Coach Brent Venables is known as a defensive coach, and his defense could pose serious issues for the Gator offense – especially the O-line.  My guess is that this new road venue, along with the Swamp crowd, could be enough for Florida to pull off a close win, but the Gators come up just short in another tight game. 

@Kentucky – Win

Florida has stumbled too many times since 2021 against the Wildcats, and that trend needs to end now.  Kentucky fired Mark Stoops and brought in alleged offensive wizard Will Stein to revitalize the offense and the program.  He’s talking a big game about how he’s the man, and that won’t play well against SEC foes.  They suffered a huge roster turnover after last season, along with some key losses to the NFL.  Their program rebuild is bigger than Florida’s and likely takes much more time.  I’ll go with the Gators in this one even after playing such a tough stretch of games prior.

Vanderbilt – Win

Huge props to Coach Clark Lea for what he’s done in Nashville.  The Commodores are coming off of the best season in program history in 2025, winning 10 regular season games and actually mentioned in Playoff talk until November.  Enjoy it Vandy fans, because the fall back to earth is gonna be a long and painful one.  The loss of Heisman finalist QB Diego Pavia, a few NFL draft picks, and a large number of key players to graduation means it’s major rebuild time.  Florida should win this one comfortably, barring a huge mental letdown after the previous 4 tough games.

@Florida $tate – Win

The Seminoles are in a world of hurt right now, and I relish it.  Coach Mike Norvell is only around due to his prohibitive contract buyout, their recent recruiting classes have been terrible, the luck of winning due to portal acquisitions ran out 2 years ago, and their fan base is apoplectic.  Even by the end of another rugged SEC season, Florida should have more than enough in the tank to win in Taliban City again and potentially send Norvell packing.  The game will be on Friday afternoon instead of Saturday, which should allow for an even faster case of indigestion for F$U’s faithful the day after Thanksgiving.

Overall Record          8-4

SEC Record              5-4

“You can’t hide in the SEC, and any good (or bad) will be exposed quickly.  There is no more time for slow starts and glacial improvement – Florida must come out of the box hard and fast, and keep going.  The season could go a lot of ways, and we’re about to see where.  I believe winning 8 games would be a good enough season for Napier to keep his job, and even allow for continued recruiting success.  Getting to 9 or more wins would actually get the fan base excited again and make some ripples nationally.  We will see after 2025 is over if it’s all of Gator Nation pulling one way, or Gator Nation v. Napier Nation – again.”

That was my closing paragraph in last year’s season preview.  Pretty accurate, and that last sentence said it all.  At least Napier is long gone, and we can only hope Jon Sumrall, along with the new staff and roster makeover, can begin to remove the stench and stain left behind by that group of loser coaches.  The schedule should allow for a fast start and easing in the new offensive and defensive schemes.  The overall roster looks solid despite some weaker units, but that’s where the new staff can help cover for some shortcomings.  We should expect far fewer self-inflicted wounds due to bad coaching and sloppy play, and – quite frankly – a physically weaker and out of shape team.  These upgrades alone will give the team more opportunities to win.  

Sumrall said it in his opening press conference and repeatedly in the offseason – Florida already has everything it needs in place to become a winning program and Playoff contender.  Having played in the SEC, he knows exactly what to expect, and embraces the challenge.  He wants to win immediately – no soft talk about long-term building and a “process”.  That aggressiveness should transfer to his players, who have to be delighted at the new regime and the outlook their head coach espouses.

Sumrall reminds me very much of Urban Meyer when he first arrived at Florida.  The results may never be the same, but Sumrall “gets it”, and is smart enough to give the program every chance he can to return to it’s winning ways.

It’s that time again……Heeeeeeeeeeeere come the Gators!

Well, the post Billy Napier up-and-down cycle fortunately continued to the end of the season.  Florida bounced back from it’s putrid performance the previous week against Tennessee and routed Florida State 40-21 Saturday.  It had to be cathartic for all of Gator Nation – for at least 1 week – to take out all the frustration and disappointment from a miserable 2025 season on the Seminoles, with the added bonus of denying them a bowl game.

The Gator offense kept it fairly simple, and fortunately executed the game plan to near perfection.  It was – finally – the Jaden Baugh show, as he ripped through FSU’s defense for 266 yards and 2 TDs on 38 carries.  The monster game made Baugh the 10th Gator RB with over 1,000 yards in a season, and the 3rd underclassmen to do so.  It was what everyone had been begging for all season, and finally the staff let it happen.  Despite the Seminole defense recognizing early on that Baugh was going to be heavily featured, they were powerless to stop him, and were beaten down by both Baugh and the O-line.  Watching it unfold live was especially satisfying, as the FSU defenders visibly wore down and eventually gave up trying to tackle Baugh head on as the game progressed.  DJ Lagway was efficient with 15 completions for 168 yards and 3 TDs.  Two of the TD throws were set up by play fakes to Baugh, allowing TEs Tony Livingston and Hayden Hansen easy receptions for scores.  WRs J Michael Sturdivant and Aiden Mizell contributed with some clutch drive-extending receptions.  It was a complete performance from start to finish and the most fun the players and fans had experienced since the upset win over Texas in October.

Florida’s defense played a solid game, despite having to once again overcome a myriad of injuries both coming into and occurring during the game.  FSU QB Tommy Castellanos hurt the Gators a handful of times with his legs on designed QB draws, which was disappointing to see after the defense had 11 games of tape to study and know it was coming.  He also was bailed out a few times with some ridiculous catches by his WRs, or else the final result would have been even uglier for the Noles.  The secondary did an excellent job on WR Duce Robinson, limiting him to only 3 receptions.  It was again all hands on deck, as senior safety Alfonso Allen, freshmen safety Lagonza Hayward, and freshman CB Ja’Vari Flowers filled in admirably.  Flowers played most of the game with a wrap on his right forearm which hindered his tackling ability, but he toughed it out in extended action.  The front seven played well, getting pressure on Castellanos and repeatedly winning at the line of scrimmage to disrupt the other FSU ball carriers.  DT Caleb Banks looked much better than the previous week, his first after missing most of the season due to foot surgery.  His leadership was apparent, as the DL and LBs played with aggressiveness and energy all game.  True freshman Edge Jayden Woods was a beast, harassing Castellanos all game while racking up a sack and other tackles for loss.  LBs Myles Graham and Aaron Chiles played sideline-to-sideline, repeatedly coming up with big plays.  The defense overall allowed only one true extended drive – and made two critical 4th-down stops to give the offense short fields that led to touchdowns and kept the Gators in the lead the entire way.

Now comes the offseason, with Florida welcoming it’s 5th head coach in the 15 years after the departure of Urban Meyer.  Jon Sumrall comes in from Tulane, after building that program into a Top 25 team the past 2 seasons.  He comes from the same conference and with an eerily similar record as Napier, but the hope is that he actually understands the importance of professional and accomplished coordinators and assistants.  He actually seems to have a pulse and shows some fire on the sidelines, a complete departure from the buzzkill that was Rural Meyer.  He has a huge task ahead of him – building out the roster, trying to keep the handful of key players, and starting to rebuild the Florida brand.  I wish him the best, but Gator Nation needs to be patient, as Napier, AD Scott Stricklin, and the UAA have essentially torn the program down to where it was before Charley Pell took over in 1979 – it’s that bad.  I hope that the money saved from aborting the Lane Kiffin pursuit will be used on filling out a legit SEC-quality coaching staff, and that the same additional funds promised to Kiffin for talent acquisition are given to Sumrall and his staff. 

All the best to Coach Sumrall, and here’s hoping for better days ahead for the program.  It’s time to flush away the entire Napier Error, and look ahead to the challenges of 2026 and beyond.

Go Gators!

Welcome to the ‘Massive Disappointment Bowl’, between 2 teams that had aspirations for big seasons and instead have had them turned into busts.  The only juice is that this is a rivalry game, but you wonder if either team’s players will show up with any real interest.  F$U actually can still make it to a bowl game with 6 wins, so they actually have more motivation than Florida, which has looked like it’s playing out the string and wanting to get the season over with.

The Seminole offense looks essentially like their 2023 version, albeit with lesser talent.  QB Thomas Castellanos plays the role of Jordan Travis – dangerous runner, poor passer, and WR Duce Robinson the role of Johnny Wilson – oversized WR that tries to physically overpower DBs and is good at jump balls.  Castellanos is their leading ball carrier in OC Gus Malzahn’s weird rushing scheme, and they spread the balance of the carries among a plethora of RBs.  They have piled up some decent numbers against their usual weak ACC schedule, but if they are physically challenged or fall behind, tend to make mistakes and fold under pressure.  The plan for the Gator defense is simple – contain Castellanos in the pocket, employ a spy to limit his running when the protection breaks down, and use bracket coverage on Robinson to force other players to step up.  F$U’s O-line has had it’s struggles, and Florida should be able to get penetration into the backfield and disrupt plays – if the players are motivated.  If DT Michael Boireau can play, the rotation of him, Jamari Lyons, and Caleb Banks could be disruptive.  The Gator secondary has been riddled with injuries, and DC Ron Roberts needs to actually earn his salary in his last game and give these guys their best chance of winning with an aggressive scheme.

I know what I want to see from Florida’s offense, but I also know what they are (and aren’t) capable of, especially with the terrible playcalling and game-planning by the offensive staff.  RB Jaden Baugh is the one consistent threat on offense, and even if F$U’s defense keys on him, must see 25+ touches running and receiving.  The WR corps has to contribute beyond just Vernell Brown, and the O-line needs to show some pride and play better – and smarter – than it has most of the season.  Since the Gators seem incapable of generating many explosive plays, it will have to be a grind combined with being opportunistic.  Sadly, there have been precious few examples of that this season.  Florida State’s defense has been erratic most of the season, but does have some excellent talent.  Safety Earl Little is by far their leading tackler, and also has 4 interceptions.  LB Blake Nichelson is disruptive, and DE Mandrell Desir has racked up 6 sacks.  Their defensive statistics overall look impressive, but they have been exploited by better teams.  It all comes down to the limitations of Florida’s offensive talent and whether the Florida staff goes out with one final professional effort to maximize what the players can execute.

It’s hard to believe that the combined wins coming into this year’s game is less than last year, when F$U finished 2-10.  But the Gator program took it’s turn cratering in 2025, and this matchup resembles the early 1970s based on where each program is.  Sadly, there is more interest from Gator Nation in the coaching search than the results on the field.  But at least Florida is not stuck with a head coach it doesn’t want like F$U is with Mike Norvell, with the albatross of a $50M+ buyout making him essentially unfireable for another season or two.  That narrative will kill them in recruiting and through the portal.

Gator Nation has admirably supported the team by continually filling the Swamp during this disastrous season, and I hope they do so on more time to try and rally the team.  The Gator players deserve so much better than what the coaches, AD, and UAA have done to them since 2022, and I understand why many have mentally started to check out.  Florida can easily stay with the Seminoles and win this game, but only if the players are engaged for 60 minutes and play for themselves and their teammates.  Hopefully they can overcome their own coaching staff to win the game.  The Gator players have one last chance to put something positive on film for their next head coach and/or team, while spoiling FSU’s bowl opportunity.  Hoping for the best, expecting the worst, and I have no idea what’s going to happen.

Prediction:

Florida St. 27

Florida 24

Well, if anyone wanted evidence as to how badly Billy Napier has damaged the program, they got it Saturday night.  The Gators looked just as poorly coached as usual, as they essentially laid down in embarrassing fashion in a 31-11 loss at home.  It was 31-0 at halftime, the defense was easily pushed around as it played passively (again), and the offense was inefficient and ineffective (again).  Things got so bad that the television announcers sounded sorry for the program and it’s fans, wondering what has happened to the program.  Welcome to the Napier Error and it’s aftermath.

The Gator defense looked disinterested while playing a soft scheme, and appeared it was simply hoping for Tennessee to make mistakes instead of dictating the action.  The D-line was gashed by the running game, and the pass coverage looked lost and confused by simple crossing routes.  The return of DT Caleb Banks had zero impact, as he looked out of shape and far from game-ready.  DC Ron Roberts refused to load the box to stop the run, even after the Volunteers scored easily on their first 2 drives.  When Tennessee threw, they ran simple crossing routes time and again, and the LBs and safeties were incapable of covering them.  It was as basic a game plan you could get, and yet Florida had no answers.  There was no fire exhibited by the defense, and most of the players looked like they were just going through the motions.  Another lost season has obviously affected them mentally.  To add insult to injury, CB Cormani McClain suffered what looked like a nasty knee injury.

Florida’s offense was just as brutal.  After falling behind 7-0 on Tennessee’s opening drive, the offense actually made a big play on a nice catch and run by Jaden Baugh into Volunteer territory to get the players and crowd back into the game.  However……another penalty on the O-line called the play back, and it seemed to deflate the offense the rest of the half.  That just shows how fragile and soft the mentality of the team is right now, and another indictment of the poor culture and losing environment this coaching staff has subjected them to.  The playcalling was uninspiring as usual, as was the execution.  Baugh was a one-man gang, willing himself for extra yards on running plays, and scoring the only TD on a 4th quarter reception.  DJ Lagway was allowed to play the entire game for some reason, with no live reps (again) for any backups in case they are needed next week.  The lack of competence and professionalism from the offensive staff is mind-boggling, and they can’t be gone soon enough.

That’s 3 out of the last 4 matchups for Tennessee, and their first win in the Swamp since 2003.  The Billy Napier legacy continues to grow.  I wish I could conduct a deeper dive into what I hoped would be a competitive game, but that’s simply not the case.  It’s been a roller-coaster of efforts since Napier was fired – Georgia (good), Kentucky (terrible), Mississippi (good), Tennessee (bad).  I can only hope the pattern continues for the last game and that the Gators show some heart and play with pride.

The long, slow, painful slog to the finish continues for the Gators, as Tennessee comes to the Swamp looking to finish strong after a somewhat disappointing season to date.  The Volunteers come into this game at 7-3, including close home losses to Georgia and Oklahoma where turnovers played a large part in those defeats.  They still have faint hope to sneak into the Playoff or a significant bowl game, and will be motivated for this game.

Tennessee’s offense is 2nd in the nation in scoring at 43 points per game, and is averaging just under 500 yards per game.  They play at the same fast pace as Mississippi does, so at least the Gator defense will be prepared for it.  QB Joey Aguilar leads the SEC in total yards and TD passes, and has 2 excellent WR targets in Braylon Staley and Chris Brazzel.  Brazzel leads the SEC in reception yards and TD catches, so the entire Florida secondary will be tested all night.  RBs Desean Bishop and Star Thomas average over 5 yards per carry, and take advantage of how head coach Josh Heupel’s scheme spreads the field.  This is likely the best offense the Gators will face in 2025, and it will take a massive effort to keep the score close enough for the offense to have a chance.  There’s a chance that DT Caleb Banks will be active for this game, with his only action this season coming in the 1st half at LSU.  If he does play, his presence alone would provide a huge boost to Florida’s chances, even if he gets only limited snaps.  He’ll be needed, as Michael Boireau will be out.

The Florida offense will again be forced to try and keep pace with an opponent’s high-powered attack, and that hasn’t worked out very well since the start of 2022.  DJ Lagway has to build upon his first half performance at Mississippi last week, and the playcalling must stay aggressive for 4 quarters – something not seen in a long time.  Jaden Baugh again will be the player that the defense must control first, and the Vols certainly will try.  If Tennessee crowds the LOS, their secondary must be exploited.  They are allowing 260 yards and close to 2 TD passes per game, and have struggled all season.  I just wish I had more confidence in both the players and the playcalling so that Florida can take advantage of that.  There’s hope that WR Vernell Brown III can return this week, and he’s desperately needed.  TJ Abrams and J Michael Sturdivant had their moments last week, but they need help.  The Gator O-line will face another good pass-rushing team, with the Vols averaging over 3 sacks per game.  It may be too late now to try some different lineups, but the OL somehow have to hold up for the entire game, something they haven’t done against quality opponents.

Florida has dominated this rivalry for the past 35 years, and especially at home.  Maybe that, along with a boisterous nighttime crowd in the Swamp, can provide some extra push to pull off an upset.  The Gators will have to play a clean game and win the turnover battle to have a chance, but that hasn’t been the case for 2025, and I’m afraid the current in-season losing streak extends to 4 games.

Prediction: 

Tennessee 35

Florida 27

Florida gave a spirited effort in Oxford Saturday night, taking Mississippi deep into the 4th quarter before falling 34-24.  Credit to the defense for bouncing back (somewhat) after it’s dreadful effort the previous week at Kentucky, and the offense actually looked good for one half before tanking.  With all of the hysteria around the Kiffin Bowl, the players stayed focused and played hard for the entire game……just not always well.

The Gator offense shocked everyone – including their own fans – by moving the ball well the entire first half.  The Rebels were loading up the box to stop Jaden Baugh at all costs, so DJ Lagway started taking shots downfield to TJ Abrams and J Michael Sturdivant, and actually made some accurate throws to set up touchdowns and loosen up the defense.  The running game was able to get going in the second quarter, and Florida was able to keep up with the powerful Ole Miss offense, giving the Gators a 24-20 halftime lead.  This was Lagway’s best half of football since last year’s Ole Miss game.  The playcalling was aggressive and kept the Rebel defense off balance..

However……the second half was mostly a dud.  Once again, the ghost of Billy Napier seemed to affect the playcalling, as it became painfully conservative and allowed the Rebels to dictate the action.  The Gator defense was hung out to dry, and Mississippi moved the ball at will.  The only thing that kept Florida in the game was a goal line stand and some key 4th down stops, and Lane Kiffin ignored taking easy FGs and almost cost his team the game and a Playoff spot……again.  DT Michael Boireau, LB Myles Graham, and DB Devon Moore all came up with big plays to thwart scoring drives until finally capitulating early in the 4th quarter.  After falling behind 27-24, the Gators put together their only drive of the second half, mixing the run and pass well to move inside the 30-yard line.  Then came the play of the game – Lagway rolled left on 3rd down, and made another of his trademark off-balance throws behind his receiver, resulting in a tipped pass and interception, killing the drive and momentum.  The Rebels immediately drove the length of the field, but again threw Florida a lifeline with an ill-advised 4th down double-pass attempt near the goal line that never had a chance.  The Gators still had almost 3 minutes and all of their timeouts, but couldn’t even muster one first down.  Ole Miss then got a window-dressing TD from close range to end the game.  That last Florida possession was a microcosm of the entire Napier Error regarding never developing a 4- or 2-minute offense that could have success when having to play under a time crunch.

I suppose you could take some positives from the game, including the effort and brief signs of life from the offense.  But the defense gave up over 500 yards, the offensive staff for no good reason went into a shell, and the final result was another road loss.  This is what bad teams and losing programs do, and right now that’s what Florida is.  There’s no let up in the schedule, with Tennessee coming to the Swamp and looking to pile on to the Gators’ misery.  It will be a tall order to win next week with all of the injuries piling up along with the losses.

Florida travels to Oxford for another Saturday night, prime-time beatdown, this time at the hands of a Rebel team that can’t wait to exact revenge for last year’s loss which ended their Playoff run.  On top of that, there’s the even bigger story of the Lane Kiffin sweepstakes, with Florida and a few other schools actively courting him in-season to be their new head coach.  

The Gator defense will have to play for pride and each other – hopefully – in order to avoid another blowout loss.  They were embarrassed at Kentucky last week and looked like they just gave up.  That’s a terrible look, but not completely surprising given their watching the offense struggle so often.  If Florida is going to have any chance in this game, the D-line has to be the start of it.  Mississippi has done a great job of seamlessly moving from Austin Simmons to Trinidad Chambliss after Simmons was injured over a month ago.  Chambliss seamlessly fit in and has been a revelation, both passing and running.  He is the second-leading ball carrier behind RB Kewan Lacy, one of the best in the SEC who is closing in on 1,000 yards rushing.  Ole Miss is also loaded with skill players, led by WRs Harrison Wallace and Deuce Alexander and TE Dae’Quan Wright, who is averaging 18 yards per catch.  The Rebel offense will test every area of the field, and it looks like it’s a long night ahead for the Gator defense.  I just don’t see the defense having enough impact players to even slow the Rebel attack, and their mental state can’t be good at this point.

Florida will apparently be led by DJ Lagway at QB, but I can see an early hook if he struggles out of the gate.  Mississippi’s defense has had it’s own problems, giving up a lot of points against better opposition, and wasting a great performance by their offense in their lone loss – allowing 43 points at Georgia and blowing a double-digit lead in the second half.  They are susceptible to the run game, but with the Gator passing game such a mess and missing so many WRs now, I doubt Florida can exploit it.  The big question is whether the Gators can actually put together a game plan that challenges the Rebels, let alone execute it behind an O-line that’s become a sieve the past month.  Mississippi is led by LBs T.J. Dudley, Suntarine Perkins, and Princewill Umanmielen – a name that’s familiar to Gator fans as the brother of Princely.  All 3 are excellent pass rushers, and whoever the Gator QB is will have to get the ball out of his hands quickly and decisively.

I will be shocked if this game is close into the second half, or if the Gators can stay within 3 touchdowns.  Things are that bad now, and Kiffin will relish piling on for style points with the Playoff selection committee, as well as showing Scott Stinklin what he missed out on after sticking with Billy Napier in 2024.  I hope to be wrong and have a positive review to share with you next week, but don’t count on it.  The pain continues.

Prediction:

Mississippi 45

Florida 10

Wow.

That’s most of the in-depth analysis you’ll get from me on this game.  In a shocking reversal from the previous week’s down-to-the-wire game against Georgia, the Gators mailed in a pathetic effort in an embarrassing 38-7 loss to the Wildcats.  The fear I shared in the Georgia review was realized, as it appears the team emptied the tank physically and emotionally, and there may be nothing left.  This is the 3rd straight loss at Kentucky, and could be a harbinger of a disastrous finish to this season.

Florida’s offense was inept and overwhelmed all night.  The offensive line was truly offensive, getting bullied and rarely giving Jaden Baugh or DJ Lagway any opportunities to make plays.  But I’m not sure it mattered with Lagway, as he delivered another putrid performance that included 3 turnovers and only one decent drive until he was finally – and rightfully – pulled in the second half.  It was left to Tramell Jones to unfairly take his own lumps most of the second half, and he fared no better.  There was no cohesiveness between the QBs and the skill players, and the playcalling was all-too-reminiscent of what Billy Napier continually rolled out.  It all led to only one score – a short field resulting from a Kentucky turnover to tie the game early at 7-7.  No other real threat was generated.

It took all the way until the ninth game, but the Florida defense finally caved in.  The players looked uninterested and eventually lost their competitive desire, getting pushed around the last 3 quarters of the game.  The D-line was beaten down from start to finish, and the LBs and secondary didn’t fare much better.  The scheme looked strangely soft and passive as well, and it makes you wonder if DC Ron Roberts is mentally checking out as well.  Kentucky’s offense has stunk for most of the season, and to watch it run over the Gators was sad and aggravating to watch.  I wish there was something positive to hold onto, but that defensive performance looked scarily similar to all of 2023 and most of 2024.  This could easily be another sign of the locker room starting to fracture, as the defenders have to be tired of watching the offense do little or nothing time and again.

It’s only going to get harder the last 3 games of 2025, with Mississippi, Tennessee, and Florida St. ready to pick at the carcass of the Florida football program.  After everything these players have had to endure – freshmen all the way to seniors – we can only hope they haven’t just quit on themselves and each other……but it may be the case.

Wow.

Florida heads to the Bluegrass State to take on Kentucky Saturday night, in a game that has no interest or juice outside of two disappointed fan bases.  Both teams have struggled on offense, and have defenses that have carried their respective team for much of the season but are now starting to crack under the constant pressure to keep the game within reach.  I can’t wait!

The Gator offense showed some life last week against Georgia, but ultimately scored only 20 points due to erratic QB play and an underperforming O-line.  And now things are even worse, with injuries sidelining WRs Dallas Wilson and Tre Wilson.  Vernell Brown III is a game time decision, and even if he plays he won’t be 100% healthy.  This likely means the Wildcat defense can load up to stop the run, and it could be another long night for Jaden Baugh to try and keep the chains moving and give DJ Lagway and the remaining receivers a chance at victory.  I expect Kentucky to blitz early and often to exploit the shaky play of Lagway and the O-line – it could be a real struggle for them.  Unless Brown, J Michael Sturdivant, or Aidan Mizell somehow can make a few big plays, this could get ugly, and against a bad Kentucky team that Florida normally should defeat handily.  It may be time to give some snaps to true freshman Naeshaun Montgomery, who impressed in fall practice.  The coaching staff needs to give Lagway some quick throws to beat the pressure and generate a few scoring drives.  Kentucky’s leading tacklers are LB Alex Afari Jr. and DBs Ty Bryant and Jordan Lovett, which indicates that perhaps Florida can generate a running game against a Wildcat D-line that has not impressed this season.

The Gator defense should have a marked advantage over a Kentucky offense that has been bad against SEC competition.  The QB play between starter Cutter Boley and Zack Calzada has been inefficient and lacking in explosive plays.  Calzada may have to start due to injuries to Boley, and if he does play the Florida front seven will need to apply pressure and force him into mistakes.  The Wildcats, as usual, depend on their running game, led by RBs Seth McGowan and Dante Dowdell.  Neither is a particular threat to break a long run, but both are tough inside runners that can break tackles.  UK’s passing game has struggled all season, and Florida’s secondary needs to make sure that continues to give the offense enough chances to score points.

Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops will do his usual in these circumstances – ugly up the game, try to control the clock and win time of possession, and hope the opponent implodes with turnovers.  What’s scary is that it could actually work – again – against a Gator offense lacking in confidence and playmakers right now.  I’m hopeful that somehow the coaching staff can squeeze enough out of the guys that can play and get out of Lexington with a close win.  If the defense can generate some turnovers of it’s own, the job will be much easier, but something tells me that this will be another game decided in the 4th quarter.  The fear is that the team may have little left in the tank mentally or physically after taking Georgia to the limit last week, and that the carryover effect may be a detrimental one.  It’s hard to believe Florida has lost it’s last 2 trips to Lexington, and could lose again.

Prediction:

Florida 20

Kentucky 17

Florida gave Georgia all they wanted and more on Saturday.  However, like so many other times since 2022, the Gators faded in the 4th quarter due to some questionable play calls, sketchy QB play, and a defense that cracked at the worst time.

As I hoped, the offense came out with some added juice without the anchor that was Rural Meyer holding them down.  DJ Lagway was accurate early, and Tre Wilson came straight off of a milk carton to make some impact plays, including a 42 yard TD reception after a Lagway scramble to tie the game at 7.  It was a nice response to Georgia’s opening TD drive, and provided a peek at how close this game would turn out to be.  Florida had another nice drive on it’s next possession to take a 10-7 lead before the 1st quarter ended, with a clutch 54-yard FG bomb from Trey Smack.  Then, both offenses were pretty much shut down until the Bulldogs scored just before halftime, set up by a short punt.  By then the Gators had less than 30 yards rushing, and they had to make some adjustments during the break.  After Georgia scored on their first possession of the 3rd quarter to take a 17-10 lead, you could feel the momentum swing their way, and the Gators needed to respond.  And eventually they did, tying the game at 17 midway through the quarter with a more balanced drive that saw the running game start to have an impact.  After getting the ball back following a bad Bulldog punt, Florida took the lead 20-17.  And here’s where the game was decided.  After the Gator defense got the ball back, Florida executed one of it’s best drives of the season, a methodical mix of quick passes and tough runs to drive inside the UGA 30-yard line with just under 7 minutes to play.  And then……the wheels fell off.  After Lagway was stopped just short on 3rd down and 3, interim coach Billy Gonzales seemed to suddenly become possessed by the ghost of Billy Napier.  I was fine giving the ball to your best player – Jaden Baugh – on 4th down, but I absolutely hated the bunch formation, which made it too easy for the Bulldogs to stuff him on the carry.  And just like that, everything changed.  Georgia drove right down the field for the go-ahead TD.  Florida tried to respond, but Lagway grossly underthrew J Michael Sturdivant on a broken play, wiping out a potential long pass completion down to the Bulldog 25-yard line.  That was followed by a missed read on a 4th down pass, and the game was essentially over.  Georgia ran out the clock and Florida never touched the ball again.

The Gator defense played well in spurts throughout the game, but never could make the key stop to secure the win.  Allowing an opening TD drive was disappointing, as QB Gunnar Stockton passed at will for an easy score.  The defense responded well after that, stopping the Bulldogs most of the rest of the half, until……giving up the go-ahead TD right before the half.  After letting the Bulldogs stretch their lead to 7 on the first possession of the second half, the defense again stiffened until the failed Gator 4th-down run, and after that simply could not get off the field.  Too many 3rd-down conversions allowed – collapsing at precisely the worst time.  There were some heroic efforts from a handful of the linemen and LBs, and even the Edge rushers finally showed up for a few sacks and key stops.  But there’s just enough lack of experience and elite talent to get close, but not quite to, the finish line against good competition.

It was a solid effort, and with a few better coaching decisions and more consistent execution from Lagway, the upset was there for the taking.  Instead, it became a trick instead of a treat the day after Halloween, and the Florida football program remains haunted after another failed coaching tenure.  Lagway’s play has been far short of the hype and NIL payments he has received, and the criticism is growing louder……much of it warranted.  Despite the documented injuries, his judgement and reading of coverages has been poor throughout 2025, and it has directly cost Florida wins over USF, LSU, and now Georgia.  Will we see Gonzales go to the bullpen to perhaps find a spark with another QB, or even light a fire under Lagway?  It’s doubtful, but it should have happened already earlier in the season.  We’ll see how well the staff can rally the team to play a good game at Kentucky.  My fear, though, is that the players may be on the verge of losing focus and intensity, and the rest of the season turns even uglier.