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.”