The No. 21 Florida Gators turned a tight game into a rout by scoring touchdowns on five straight possessions in the second half to defeat No. 4 Ole Miss 52-28. After the Rebels trimmed the Gators’ lead to 17-14 early in the third quarter, Florida pulled away decisively behind a dominant rushing attack and sharp play-action passing.
Florida’s offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner called a critical play with 4:35 left in the game, shortly after an Ole Miss timeout. Quarterback Aaron Philo connected with Eric Singleton Jr. on a 37-yard pass down to the two-yard line. Running back Jadan Baugh followed with his third rushing touchdown of the day, extending Florida’s lead to a blowout. Baugh finished the game with three touchdowns on the ground, bringing his season total to 11.
The Gators ran the ball 48 times for 291 yards and six touchdowns. In addition to Baugh, Duke Clark, Dallas Wilson, and Philo each had rushing touchdowns, overwhelming a Rebels defense that had allowed just 159 rushing yards per game before this matchup. Faulkner, who came to Florida from Georgia Tech, capitalized on Florida’s ground game to set up creative play-action passes. Philo completed 16 of 23 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown.
Ole Miss was missing star running back Kewan Lacy, who sat out due to a left shoulder injury sustained in their Week 3 win over LSU. While Florida’s offense largely dictated the game, Lacy’s absence was noticeable. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss led the Rebels in rushing with seven carries for 44 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Makhi Frazier and JT Lindsey also contributed on the ground, with Frazier rushing eight times for 42 yards and Lindsey 11 carries for 31 yards.
The Rebels struggled offensively early, failing to convert a third down in the entire first half. Lindsey’s fumble on the opening drive set up Florida’s early 10-0 lead, putting Ole Miss on the back foot from the start. Despite moments of resistance, the Rebels couldn’t contain Florida’s offense once the Gators found their rhythm.
Florida had entered the game as a four-point favorite, a line that raised eyebrows given Ole Miss’s No. 4 ranking. The Gators proved the oddsmakers right by controlling the game after halftime and turning what could have been a close contest into a decisive victory.
Florida’s win was built on a combination of a powerful rushing attack and efficient passing, exploiting a key weakness in Ole Miss’s defense. The Gators’ ability to maintain pressure and sustain drives after halftime left the Rebels unable to mount a comeback.
The latest development saw Florida solidify its status as a strong contender in the SEC, with a performance that combined physicality and tactical execution. Ole Miss must regroup without Lacy and find answers to Florida’s ground dominance moving forward.
According to Yahoo Sports.
