Jadan Baugh, Duke Clark Deliver Florida’s Best Rushing Day in Years

Amid No. 21 Florida’s 52-28 victory over the No. 4 Ole Miss Rebels (3-1, 1-1 SEC), the running back group put together one of the best performances in program history. The Gators’ 302 rushing yards in the win ranks 10th in program history for a single-game total.

Leading the charge in the output was Heisman Trophy candidate Jadan Baugh, who ran for 142 yards and three touchdowns on 29 attempts. The game marks the third time this season that Baugh has eclipsed the century mark and scored three touchdowns in a game. 

Baugh keeps breaking records as well, surpassing the most yards in program history over a five-game stretch. His 866 yards and 13 touchdowns dating back to last year have cemented him as one of the best runners in the nation. With his fifth straight game recording over 100 rushing yards, entered a club occupied only by Emmitt Smith and Fred Taylor.

Despite the stellar performance from Baugh, which continues to be a trend, the focus is all on what Florida (4-0, 2-0 SEC) can achieve.

“I feel that this team is so gritty and ready to go for the next challenge,” Baugh said. “It’s going to be hard to stop anything that comes in front of us.”

Baugh was not alone in turning heads Saturday, as Duke Clark also sprinted past Ole Miss defenders all game. 

The Tampa native notched a career-long run with a 45-yard rushing touchdown just over two minutes deep into the third quarter to give Florida a 24-14 lead after Ole Miss opened the second half with its first touchdown on Trinidad Chambliss’ 8-yard scamper

“I feel like we can do anything,” Clark said about Florida’s running back room. “Just put the ball in anybody’s hands on the team.”

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Clark finished with 126 rushing yards against the Rebels, nearly doubling his 58 rushing yards on 13 carries accrued throughout the 2025 season. Arguably the most proud of Clark’s breakout game was his teammate and mentor.

“Duke keeps his head down and it doesn’t matter what comes at him, he’s going to overcome it. I love that about him,” Baugh said of Clark’s mentality. “Duke took the mentoring in and he is just displaying his talent each and every week. I can’t wait to see what he does next week.”

Florida’s dynamic duo of Baugh and Clark are the first pair to each rush for 100-plus yards in a game since Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne accomplished the feat against South Carolina in November 2022. The bunch of bolting Gators on the rushing attack are a wider testament to how offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner has led Florida’s furious offense through the first four weeks.

Florida’s string of four consecutive games with 40 or more points is the first time a Gators team has reached the mark since 2008’s National Championship-winning squad did so in seven contests in a row. Looking back further, the last time a UF team opened the season with four straight performances of 40 or more points was back in 2001.

The offense firing on all cylinders has translated to a perfect 4-0 start under first-year Florida coach Jon Sumrall for the first time since 2019. The former Tulane head man, who lost twice to Trinidad Chambliss and Ole Miss in 2025, believes the Gators offense has not yet unlocked its true potential.

“I think the consistency has to be even greater. But I like the direction we’re headed,” Sumrall said of the unit. “I think the sky is the limit.”

Florida’s two-headed monster in the ground game prevailed mightily against Ole Miss’ defense, meaning expectations for the crew have never been higher. 

UF will look to keep its momentum rolling, as an away tilt with Missouri on the horizon provides another chance for Baugh, Clark and the offense to keep evolving.

“Whatever happened last week doesn’t matter, it doesn’t carry on to this week,” Baugh said. “If we stay where our feet are and focus on the task at hand, I don’t feel like anybody in the world can stop us.”

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