Road Exposure: Florida Falls at Missouri for First Loss of Season

No. 8 Florida’s undefeated start came crashing down Saturday in Columbia, Missouri.

No. 25 Missouri (4-1, 1-1 SEC) overwhelmed the Gators at the line of scrimmage and pulled away for a 45-17 victory, handing Florida coach Jon Sumrall his first loss at the helm and dropping the Gators to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in SEC play.

Florida entered the matchup with a chance to improve to 5-0 for the first time since 2019. Instead, the Gators were unable to slow Missouri’s explosive offense or establish their own rushing attack, as the Tigers turned a 10-10 tie at the 4:26 mark of the second quarter to a 45-10 rout with 13:33 left in the fourth quarter before the final margin.

Jamal Roberts led Missouri’s attack, breaking loose for runs of 77 and 80 yards. His 80-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter pushed Missouri’s advantage to 45-10 and put the game out of reach.

The loss also extends Florida’s struggles in Columbia. The Gators have not won at Missouri since 2019.

Florida and Missouri traded field goals in the opening quarter, with Patrick Durkin connecting from 20 yards before Missouri’s Blake Craig answered from 32 yards to leave the game tied at 3-3 after one quarter.

Missouri grabbed the first touchdown of the afternoon early in the second quarter when quarterback Austin Simmons connected with Donovan Olugbode for a 47-yard score. UF was playing without safety Bryce Thornton, who suffered an injury during warmups.

Florida answered with its first touchdown of the game.

With 4:26 remaining in the first half, quarterback Aaron Philo found Dallas Wilson for a 12-yard touchdown to tie the game at 10-10. Wilson stepped into a larger role with wide receiver Vernell Brown III ruled out before kickoff.

Wilson finished with four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.

The tie was short-lived. Simmons (23 of 30, 340 yards, two TDs) found Caleb Goodie Sr. for a 31-yard touchdown with a little more than two minutes remaining in the first half to put Missouri back in front 17-10. Craig added a 50-yard field goal as time expired to give the Tigers a 20-10 halftime lead.

The second half belonged to Missouri.

Roberts scored on a short touchdown run in the third quarter before Craig added a 52-yard field goal. Roberts then broke loose for a 77-yard run late in the quarter, setting up another touchdown that pushed Missouri’s lead to 38-10.

Roberts delivered another explosive play shortly afterward, racing 80 yards for a touchdown. He finished with 211 yards on 24 carries.

Florida briefly appeared to answer when London Montgomery returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown, but the score was wiped by a holding penalty. The Gators were then backed up by a false-start penalty.

Florida could not recover.

Jadan Baugh, who entered the game with 600 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, was held to 13 yards on 12 carries. Philo completed 21 of 34 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown, but the Gators struggled to sustain drives against Missouri’s defense. He was sacked three times and hurried on most drop backs. 

With the game out of reach, Florida turned to backup quarterback Tramell Jones Jr., who was able to connect with TJ Abrams late in the fourth for a 42-yard touchdown.

The Gators, 4-1 through five games for the first time since 2021 when they finished 6-7, return to The Swamp for next Saturday’s homecoming game against South Carolina (2-3, 0-3).

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