No. 21 Florida routed No. 4 Ole Miss 52-28 inside The Swamp on Saturday. The Rebels hung around for a while, but the Gators pulled away with a 35-point second half.
The Gators improved to 4-0 (2-0 SEC) on the 2026 season.
Here are my five early takeaways from the game.
Florida’s 1-2 punch is special
Jadan Baugh has been the story of the 2026 season, both for Florida and around the country. He was again on Saturday night, rushing for 142 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. He now has 600 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season. The elusive bruiser has also logged five straight games with at least 130 rushing yards, dating back to last season.
But it wasn’t just Baugh who was special against Ole Miss. Sophomore Duke Clark rushed for 126 yards on 12 carries, averaging 10.5 yards per carry. You could make the argument that he had the two most impactful plays of the game.
After Ole Miss immediately scored to cut the lead to three points coming out of halftime, Clark ripped off a 45-yard touchdown run just four plays later, flipping the momentum back to Florida. Then, with Florida leading by 10 early in the fourth quarter, Clark broke loose for another 44-yard run, setting up another Florida touchdown that effectively put the game away.
Baugh is the best running back in the country, and Duke Clark might just be the best backup running back in the country. That’s a critical luxury for Florida, especially with the emphasis the Gators have placed on running the football.
Best the offensive line has played all season
I thought this was the best Florida’s offensive line had played all season. The Gators ran the ball 52 times for 302 yards. Ole Miss knew it was coming, but the Rebels couldn’t stop it. Late in the game, Ole Miss was putting eight or nine guys in the box, but Florida’s offensive line continued to impose its will. That’s something we simply haven’t seen from this unit in the last few years.
It’s not always pretty, but this group is playing with so much more aggression and confidence. They finish blocks. They finish plays.
Special teams is fun again
Florida won the special teams battle against Ole Miss.
Running back London Montgomery had three kick returns for 128 yards, including a 70-yard return. J’Vari Flowers opened the game with a 23-yard return that allowed Florida to start its drive at the 35-yard line.
Punter Alec Clark had a 70-yard punt that pinned Ole Miss at its own 1-yard line, preventing the Rebels from scoring before halftime.
Kicker Patrick Durkin also remains perfect on the season after connecting on a 49-yard field goal in the first quarter.
Special teams plays can serve as major momentum shifters, and you could feel their impact throughout the game Saturday.
Florida needs improvement in the secondary
I wasn’t displeased with Florida’s defensive performance as a whole. The Gators held a prolific Ole Miss offense, led by the best quarterback in the country, to 28 points. They were flying around early and held the Rebels to just six points in the first half, three of which came almost entirely as a result of penalties.
Ole Miss got hot in the second half and exposed Florida’s secondary, which has been a recent trend. And it’s not easy to stop that offense. Deuce Alexander is easily one of the most underrated receivers in the country.
Florida’s defense flashed at times, but it was too inconsistent. And that has been a theme throughout the season.
Florida is a CFP contender
The Florida Gators are a legitimate College Football Playoff contender. Mostly because this offense appears capable of scoring against anyone, anytime, any place. It doesn’t feel like Florida will ever be out of a game as a result, no matter the opponent.
Florida scored 52 points tonight. It felt like they should have had 70. The Gators had several miscues in the first half that were simply poor execution, and Aaron Philo didn’t have his best day. But that’s the beauty of Florida’s offense: They can beat you in so many different ways.
We saw what the Gators’ offense can look like when it’s clicking. Florida had five full drives in the second half and scored five touchdowns. And it did so without Vernell Brown III and with Eric Singleton Jr. limited.
The Gators will shoot up the rankings on Sunday.