No. 16 Florida’s struggles continue during 38-19 loss to South Carolina

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s homecoming game was anything but a celebration, ending with a half-empty stadium and a crushing loss to underdog South Carolina, a team that was riding an eight-game SEC losing streak.

During Saturday’s 38-19 defeat by the Gamecocks, the Gators’ vaunted run game deserted them for the second straight week while their season-long defensive struggles continued.

“I’m frustrated with every part of what we did today. It starts with me,” coach Jon Sumrall said. “So, so many things to clean up.”

Fans ushered the Gators off the field at halftime with a chorus of boos after Sumrall and his staff mismanaged the clock akin to Billy Napier’s mishaps during the previous four seasons.

Disgusted Florida faithful eventually flooded the exits after South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers found backup tailback Jabree Coleman wide open for a 21-yard touchdown with 8:07 remaining.

Sellers’ fourth scoring pass of the day was his most since a five-touchdown day against Missouri in November of 2024, back when the Gamecocks’ star was considered a potential top-10 NFL pick. Against the Gators’ defense, the 6-foot-3, 238-pound senior looked the part again.

Sellers and the Gamecocks were unstoppable while scoring 21 unanswered points after Patrick Durkin’s 48-yard field goal cut the lead to 17-13 on Florida’s opening possession of the second half after a 45-minute lightning delay.

“We wore down a little bit on really in all phases,” Sumrall said.

Florida’s offense, one of the nation’s best in September, couldn’t keep up for the second straight week in October.

Looking to rebound from last weekend’s ugly 45-17 loss at Missouri, the Gators (4-2, 2-2 SEC) now find themselves in a deep hole with a visit to No. 1 Texas next and an Oct. 31 trip to Atlanta to face No. 2 Georgia.

Meanwhile, embattled coach Shane Beamer and South Carolina (3-3, 1-3 SEC) picked up their first win the Swamp since 2014 under Steve Spurrier and first conference victory since beating Kentucky 35-13 on Sept. 27, 2025.

During the two-year skid, the Gamecocks struggled to close out games, squandering leads — four of them eight points or more — during their past five SEC losses.

Against Florida, South Carolina built an 18-point cushion by the end of the third quarter. The Gamecocks effectively ended any hopes of a Gators’ comeback when star defensive end Dylan Stewart — back from a one-game suspension for fighting — forced a fumble by quarterback Aaron Philo with 12:58 to go.

The miscue was one of three Florida turnovers, including a Philo interception by veteran cornerback Vicari Swain, who returned the ball to the Florida 26 to set up Sellers’ 12-yard touchdown pass for Mazeo Bennett Jr. for the go-ahead score, at 17-10.

Early on, the Gators appeared ready to put the Missouri loss behind them. On Florida’s second possession, Philo found Bailey Stockton in space on a well-designed play that turned a third-and-six into a 59-yard score for a 7-0 lead.

But as a week earlier, Florida struggled to run the ball and the defense was a sieve.

Jadan Baugh, the SEC’s leading rusher, finished with just 59 yards and had one run longer than 10 yards as the Gators managed just 120 yards on the ground.

The Gamecocks converted 10 of 16 third downs, going 3 of 3 during their first touchdown drive, ending with Sellers’ 15-yard touchdown to star receiver Nyck Harbor in the corner of the end zone on third-and-10.

Sellers finished 23 of 35 for 279 yards while Harbor caught four passes for 83 yards.

Stockton was a rare bright spot on a dreary day in Gainesville, catching eight passes for 127 yards as Philo, his former high school teammate in Georgia, threw for 227 yards on 21-of-28 passing.

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