Gameday: Florida vs UCF (Saturday, 7:45 p.m.)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — They had two weeks to process (and enjoy) their first win over a major opponent this season. Billy Napier and his Florida Gators, however, know they didn't conquer an empire by going on the road and defeating Mississippi State, perhaps the worst team in the Southeastern Conference, with relative ease in a 45-28 victory. But UF found some rhythm on offense, got some stops on defense and brought the first real feel-good moment of the 2024 season into a bye week.

Now the Gators are back home to face a completely different challenge; a very different one than what strong, likely CFP-bound Miami dealt them in a one-sided fashion, or what league foe Texas A&M did last month in edging the home team at Spurrier/Florida Field.

This time UF (2-2) faces UCF (3-1), the angry, feisty and envious stepbrother from down in Orlando.

(Read lead writer Scott Carter's comprehensive “Opening Kickoff” breakdown here)

It's been a long time since the Knights came to The Swamp. Her first visit was a quarter of a century ago. The program was just three years into its Division I push, but got a chance to compete against the Gators under Steve Spurrier. Doug Johnson threw four touchdown passes in the first 18 minutes, the Gators rolled for 501 yards and scored a 58-27 victory. For the Knights, the result was only slightly better than a 42-0 loss to Chris Leak, Tim Tebow and a UF team en route to the 2006 national championship seven years later.

Undeterred, UCF continued its quest to want what Florida had, enjoying some exciting moments over the past two decades by skillfully building its program from the ground up, including building a raucous on-campus stadium, a rousing, undefeated one season (and No. 4 final ranking) in 2017 and entered the Big 12 Conference in 2023.

Oh, and there was also the Gators' 29-17 win in the Gasparilla Bowl on December 23, 2021 (a month after UF coach Dan Mullen was fired), which was the only other meeting between the two, but was also fair very much the Knights have closed (if not overtaken) the gap between the two programs.

And now comes The game, the first of a two-for-one deal that will send the Gators to UCF's Bounce House in 2030 and the Knights here in 2033. With the next date still six years away, it's not hard to understand how badly the Knights want to make a statement on Saturday evening. And given what both teams have said so far, to be honest, they seem quite prepared to do so.

But while UF had two weeks to build on the success, UCF had just a week to recover from the mistake-filled mess of a 48-21 home loss to Deion Sanders and his Colorado social media circus team.

Buffalo quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Shedeur Sanders passed for 290 yards and three touchdowns while the CU defense forced four turnovers, including two interceptions by KJ Jefferson (60.5 percent, 847 yards, 7 TD, 3 INT). It wasn't like the knights were completely pierced either. They outgained the Buffs by 461-418 total yards, but killed themselves with turnovers.

UCF, coached by Gus Malzahn, will enter with the No. 4 offense in the country averaging 543.3 yards per game and led by the No. 2 rushing offense with a staggering 326.0 yards per game. It's worth noting that the Knights' floor count progressively declined over the course of their four games in keeping with the defense they faced.

• vs. FCS-ranked New Hampshire: 454 yards (8.4 per carry) and five touchdowns
• against Sam Houston State: 384 yards (6.7) and six touchdowns
• at Texas Christian: 289 yards (5.4) and two touchdowns
• Colorado: 177 (4.0) and a TD

However, the Gators could serve as a good base card. The UF defense allows 188.75 yards per game, which ranks 110th nationally, as well as 113th overall in giving up 425.5 yards per game. And some (or all) Florida fans may remember what Jefferson did to the Gators — in “The Swamp,” no less — as quarterback for Arkansas last season. As a reminder: 347 total yards of offense and three touchdowns in a stunning 39-36 overtime upset.

The Florida quarterback that day, Graham Mertzwill be the same. He was also pretty good last time out in the road win at Starkville, completing 19 of his 21 attempts (90.5 percent) for 201 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. The sixth-grader has a firm grip on the QB spot, having completed 75.0 percent of his throws for 487 yards, four touchdowns and two picks for an uneven UF offense that ranks 50th nationally (30th passing, 83rd). rushing). Freshmen DJ Lagway He is expected to get a few series under center again.

The tenor is expected to react with hostility and visitors will arrive with a chip on their shoulder the size of Cinderella's castle.

Coverage begins at 7:45 p.m. on SEC Network, with the crew of Taylor Zarzour on play-by-play, Matt Stinchcomb on analysis and Tori Petry on the sideline. The Gators Sports Network broadcast from Learfield will air pregame coverage starting at 3:45 p.m., leaving Sean Kelley, Shane Matthews and Tate Casey off the field. For GSN stations click here.


The game will be re-aired Wednesday at 9 p.m. and Friday at 2 p.m., both on SEC Network.


Finally, follow senior writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and analysis during the game. FloridaGators.com will feature full post-game coverage late Saturday evening and follow-up content on Sunday.