Florida rallies past No. 7 Texas 27-24 in Austin as Longhorns lose again
The Gators came back from 17-3 down to hand Texas a second straight defeat, tightening the Longhorns’ path to the College Football Playoff.
Florida beat No. 7 Texas 27-24 in Austin on October 17 after trailing 17-3, handing the Longhorns a second consecutive loss and narrowing their path to the College Football Playoff. The Gators scored 24 unanswered points during the comeback before Texas cut the final margin to three.
Texas had led by 14 points in the second quarter. Florida tied the game on its first drive after halftime, and running back Jadan Baugh scored the go-ahead touchdown with just over six minutes left, according to CBS Sports. The win moved Florida to 5-2.
How Florida closed out the win in Austin
Texas still had a chance to respond, but quarterback Arch Manning lost a fumble while being sacked late in the game. CBS Sports reported that Myles Graham forced the fumble and Kanye Clark recovered it, giving Florida possession with a chance to run down the clock. After Texas used its timeouts, Gators quarterback Tramell Jones gained a first down on third down and Florida took a knee to finish the game.
Jones was making his first career start with Florida’s regular quarterback, Aaron Philo, injured. The Gators had been facing the prospect of a third straight loss when they fell behind early, but their offense found its footing after a touchdown late in the second quarter. Baugh’s runs helped sustain the comeback as Florida’s defense forced turnovers, CBS Sports reported.
Texas pass rusher Colin Simmons left in the fourth quarter with an apparent leg injury and did not return, according to CBS Sports. He went to the locker room on a cart; his diagnosis and availability for future games were not immediately clear. CBS Sports said Simmons had 10.5 sacks this season, the most in the nation.
What the loss means for Texas’s playoff path
Texas fell to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in conference play. USA TODAY reported that this was the Longhorns’ second straight defeat against an unranked opponent and their first run of consecutive losses since coach Steve Sarkisian’s first season in Austin in 2021. The previous defeat came against Oklahoma in the Red River rivalry.
USA TODAY assessed that Texas still has a route to the playoff, including a remote chance of winning the SEC, but would need to win its final six games to control its fate. Its next two games are at home against Mississippi and Mississippi State, followed by trips to Missouri and LSU; it then faces Arkansas and Texas A&M. Another loss would leave the Longhorns depending on results elsewhere, according to the outlet’s analysis.
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Sources and context
- Florida stuns No. 7 Texas in Austin, handing tumbling Longhorns second-consecutive lossCBS Sports
- Can Texas make College Football Playoff? Longhorns' chances after Florida lossUSA TODAY (republished by Yahoo Sports)
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.