The Florida Gators dropped to 5-4 (3-3 SEC) after a 39-36 overtime loss to Arkansas (3-6, 1-5 SEC) in week ten.
Florida was outgained 481-384 in the contest.
Gator Country provides you with four early takeaways from Florida’s overtime loss to Arkansas in week ten.
SPECIAL TEAMS PROVES COSTLY
I was ready to have a positive takeaway regarding Florida’s Special Teams unit as they put together their best quarter in the Billy Napier era to start this game. However, the unit proved costly in the 2nd half. The Gators botched a critical extra point late in the third quarter due to a bad snap and hold. The extra point would have given Florida a four-point lead instead of a three-point lead.
Florida worked their way into a favorable field goal distance with less than 50 seconds and no timeouts at the end of regulation. After a first down pass to Arlis Boardingham, the Gators sent on their kicking unit out while their offense remained on the field, leading to an illegal substitution. Florida avoided a ten second runoff because the clock stopped momentarily but sent their kicking unit out for a second time, with 8 seconds left and the clock starting on the ref’s whistle. The refusal to spike the ball with 8 seconds remaining is concerning. Obviously, there was some sort of miscommunication on the sidelines, which has been a frequent occurrence with the special teams unit this season. After the disastrous series of events, Trey Smack missed the 49-yard FG for the win.
Florida must hire or promise a special teams coordinator in the offseason. Not because of the missed field goals or the execution on the field, but because Florida’s Special Teams has proven to be a disorganized unit under Billy Napier.
DEFENSE GOT PRESSURE AND FORCED TURNOVERS, BUT NOT MUCH ELSE
Florida created a season high five sacks and forced two takeaways in this contest, something the Gators’ defense has not been able to do in 2023. However, Florida still managed to allow 481 yards to an offense that was averaging just 305 yards of offense per game.
The Gators were solid defensively in the first half outside of the first drive, but a couple of long passes led Arkansas to easy field goals. In the second half, the Gators couldn’t bring down QB KJ Jefferson. The dual thread QB totaled 92 net rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in the contest, often times avoiding pressure and picking up large chunks on critical downs, specifically in the second half.
BOWL SEASON IN JEPORADY
The Gators are now in serious danger of not qualifying for a bowl game in year two under Billy Napier, which is something that should never happen at the University of Florida. The Gators will not be favored in any of their three remaining regular season games, two of which will take place away from Gainesville. There’s still a chance Florida upsets one of their remaining three games, but those odds took a big hit after a week ten loss to Arkansas.
EUGENE WILSON IS A FUTURE FIRST ROUND PICK
True freshman WR Eugene Wilson is a special player, plain and simple. After recording the most receptions in a single game by a true freshman in Florida program history a week ago, Wilson hauled in another eight receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns against Arkansas. 58 of his 90 yards came after the catch. If you can just find ways to get him the football, he’s going to make a play more often than not. The early on field connection he has built with veteran QB Graham Mertz is impressive as the two have only gotten stronger as the season continues. Wilson holds a certain level of vision, elusiveness, and willingness at the receiver position that we haven’t seen in some time. Wilson is only nine games into his collegiate career.
Wilson became the first true freshman receiver at Florida to record multiple touchdowns
in a contest since Riley Cooper recorded three vs. Western Carolina on Nov. 18, 2006.