Florida Gators, Texas A&M both facing a must win game

Two teams coming off of a loss will meet Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium with a lot to play for and a lot to lose.

The Florida Gators (3-2/3-1 SEC) will host the Texas A&M Aggies (4-2/2-1 SEC) in the Aggies’ first ever trip to Gainesville. Florida is coming off of a tough loss to rival LSU and Texas A&M hung around in a loss to Alabama 27-19. A&M doesn’t control their own destiny; they’ll need some help to win the SEC West but the Gators still control their fate.

This week is a SEC matchup, even if it may not feel like one. Florida and A&M have played just three times previously with the last matchup coming in 2012.

“I remember watching that game,” sophomore Chauncey Gardner, who was a sophomore in high school the last two times these teams met said. “It feels different, but in the SEC you got to go out and win an SEC game and improve our record, just like they’re trying to improve their record. So we just got to go out there and compete and play SEC ball.”

The Aggies may not be a familiar opponent but they’re a legitimate SEC team in terms of size and speed. They’re also playing for a coach that is on the hot seat, one they all committed to in Kevin Sumlin. It’s an Aggie defensive line that leads the SEC in sacks (23) and tackles for a loss (48) and they’ve created 13 turnovers in six games.

They’re not a team to be taken lightly and, quite frankly, Florida can’t afford to take any team lightly. There’s no time for players to feel down about losing a game. Florida can’t afford to let one bad result turn into two.

“It’s going to be two sides and who wants it more,” senior Jordan Sherit said. “I think that’s the answer and what we’re going to find out at the end of the game. There’s talent on both sides, on both sidelines. It’s going to be who wants it more.”

Nick de la Torre
A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC