When: Saturday, 4:15 p.m.
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville
Latest line: UF is favored by 17.5 points
TV: SEC Network
Weather: 93 degree, 10% rain chance
Coaches: Alex Golesh 15-12; Billy Napier 20-19 (60-31 overall)
Quick slant: The Gators’ 55 points against Long Island University were the most under Napier. The Bulls’ 34-7 win against Boise State was the first under Golesh against a Top 25 opponent. UF has sold out 14 consecutive games.
About USF (1-0): Dual-threat quarterback Byrum Brown will be UF’s defensive focus. He missed most of 2024, but in 2023 joined Heisman winner Jayden Daniels of LSU as the only player to throw for more than 3,000 yards and rush for more than 800. Coming off a 14-tackle performance, veteran linebacker Jhalyn Shuler leads the Bulls’ defense.
Florida running back Jadan Baugh makes an athletic leap during a 104-yard performance against Long Island University Aug. 30 at at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
About UF (1-0): Napier has never been part of a team that didn’t commit a penalty or turnover while shutting out an opponent, a trifecta the Gators completed against LIU. Thanks to four runs longer than 15 yards, tailback Jadan Baugh needed just 9 carries for 104 yards, the sophomore’s second 100-yard game at UF.
Three things to watch
1. Takeaways. Safety Bryce Thornton’s scoop-and-score on the game’s third play marked UF’s 11th straight game with a takeaway, while igniting a season-opening rout and dominating defensive performance as LIU managed just 2 first downs. USF recovered three fumbles and forced four turnovers on downs to shock Boise State.
2. UF’s O-line. The Gators are counting heavily on a veteran group featuring All-American center Jake Slaughter and preseason All-SEC first-teamer Austin Barber. But redshirt sophomore Bryce Lovett’s struggles at right tackle highlighted a disjointed, disappointing season-opening performance for a unit that allowed 11 tackles for loss.
3. Kicking game. Despite a 56-yard effort, senior Trey Smack missed three of five field goals to tie his total misses in 2024. Meanwhile, Nico Gramatica, son of longtime NFL kicker Martin Gramatica, drilled a 52-yarder against Boise State — the USF sophomore’s fourth career 50-yarder.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
