My immediate reaction column to the win over Auburn was about the end-game strategy. I didn’t want to get too far into the details before rewatching some stuff, but now I have and am willing to expound a little more. And since this is the VIP subscriber newsletter, I’m also willing to go a bit further with some of my reactions.
First, this is easily the best offense since 2020 that we’ve seen from the Gators. Nothing else comes close. Nearly the only thing that can stop them is themselves, and some bad luck.
You already know that both of Aaron Philo’s interceptions came on balls that popped up in the air after it hit the target in the hands. Do you also remember from a pre-opener article of mine that both of his 2024 interceptions also came after hitting the target in the hands?
Only his one pick against Gardner-Webb in 2025 was a normal one where it didn’t hit the target in not one but both hands before ricocheting to a defender. Philo had a rough opening to that one, getting strip-sacked on the first drive and then throwing a terrible interception on the second. He was rolling right and threw deep while hopping off of his back foot. The ball didn’t come close to having the distance to hit the receiver, and the DB stopped short of coverage to grab the pass. Philo shook the bad start off and finished with a 75% completion percentage and 373 yards, which is nice to see.
Anyway, the point is that in 166 total attempts, he’s only really earned one interception. And it very well could’ve been that he was being sloppy and overconfident against an FCS outfit that the Jackets would eventually beat 59-12. If you toss the four bobble-picks, his interception rate is 1/162 or 0.6%. I haven’t gone through all his GT throws to see how many near misses he had with defenders, but as I noted Sunday, he’s only had one so far this year.
I’ll say it again here: whatever problems Philo reportedly had in offseason practice with taking care of the ball and throwing interceptions is just not manifesting in games. He’s simply not putting the ball in harm’s way, and for the most part, he’s been like that all his career.
So that’s how bad luck has stopped the Gators. Other than that, it’s the Gators stopping themselves.
Against FAU, Florida not only didn’t punt, it only settled for a field goal once. They had 11 drives with nine touchdowns, one field goal, and one tipped ball pick. That wooshing sound you hear is me fanning myself after thinking about such incredible success.
Against Campbell in the first half, the offense had four touchdowns and one field goal. The 3rd down stop for both that field goal and the one against FAU came when UF ran the ball with five or six yards to go. That’s not impossible to pick up against these opponents, but it’s also not a surprise when a run doesn’t get that far.
The Gators managed but a single score in the second half, and that was because on the second play of a series Jadan Baugh took it 75 yards to the house. On the other drives, penalties mostly scuttled the series and forced punts or a fake punt attempt. And then, bringing back some of the bad luck theme, Tramell Jones got an interception when he was hit while throwing and the ball floated softly into a defender’s hands.
Against Auburn, Florida had the customary tip-ball pick and one punt. Otherwise, it was all scores. The punt shouldn’t have even happened, because the Gators got an unintentional delay of game while lined up for a field goal. The penalty changed it from a 51-yard to a 56-yard try, and Patrick Durkin’s career long is 53 (set against FAU). Jon Sumrall chose to punt instead of still trying it, playing the field position/keepaway game he was attempting in order to bleed clock. I discussed that strategy on Sunday, so I won’t belabor the point.
Auburn’s defense was more of an active participant in forcing those two first half field goals, as you’d expect from a defense with SEC players. Pressuring Philo via a sack or flushing him from the pocket were major contributors. The two second half field goal situations were as much from UF getting extra conservative with running when the defense knew it was coming in order to run clock.
Combine those facts with AU having multiple scoring drives extended by either a bad penalty or bad no-calls for holding, and Florida could’ve won the game by more. The Gators probably earned all but one of their many flags; the issue was the Tigers not getting all the ones they earned too.
Even just having someone knock down the Hail Mary pass and finishing with a 44-32 final would’ve been more representative of how the game went. That uneven officiating and Sumrall’s clock management conspired to make the game closer. A better showing from the refs and more drive to finish from Florida’s side might’ve gotten us to a 40-something to 20-something win without changing anything else major, and that would’ve been seen as more of a statement win for the program.
I hope that if Florida gets a second half lead, even a fortunate multiple-score second half lead, on Ole Miss, Sumrall won’t do the same again. I heard some stats that the Rebels aren’t as explosive this year without Lane Kiffin calling the plays as they were last year, but also Trinidad Chambliss is a magician. He can make a touchdown happen at any time. Pedal to the metal, start to finish.
More than anything, I can’t wait to see the Gator offense take the field again. I am beginning to expect them to score basically every time they touch the ball, and that is one of the most intoxicating feelings for a Gator fan.