Florida made one of the biggest statements of the college football weekend. The Gators defeated No. 4 Ole Miss 52–28 on Saturday, handing the Rebels their first loss of the season and sending Florida soaring up the national rankings. Florida entered the matchup ranked No. 21 before climbing 13 spots to No. 8 in the latest AP Top 25. The Gators improved to 4–0 with the victory. Florida controlled much of the game offensively, finishing with 498 total yards while leaning heavily on its rushing attack. Running back Jadan Baugh led the ground game with 142 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while Duke Clark added 126 yards and another score. Quarterback Aaron Philo also contributed through the air and on the ground as Florida continued to pull away in the second half.
Ole Miss stayed within striking distance early, but Florida scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to turn the matchup into a convincing victory. The loss dropped Ole Miss from No. 4 to No. 9 in the newest rankings. Florida’s rise was one of several major changes to the AP Poll following a weekend filled with ranked matchups and upsets. Texas remained No. 1, while Georgia and Notre Dame held the next two spots. For Florida, the result immediately changes the conversation surrounding its season. After beginning the year outside the top tier of the rankings, the Gators now find themselves inside the national top 10 with an undefeated record and one of the strongest wins of the young season.
