Somebody leaves Austin carrying a second straight loss. Texas (4-1, 1-1 SEC) dropped a 27-24 heartbreaker to Oklahoma last Saturday. Florida (4-2, 2-2) fell 38-19 at home to South Carolina the same day. The No. 7 Longhorns host the Gators at noon on ABC with their playoff hopes at stake.
All week the talk has been about Florida's quarterback. Aaron Philo, who has thrown for 1,341 yards with just three interceptions, hurt his shoulder against South Carolina. Tramell Jones Jr. makes his first career start, and Philo is dressed but available only in an emergency. Florida insider Dax Marchetti is narrating the whole thing like a nature special and swears Jadan Baugh, with 672 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, can carry this offense anyway. Texas insider Caroline "Caro" Whitfield is unbothered. She calls Arch Manning and Cam Coleman "premium assets" and reminds everyone that ESPN ranks the Longhorn defense second in the nation.
Both teams are banged up. Florida is without running back Duke Clark, and receivers Vernell Brown III and Bailey Stockton are game-time decisions. Texas is missing receiver Kaliq Lockett and lineman Jaydon Chatman. The deciding matchup is Manning against a Gator defense that has struggled, and Baugh against a Longhorn front built to stop him.
With Jones starting, we see it Florida 14, Texas 34. If Philo had been cleared to start, it would look more like Florida 17, Texas 32. Our call rests on Jones starting, with Philo dressed, available only in an emergency.
Our call: Texas 34, Florida 14.