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Tag: Florida Sports

  • St. Pete Catholic reaching new heights this season

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — When you put the work in, big things can happen.

    Senior quarterback Chase Burrill and his St. Pete Catholic teammates are enjoying the spoils of a successful season.

    What You Need To Know

    • The St. Pete Catholic Barons have advanced to the regional finals of Class 1A

    • Enroute to the postseason, the Barons were undefeated in the regular season for the first time in school history

    • Quarterback Chase Burrill has posted impressive stats, including a new Pinellas County passing touchdowns record

    • SPC (12-0) faces West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (9-3) on Friday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m.; The winner advances to the state semifinals


    The Barons are in the playoffs where the stakes get higher each week. But Burrill thrives when the game gets bigger.

    “Being able to handle the pressure and everything that comes at you,” Burrill said. “I like a challenge. So as soon as I decided to play football, it was definitely something that caught my eye.”

    The Barons have caught the eye of a lot of people this season.

    They set out to win a lot of games. Turns out, they won them all. The Barons an undefeated 10-0 in the regular season for the first time in school history. That string of victories catapulted them into the postseason. And Burrill is a big reason why they’ve enjoyed unprecedented success.

    “Any great quarterback, everybody has to gravitate to and I think when he walks into a meeting room or into a huddle, everybody kind of feels that presence of Chase and the guys want to play for him, they want to play with him,” head coach Jesse Chinchar said.

    Burrill’s stats this season are impressive: 2,789 passing yards and 45 touchdowns, through the first week of the playoffs. But as eye opening as those numbers are, it’s his two interceptions that stands out the most.

    “When you talk about quarterbacks, you want to have at least a two to one touchdown to interception ratio so when you have his, which is almost 50 to 2, it’s unbelievable,” Chinchar said. “It’s just a testament to him knowing the game and being able to protect the ball.”

    His 45 touchdowns set a new Pinellas County record. And he’s not done. Chase has a shot at the state record. But that’s not his focus. He wants to see how far this team can go this year.

    “It’s a blessing to be a part of it,” Chase said. “We’ve been working all year for this, so it’s expected but we definitely have more to come.”

    Katherine Smith

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  • Armwood offensive lineman is home on the range and the football field

    SEFFNER, Fla. — It takes a special player to wear the Armwood High uniform.

    There’s a big responsibility when you play for one of the top football teams in the state.

    What You Need To Know

    •  The Armwood Hawks are once again in the regional finals of Class 6A. They play South Lake Friday night

    •  One of the leaders on the team, Logan Miller, is a senior offensive lineman who sets a tone with his work ethic

    •  Logan works hard off the field too by raising cattle


    Senior offensive lineman Logan Miller welcomes the pressure. He thrives on it. The bigger the game, the brighter he shines.

    “For me, I can be as violent as I possibly can — everything single down, every single play,” Miller said. “And it’s just fun.”

    But the football field isn’t the only place Miller feels at home. Want to put a huge smile on his face? Put him in a pasture with his cows.

    In his spare time, Miller raises cattle. He wants to be a cattle rancher when his football-playing days are done. He raises the steers to be sold or bred.

    “I love showing cattle because that’s the industry I want to go in the future,” he said. “I’m going to the University of West Georgia for agricultural business and hope to have my own cow operation out in Georgia or wherever I may go. So, it’s been my passion for a good two or three years, and this is my final little baby I have.”

    There is a carryover between Miller’s two loves: football and raising cattle. One passion bleeds into the other. His head coach, Evan Davis, sees the correlation between the two.

    “The energy, the love, the passion and dedication that he has for that is exactly what he brings out here on the football field,” Davis said.

    Being an offensive lineman is not easy. There is a lot of responsibility that comes with the position. You don’t get the touchdowns or the highlight reel plays. The work in the trenches shows up in others player’s stats. But that’s okay with Miller.

    “That kid’s 100 percent, whatever he’s doing,” Davis said. “He truly is the statement of ‘Be present where your feet are.’ Wherever his feet are, he is present and he is active.”

    Katherine Smith

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  • Lacy helps No. 6 Ole Miss rally past Florida for 34-24 win

    By  CHRIS BURROWS

    OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Kewan Lacy rushed for 224 yards and three touchdowns, including the go-ahead score on the first play of the fourth quarter, and No. 6 Mississippi rallied past Florida 34-24 on Saturday night.

    The Rebels (10-1, 6-1 Southeastern Conference, No. 7 CFP) finally put the Gators away with 1:43 left on Lacy’s 31st and final carry, a 4-yard touchdown. Ole Miss took over on downs after Florida went for it on fourth-and-9 at its own 4, and Sage Ryan broke up D.J. Lagway’s desperation heave at midfield.

    As coach Lane Kiffin’s squad took a knee in the final minute, Ole Miss fans chanted “We want Lane!” in a bid to persuade their sought-after coach not to bolt for another school — possibly Florida. And Lacy celebrated with a postgame slam dunk on a portable basketball goal at midfield.

    The Rebels have won at least 10 games in four of the past five seasons, including three straight, and this victory solidified their chances to make the College Football Playoff.

    Florida (3-7, 2-5) has lost 20 consecutive games away from Gainesville against ranked opponents since beating Georgia in 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. That streak will extend to 2026 since the Gators’ final two games are at home.

    The Gators certainly had their chances. They led 24-20 at halftime, and Ole Miss came up empty twice at the goal line in the second half, with Trinidad Chambliss throwing incomplete on fourth-and-goal from the 1 in the third quarter and on fourth-and-goal at the 3 in the fourth.

    Chambliss still had a productive night, going 26 of 35 for 301 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He was sacked five times, including twice by Jaden Robinson.

    Ole Miss finished with 538 yards of total offense, while the Rebels’ defense held the Gators scoreless with only 103 offensive yards in the second half.

    In the first half, Lagway ran for a 5-yard touchdown, Jadan Baugh scored on a 2-yard run following Jayden Woods’ interception, and Lagway connected with J. Michael Sturdivant for a 57-yard TD pass.

    Chambliss threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to De’Zhaun Stribing and Lacy ran for a 3-yard score, but Ole Miss failed to score touchdowns on two red-zone drives, with Lucas Carniero converting on field goals of 27 and 23 yards.

    Lagway was 16 of 31 for 218 yards but threw a fourth-quarter interception on a tipped ball to Wydett Willliams on Florida’s only series in Ole Miss territory.

    The takeaway

    Florida: The Gators’ tailspin continued as they were eliminated from contention for a bowl appearance. Florida was more engaged than during last week’s collapse at Kentucky, but interim coach Billy Gonzales’ squad couldn’t pull off the upset. The Gators’ pursuit of Kiffin gets more interesting each week.

    Ole Miss: The Rebels finished 8-0 at home and enhanced their hopes of hosting an opening-round game in the CFP. Kiffin will remain a high-profile candidate for vacancies in the Power Four and even in the NFL.

    Poll implications

    Avoiding an upset keeps Ole Miss in an elite group of five teams in the top 10 with one loss or fewer. The Rebels could move into the top five after No. 4 Alabama’s loss to Oklahoma.

    Up next

    Florida: Hosts No. 21 Tennessee on Saturday.

    Ole Miss: After an open date, visit Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl on Nov. 28.

    ___

    Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

    Associated Press

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  • Treatment center says FSU’s Pritchard has completed ‘intensive rehabilitation’

    JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida State freshman linebacker Ethan Pritchard is ready to move “onto the next stage of his recovery” after completing 34 days of intensive rehabilitation, Brooks Rehabilitation in Jacksonville posted on Facebook Thursday.

    Pritchard was shot in the back of the head on Aug. 31 in what investigators say was a case of mistaken identity.

    Four people were arrested in connection with the shooting. Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said at the time of the shooting that Pritchard was “not doing anything wrong” when he was ambushed outside an apartment complex. He added that Pritchard was dropping off an aunt and a child at the time of the shooting.

    Pritchard was moved from the hospital to Brooks Rehabilitation on Oct. 9, where he had been undergoing treatment before Thursday’s announcement. 

    While Brooks Rehabilitation said in its post Thursday that Pritchard was moving onto the next phase of his recovery, no information was immediately released on what that might entail.

    A video attached to the announcement shows Pritchard being applauded by flanking rows of staff members as he uses an electric wheelchair to exit the facility.


    Spectrum News Staff

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  • USF makes its debut on college playoff bracket

    TAMPA, Fla. – The University of South Florida’s latest football milestone made its debut Tuesday night when the Bulls were included in the College Football Playoff bracket.

    USF, at 7-2, came in at No. 12 in the bracket, representing the American Athletic Conference and the highest regarded Group of 5 team.

    The final bracket will be released Dec. 7. Playoff games start Dec. 19 at campus locations.

    What You Need To Know

    • USF latest football milestone made its debut Tuesday night when the Bulls were included in the College Football Playoff bracket

    • USF, at 7-2, came in at No. 12 in the bracket, representing the AAC and the highest regarded Group of 5 team

    • With plenty of football remaining to be played, anything could happen and everything could change 
    • TAKE A LOOK AT THE BRACKET: College Football Playoff

    That gives the Bulls (7-2, 4-1) a few weeks to solidify their position, starting with Saturday’s game at Navy (7-2, 5-1). USF also has contests remaining with AAC bottom dwellers Alabama-Birmingham and Rice before a potential AAC championship game.

    There are five one-loss teams in the American, and the jockeying has already started for spots in the conference title game and possibly that automatic CFP bid that USF is holding right now highest-ranked Group of Five champion.

    But with plenty of football remaining to be played, anything could happen and everything could change.

    The No. 25 USF-Navy matchup is a battle of one-loss conference teams.  

    Meanwhile this weekend, two-loss Memphis goes to one-loss East Carolina. Tulane is coming off its big win at Memphis and will need to be on point when Florida Atlantic visits. North Texas, the fifth one-loss team, goes on the road to play a UAB team that upset Memphis four weeks ago.

    After USF (39%), the best odds among G5 teams to reach the playoffs is James Madison (35.8%). But USF has better key wins this year with victories against Boise State and at Florida and at North Texas.

    As the playoff brackets are currently listed, No. 12 USF would play at No. 5 Georgia in the opening round.

    Other currently bracketed matchups include: No. 11 Miami at No. 6 Texas Tech; No. 10 Texas at No. 7 Ole Miss and No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Oregon.

    The four top squads currently with byes are No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Indiana, No. 3 Texas A&M and No. 4 Alabama. 

    Information in the Associated Press was used in this report.

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Women sports worlds collide at The Annika

    BELLEAIR, Fla. — Before things got serious, there was some fun.

    Kai Trump showed off her basketball skills before she teed off at The Annika Pro Am. It was the final preparations before President Trump’s granddaughter made her LPGA debut.

    What You Need To Know

    •  WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark and President Trump’s granddaughter Kai were among the participants at The Annika Pro Am

    •  The first round of The Annika tees off Thursday morning at the Pelican Golf Club. Kai Trump will be making her LPGA debut

    •  Bradenton resident Nelly Korda is the defending champ. The world’s No. 2 ranked golfer has won The Annika three of the past four years


    Flipping the script, WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark showed off her golfing skills. Playing in The Annika Pro Am for the second-straight year, Clark admitted to being a little messy off the tee, but she appreciates the challenge of playing outside her element.

    “I honestly haven’t played a ton, but it was fun,” Clark said. “I think any time you get to be out here and see these women do what they do really well, it’s really inspiring and really fun.”

    Clark played in a group that included defending champ Nelly Korda. After a month away from the game for a preventative break due to her neck injury, Korda is back at the Pelican Golf Club — a course she loves and knows very well.

    “I love coming back here,” Korda said. “It’s so close to home. I have so many family and friends coming out during the week, so it’s just a really feel-good tournament because I have a lot of great support behind me.”

    This year’s field is stacked with 15 of the top 25 ranked golfers, including Korda, the world’s No. 2. This Bradenton resident owns The Annika. She’s won the tournament three of the past four years. Last year, she capped off one of the greatest seasons in LPGA history with her seventh tour victory. The reigning Rolex Player of the Year plays some of her best golf at The Annika.

    “I just kind of feel comfortable out here,” Korda said. “I think just having like my family and friends in the crowd, and this is kind of the turf that I grew up on, so there is also that level of comfort.”

    Katherine Smith

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  • USF voice of the Bulls is hanging up the headset

    TAMPA, Fla. — If you are a USF football fan, you recognize the voice.

    That’s because it’s the only voice in the football program’s 29-year history.

    What You Need To Know

    • Jim Louk has been the voice of the Bulls for football games since the team’s inaugural season in 1997

    • He’s been with USF for 43 years, calling more than 3,000 sporting events

    • After he retires at the end of the season, Jim Lighthall, the Bulls men’s basketball play-by-play announcer, will take over the football duties


    “There’s a lot of exciting things going on here, you know, a new stadium, and the team is playing so well,” Louk said. “It’s not the smartest time to step away professionally, but personally, it was the right time.”

    Hard to step away when it’s all that he’s known for 43 years. That’s how long he’s been at USF, calling more than 3,000 sporting events. And he’s been there from the very beginning when the football team kicked off its inaugural season in 1997. Louk has witnessed the program’s growth into national relevance and has been on the call for so many amazing moments.

    He has narrated the good times and the bad. He’s notorious for his passion and his preparation. All of that comes through in his broadcasts.

    “It’s been a privilege to be there for all these games and all these years, but every broadcast is multiple people,” he said. “And everybody except me is gonna be back next year, so I think people are really going to continue to enjoy the broadcasts.”

    One of his sidekicks and USF men’s basketball play-by-play voice, Jim Lighthall, will replace Louk. And he’s got a big headset to fill. When you’re the only one who has done something for so long like Louk, letting go isn’t easy — especially when there is so much that goes into every game.

    “The relationships, the coaches, the players, the broadcasts are fun, but it’s like anything else, it’s all about the people,” Louk said. “That’s the best, and that’s probably what I’ll miss the most.”

    Katherine Smith

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  • Gonzales facing Georgia in long-awaited shot to be head coach as Gators’ interim

    GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Billy Gonzales has coached as many years at Florida as Hall of Famer Steve Spurrier. He has twice as many national titles, too.

    Gonzales is in his third stint with the Gators, having first stepped foot on campus under Urban Meyer in 2005. He returned with Dan Mullen in 2018 and came back again when Billy Napier asked in 2023.

    Now it’s his program — for the next five games anyway.

    What You Need To Know

    • Billy Gonzales is in third stint with the Florida Gators after being on the staffs of Urban Meyer, Dan Mullen and Billy Napier

    • He is the interim coach for the next five games after AD Scott Stricklin fired Billy Napier

    • Gonzales has waited three decades for this opportunity and will make his debut Saturday against Georgia

    • The Bulldogs have won the teams’ past four matchups

    Gonzales agreed to serve as the team’s interim coach when athletic director Scott Stricklin fired Napier on Oct. 19. Gonzales jumped at the offer. After all, he’s waited more than three decades for this opportunity.

    “It’s always been about the players,” said Gonzales, 54. “When you get into coaching and you have an opportunity, it’s most importantly about the players. And, for me, it was to hopefully continue to give back to what the coaching staff gave me when I was a player, and that’s to provide guidance, to provide another family, another father figure.”

    He hesitated for a second and then continued: “Obviously, I like winning. We want to win. We’re at the University of Florida. We want to win games. And let’s call it what it is: We’re out here to try to get that done as well, too.”

    Gonzales has a chance to get a huge victory when the Gators (3-4, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) play No. 5 Georgia (6-1, 4-1) in the rivalry game known as “the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” in Jacksonville on Saturday.

    The Bulldogs have won four in a row in the series, with an average margin of victory of 21.5 points. Although coach Kirby Smart’s team has looked susceptible at times this season — trailing at halftime in four of five conference games — Georgia has turned it up late to remain in the SEC race and in the mix for a College Football Playoff berth.

    No one really knows what to expect from Florida following a bye week. Gonzales made no staff changes other than installing quarterbacks coach Ryan O’Hara as the primary play-caller. They plan to spread things out and push the ball down the field, no surprise considering Gonzales is a longtime receivers coach.

    But there has to be concern about players checking out with so little at stake down the stretch.

    “Just playing for the (Gators) patch and playing for the name on our back,” left tackle Austin Barber said. “That’s the big thing for us. We got a lot of seniors out there, and we want to put out a good product for them. And it’s just about playing for the university and playing for the fans.”

    Gonzales might be the ideal interim coach to keep the team together. He won two national titles alongside Meyer and has experienced the firings of Mullen and now Napier. He has so much respect for the program that he chose not to move into Napier’s office or even use his parking spot.

    “I’ve been asked to oversee the program right now by Mr. Stricklin,” Gonzales said. “I always told him, ‘We are doing this together as a staff. It’s us working together. It’s us working with our players.’ Always will be, and I take great pride in that.”

    Gonzales has heard from several head coaches he worked for in the past week, including Meyer and Mullen. They told him the same thing: Be yourself.

    Gonzales’ coaching career has been all about serving. He volunteered at his alma mater, Colorado State, in 1993. Meyer, an assistant at the time, put Gonzales in charge of slot receivers the following spring. It led to a paid position at Division III MacMurray College in Illinois and then a move to Kent State.

    One of his earliest memories is driving to a hardware store twice a week in his “beat-up, old, white Chevrolet” to buy carbon dioxide canisters and white paint to line the practice and game fields.

    “I had to go read a book on how to line a field,” he recalled. “I took great pride in it.”

    He’s taking a similar approach to this coaching opportunity, even though it’s temporary.

    “I love Florida. This is a special place to me,” Gonzales said. “A goal of mine would be to stay here. My first goal is to make sure we put a fantastic group of players on that football field that are going to compete and play for the University of Florida.”

    Associated Press

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  • Bloomingdale High golfer Caddie Schelle redefines resilience

    TAMPA, Fla. — Just like her favorite singer, Taylor Swift, Caddie Schelle is fearless.

    A brain bleed may have knocked her down. But this Bloomingdale High golfer defied the odds and got back up. As she goes through the paces of her rehabilitation, Schelle continues to impress.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Bloomingdale High golfer Caddie Schelle suffered a brain bleed during a high school practice

    •  She was taken on an air flight to Muma Children’s Hospital at Tampa General Hospital

    •  She has been through extensive rehabilitation, relearning how to walk and talk


    “Caddie represents what we all think we can be and that is resilient, strong, determined,” her dad, Rob Schelle, said. “She is just showing everybody that there aren’t limitations.”

    The Schelles’ world turned upside down on Aug. 12 when Caddie collapsed during a golf practice. She was taken to Muma Children’s Hospital at Tampa General Hospital on an air flight, and that’s when the fight for her life began.

    The rupture in her brain affects her left side. She has had to relearn how to walk and talk and basically do everything again.

    “You think you know your kid after 15-and-a-half years of bringing them up,” Rob Schelle said. “We can’t be more proud.”

    The rehab is not easy. There’s pain at times. But Caddie is focused on one thing. No matter how hard the task is, no matter how much her head hurts, each step she takes gets her closer to the golf course.

    “I just want to go hit some balls,” Caddie said.

    The golf community can’t wait for her return. Various fundraisers have been held for the Schelle family — a lot of people reaching out, wanting to help and praying for Caddie. Her fight has touched so many. And it’s inspired so many.

    “She’s always said she wants to change the world, and it’s been amazing to see her change it,” her mother, Kilene, said. “Like, she’s changed our community, she’s changed.”

    Katherine Smith

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  • Lions beat Bucs 24-9, Evans leaves with broken collarbone

    DETROIT (AP) — Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans returned to the lineup after missing three games with a hamstring injury and didn’t last a half against the Detroit Lions.

    The six-time Pro Bowler was hurt late in the second quarter Monday night when he attempted to make a catch. He was ruled out with a concussion and shoulder injury, which coach Todd Bowles said was a broken collarbone.

    “He’s going to be gone until toward the last of the season,” Bowles said after Detroit’s 24-9 win.

    After the team’s medical staff evaluated Evans on the field, he slowly walked to the sideline. A cart took him to the locker room.

    The Lions (5-2) bounced back from a loss as they have done flawlessly for nearly three years, extending their NFL-long streak of 51 games without dropping two straight in the regular season.

    Tampa Bay (5-2) was outgained by more than 200 yards in the first half, but trailed 14-3 because Detroit had an interception, fumble, turned it over on downs and missed a field goal.

    Rookie Tez Johnson had a 22-yard touchdown reception to open the second half, pulling the Bucs within five points, but they could not slow down Gibbs.

    On the ensuing drive, Gibbs had a 15-yard run and a 28-yard reception to set up his second touchdown that gave the Lions a 21-9 lead late in the third quarter.

    The third-year running back finished with a season-high 136 yards rushing on 17 carries and a season-high 82 yards receiving on three catches, giving him a total that trails just four performances for the franchise this century.

    Gibbs is the first NFL player with at least 135 yards rushing and 80 yards receiving along with two scores on the ground since Chris Johnson pulled off the feat with Tennessee in 2009.

    Detroit’s Jared Goff was 20 of 29 for 241 yards with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown on the game’s opening drive. Goff, though, lost a fumble and overthrew rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa on fourth-and-2 on the next two possessions and later threw an interception — all in Tampa Bay territory.

    Baker Mayfield was 28 of 50 for 228 yards with one touchdown and one interception against a short-handed defense. Mayfield threw an incomplete pass in the end zone with 4:24 left, ending potential comeback hopes.

    Gibbs took advantage of a big hole and his speed to score on a careerlong, 78-yard run late in the second quarter to put Detroit ahead 14-0.

    After Detroit’s Jake Bates missed a 54-yard field goal, Chase McLaughlin made a 53-yard field goal to end the half and put the Bucs on the scoreboard.

    Bates did connect on a 58-yard field goal early in the fourth, knocking it in off an upright, to give the Lions a 24-9 lead.

    Up next

    Bucs: Visit New Orleans on Sunday.

    Lions: Bye week before hosting Minnesota on Nov. 2.

    Associated Press

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  • Stricklin begins national search for UF coach, names Gonzales for rest of season

    GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin said Monday that he fired coach Billy Napier on Sunday because he felt now was the time in the best interests of the program long term. 

    He said he is launching a nationwide search to hire a new coach who can win a national championship. Stricklin said he would make the hire and be solely responsible but that he would hire TurnkeyZRG to be a partner in the search process. He said he will take suggestions from others, including the trustees and Turnkey.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin said Monday he will conduct an extensive search for a new football coach

    • Stricklin fired Billy Napier on Sunday after the Gators’ 3-4 start

    • He said he is looking for a coach who can win a national championship

    • Among the coaches whose names have been linked as possible replacements are Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, former Penn State coach James Franklin and USF coach Alex Golesh

    “We will have a wide variety of candidates,” Stricklin said, despite reports naming some possible successors. “We want people who can win national championships.”

    Some coaches whose names have been linked to the job in media reports are Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, former Penn State coach James Franklin, who was just fired by Penn State; Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman and USF coach Alex Golesh, whose 18th-ranked Bulls are 6-1 this season with a victory against Florida. Golesh also is a former UCF co-offensive coordinator.

    In the interim, receivers coach Billy Gonzales will take over as coach for Florida’s remaining five games, beginning against rival Georgia (6-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) on Nov. 1 in Jacksonville. The Gators (3-4, 2-2) have a bye week to regroup from the chaos that often comes with a coaching change.

    He has worked on the Gators staff for 12 years with three different coaches.

    “Florida is a special place to me,” Gonzales said. “I take this new role to heart. It’s important to me.”

    Gonzales said Napier’s coaching staff will be kept in place and quarterbacks coach Ryan O’Hara will call plays. He said running the offense will be a collaborative process but that offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Russ Calloway will organize it.

    Florida owes Napier roughly $21 million, with half of that buyout due within 30 days. The rest will be spread over three annual installments beginning next summer, meaning the Gators will be paying three head coaches for the second time in seven years once they hire Napier’s replacement; they did the same with Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain and Dan Mullen in 2018. The football program will honor the contract as written, Stricklin said.

    Stricklin said the financial hit “is not insignificant” but that resources won’t be a factor in who Florida hires.

    “We have a little more time to make a hire and be very thorough,” he said.

    Stricklin said Florida has a “standard of excellence of winning that we have to perpetuate. …We’re here to win championships.”

    He warned that the process of replacing Napier will be tricky, though, pointing out that only three current college coaches have won national championships, so it’s likely whoever Florida hires will not previously have won one.

    But he added that Florida has never invested more in its football program’s infrastructure, facilities and name, image and likeness expenditures than it has of late.

    Stricklin announced Sunday that Napier was fired after going 22-23 in four seasons at Florida, including 12-16 in Southeastern Conference play. The firing came despite a 23-21 victory that looked like it was going to be gut-wrenching loss until defensive tackle Michai Boireau picked off a pass with 21 seconds remaining and the Bulldogs near field-goal range.

    “We’re all sad and disappointed that it didn’t work out,” Stricklin said.

    Napier took his dismissal “as graciously as you would expect,” Stricklin said. “…None of us will find a finer individual. His integrity, his character, the investment that he has made in this program.”

    The Gators program is in a lot better place than when Napier took it over, Stricklin said.

    “This place is important to him,” Stricklin said.

    Gonzales said he is hoping for a smooth transition, and Napier has left the Gators with “an arsenal of plays within the system.” He said he has full trust in the staff and players to finish the season strong. He said he wants to put the players in advantageous position to perform at their best.

    Stricklin met with the team after he fired Napier and said that although the situation is difficult, he expects a strong finish.

    “I believe we have the talent to compete with anyone left on our schedule,” Stricklin said. “…The University of Florida matters to this group. ….Winning is important to this group.”

    He said the staff, boosters and fans, “owe it to them to do everything we can to support them the rest of this season.”

    Speculation about Napier’s future mounted as the season went along, facing multiple ranked teams. He is the third consecutive coach to be fired by Florida in the middle of a season but the fourth Gators coach to be fired since the Urban Meyer era.

    The University of Florida draws student-athletes from all over the state, including Central Florida. According to one Lake Nona parent whose son plays for the football team, the players were notified on Sunday that there would be a meeting Sunday, and that’s when Charles Emanuel said he could almost guess what it was pertaining to.

    Though many fans and some leaders with the program seem to be unhappy with the wins and losses over the years, Emanuel said he likes the work Napier has done with the team, and that he’s thinking of him and his family during this time, not just the season.

    “I thought Billy’s done a really good job with this team,” he said. “My wife and I we’ve enjoyed the fact that our son has been there, and he’s treated our son well. I think he treats his players well, and I think all the players will tell you he’s a players’ coach,” Emanuel said.

    Spectrum News 13’s Brandon Green and Jaclyn Harold contributed to this report.

    Spectrum Sports Staff

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  • Former Bucs RB Doug Martin has died, team confirms

    TAMPA, Fla. — Doug Martin, a former running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has died at the age of 36, the team confirmed on Sunday.

    Martin was a first-round draft pick out of Boise State in 2012 and set several franchise records as a rookie for the Bucs.

    They include most rushing touchdowns in a single game (4) and most rushing yards in a season by a rookie (1,454).

    In a statement on Sunday, the Buccaneers said they were “deeply saddened to learn of the sudden and unexpected passing” of Martin.

    “From his record-setting rookie season in 2012 to his multiple Pro Bowl selection during his six seasons as a Buccaneer, Doug made a lasting impact on our franchise,” the statement went on to read. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and everyone whom Doug touched throughout his life.”

    Boise State also remembered Martin on Sunday, calling him “one of Boise State’s best running backs in school history.”

    He was also the school’s first running back to be taken in the first round of the NFL draft.

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Florida fires coach Billy Napier after four-year run

    GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida fired coach Billy Napier on Sunday, dumping him a day after an error-filled win against Mississippi State that included more head-scratching calls and offensive lulls like those that marked much of his four-year run with the Gators.

    Athletic director Scott Stricklin made the move following a 23-21 victory that looked like it was going to be gut-wrenching loss until defensive tackle Michai Boireau picked off a pass with 21 seconds remaining and the Bulldogs near field-goal range.

    The game-sealing takeaway energized the Swamp, but the home crowd quickly turned on Napier and booed him as he sprinted off the field. Stricklin had seen enough and pulled the plug on a run that most of Florida faithful thought lasted longer than it should have.

    Napier went 22-23 in four seasons at Florida, including 12-16 in SEC play. He was 5-17 against ranked opponents, including 0-14 away from home, and declined to give up his play-calling role despite calls to do so.

    Equally damning: his 3-12 mark against rivals Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami and Tennessee includes the fewest wins by a Florida coach in such games since the late 1930s.

    Receivers coach Billy Gonzales is expected to serve as interim for Florida’s remaining five games, beginning against rival Georgia (6-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) on Nov. 1 in Jacksonville. The Gators (3-4, 2-2) have an off week to regroup from the chaos that often comes with a coaching change.

    Jettisoning Napier will temporarily quell a frustrated fanbase, but the group won’t truly be satisfied until the Gators hire someone with a proven track record at college football’s highest level.

    Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin is expected to top the list, although Stricklin passed on him when he hired Napier from Louisiana-Lafayette in November 2021. Louisville’s Jeff Brohm, Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz and Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman also could be targets.

    Florida owes Napier roughly $21 million, with half of that buyout due within 30 days. The rest will be spread over three annual installments beginning next summer, meaning the Gators will be paying three head coaches for the second time in seven years once they hire Napier’s replacement; they did the same with Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain and Dan Mullen in 2018.

    Napier sealed his fate against the Bulldogs. He dialed up a QB rollout on a third-and-1 play in the waning minutes that led to a punt and gave Mississippi State a chance down the stretch. He also called a QB keeper on a third-and-7 play earlier in the game, botched the final possession before halftime and was flagged for having 12 men on the field during a 2-point try.

    It was a fitting end for a coach who often looked in over his head in the powerhouse SEC. Between repeated penalties, game organization issues, clock management miscues and running an offensive scheme that was as predictable as it was pedestrian, Napier stuck around longer than many thought he deserved.

    Stricklin gave the coach a public vote of confidence shortly before the Gators won their final four games of 2024. They hoped to carry that momentum into Napier’s fourth season, but quarterback DJ Lagway missed close to eight months recovering from injuries — and it showed.

    Lagway looked mostly lost in the pocket as Florida struggled to move the ball. Suddenly, the two-time Sun Belt Conference coach of the year, a guy who gained fame at his previous stop by saying “scared money don’t make money,” seemed afraid to get the ball down the field like Lagway did with such ease as a freshman.

    Most outsiders saw this ending coming. Although Napier accomplished plenty while helping the program navigate name, Iimage and likeness compensation and revenue sharing, he churned through assistants while failing to find much consistency on either side of the ball.

    There’s an argument to be made that the Gators actually regressed from Game 1 (an interception in the final minute to beat then-No. 7 Utah in the Swamp) to Game 45 (an interception in the final minute to beat Mississippi State in the Swamp) under Napier despite a seemingly more potent roster.

    Whoever replaces Napier will inherit a sleeping giant, a three-time football national champion that recently caught up in the facilities race and has enough booster support to be a factor in the SEC.

    Associated Press

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  • Florida holds on to beat Mississippi State 23-21

    GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Billy Napier started to jog off the field, heard the boos and kicked it into another gear. He was trying to escape the negativity.

    His ultimate exit could come as early as Sunday.

    Jadan Baugh ran for a career-high 150 yards and a touchdown, DJ Lagway threw for 280 yards to offset two interceptions and Florida held on to beat Mississippi State 23-21 on Saturday in what may have been Napier’s finale.

    “I think I’m built for it; I’m made for it,” Napier said. “I chose the coaching profession; I was called to coach. The good comes with the bad. The bad comes with the good. The game’s about the players, and I’m proud of the way they played.”

    “I love the game of football,” he added, choking back tears. “I love the game.”

    The Gators (3-4, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) intercepted Blake Shapen’s pass in the waning seconds with the Bulldogs (4-3, 0-3) in field-goal range. Defensive tackle Michai Boireau got the pick, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

    “It ain’t over until the clock hits triple zeros,” Boireau said.

    Florida handed Mississippi State its 15th consecutive loss in league play, but a comedy of errors should be enough for athletic director Scott Stricklin to show Napier the door.

    Napier improved to 22-23 overall and 12-16 in league play in four seasons, but this one included enough head-scratching decisions that Stricklin could easily justify firing him after a win.

    Most notably, Napier dialed up a QB keeper on a third-and-1 play in the waning minutes that gave the Bulldogs a chance down the stretch.

    He also called a keeper on a third-and-7 play earlier, took consecutive penalties that turned a chip-shot field goal into a long one, primarily ran the ball to get to the goal line and then threw incomplete three times, botched the final possession before halftime and was flagged for having 12 men on the field during a 2-point try.

    Florida also had a long touchdown called back because of a penalty for the fourth time this season.

    Still, the Gators were talented enough to overcome the miscues. Napier, however, had little leeway left for any sort of clunker.

    “That was a great memory there,” Napier said. “And I think there’s a lot of life lessons for them in terms of what happened out there.”

    Shapen threw for 324 yards, including 155 to Brenen Thompson. Davon Booth ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Shapen’s final pass was the difference.

    “I love the call. I don’t like what the outcome was,” Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby said. “We had a ton of opportunities. It comes down to that last play.”

    Florida played shorthanded on defense

    The Gators were shorthanded in the secondary, playing without safety Jordan Castell and cornerback Cormani McClain. Standout cornerback Devin Moore injured his right shoulder on Mississippi State’s opening drive and spent the rest of the afternoon in a sling on the sideline.

    The mounting injuries — the team was already without cornerbacks Dijon Johnson and Aaron Gates — left the Gators with significant inexperience in the back end. Redshirt freshman Jamroc Grimsley and walk-on safety Alfonzo Allen Jr. made their first career starts, and freshman cornerback Ben Hanks III played for the first time this season.

    The takeaway

    Mississippi State: The Bulldogs kept it close throughout and potentially should have had more points. Kyle Ferrie missed a 41-yard field goal wide right in the second quarter, but replays appeared to show the ball going over the upright.

    Florida: If the Gators fire Napier, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin should be a top target. The short list also should include Louisville’s Jeff Brohm, Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz and Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman. There’s little chance Florida would go outside a sitting Power Four coach.

    Up next

    Mississippi State hosts No. 21 Texas next Saturday, the Longhorns’ first trip to Starkville since 1991.

    Florida gets a week off, potentially with an interim coach, before facing No. 9 Georgia in Jacksonville.

    Associated Press

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  • Defending champ Florida is No. 3 in preseason AP Top 25 college basketball poll

    The Florida Gators won the NCAA men’s national basketball championship in the 2024-25 season, but they aren’t No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 college basketball poll released Monday.

    Instead, Purdue is No. 1 for the first time.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida is ranked No. 3 in the preseason AP Top 25 college basketball poll

    • The defending champion received eight of 61 first-place votes

    • Purdue received a No. 1 ranking for the first time in a preseason poll

    • The Houston Cougars, who the Gators beat in the spring to win the title, are ranked at No. 2

    The Boilermakers earned 35 of 61 first-place votes to top Monday’s poll to begin the 2025-26 season. That put Matt Painter’s squad ahead of the two teams that played in last year’s NCAA title game, with runner-up Houston at No. 2 and reigning champion Florida at No. 3.

    Todd Golden’s Gators received eight first-place votes to start this year with their highest preseason ranking since the last time they entered a year as reigning champions in 2006-07, the start of a run to a second straight title.

    “We are obviously excited to get the season going and being ranked No. 1 in the preseason is a great indicator of what we feel this team can accomplish,” Painter said. “But the goal is to be No. 1 at the end of the year. We’re thrilled that people think this highly of our team, but there is a long ways to go and a lot of work to do to reach that goal in April.”

    Purdue started a year ranked as high as No. 2 once before, in 1987-88 under Gene Keady.

    It’s another milestone for Painter, the former Keady player who has built his own successful program that is still looking for its NCAA title breakthrough as he enters his 21st season. Purdue had never been ranked No. 1 in any AP poll before the 2021-22 season, which marked the first of three consecutive seasons in which the Boilermakers have reached the top. The last was during the 2023-24 season behind two-time AP national player of the year Zach Edey in a run all the way to the national title game.

    The Boilermakers reached last year’s Sweet 16 before falling to Houston on a last-second basket, but they return a first-team AP All-American in point guard Braden Smith, scoring leader Trey Kaufman-Renn (20.1) and veteran guard Fletcher Loyer.

    The top tier

    Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars, the team that Florida defeated in the NCAA championship game last spring, earned 16 first-place votes to match the program’s best-ever preseason AP ranking after last year’s finals run. The other No. 2 appearance was by the 1967-68 team led by Elvin Hayes.

    UConn came in at No. 4 and earned the remaining two first-place votes. St. John’s was fifth, with Rick Pitino’s Red Storm surpassing the program’s previous best ranking in a preseason AP poll (No. 7 in 1984-85).

    Duke was next at No. 6, followed by Michigan, BYU — which landed the nation’s No. 1 recruit in A.J. Dybantsa — Kentucky and Texas Tech to round out the top 10.

    Quick transitions

    It hasn’t taken long for Pat Kelsey to get Louisville back among the national elite, with the Cardinals checking in at No. 11 after a 27-win season to start his tenure. The Cardinals were 12-52 in the two seasons before his arrival.

    Louisville is one of five programs with a second-year coach in the preseason poll, joining Michigan, BYU, Kentucky and No. 14 Arkansas with John Calipari.

    Jayhawks lower

    Kansas checked in at No. 19, the lowest preseason rank for Bill Self’s Jayhawks since starting at No. 24 in the 2008-09 season as the reigning national champion. Kansas had been ranked outside the top 10 only once since that year (No. 13 in 2011-12) while starting at No. 1 in 2019-20 as well as each of the past two seasons in that stretch.

    Steven Pearl’s debut

    Auburn opens at No. 20 as it enters its first season since the unexpected retirement of coach Bruce Pearl following last year’s Final Four run.

    Pearl stepped aside last month after 11 seasons, triggering a transition to his 38-year-old son Steven, who climbed his father’s staff through the elder Pearl’s Auburn tenure but has never been a head coach nor coached elsewhere in college.

    Conference watch

    The Southeastern Conference, Big Ten and Big 12 each had six ranked teams to make up 72% of the field. The Atlantic Coast Conference and Big East were next with three each, while the West Coast Conference had one with No. 21 Gonzaga. The Big 12 was the only league in that group to have three top-10 teams.

    SEC poll

    The Gators have been chosen as the media’s pick to win the 2026 SEC title.

    Kentucky senior guard Otega Oweh was selected as the Preseason SEC Player of the Year. Kentucky was selected to finish second.

    Voters in the preseason poll were a select panel of both SEC and national media members. 

    Associated Press

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  • Tampa Bay Lightning Captain Victor Hedman one-on-one

    TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning hit the ice for their home opener Thursday night at Benchmark International Arena.

    Getting bounced from the playoffs in the first round in back-to-back seasons has the team motivated this year.

    What can we expect from the Bolts this season? Spectrum Sports 360 reporter Katherine Smith sat down for a one-on-one interview with Victor Hedman where he talks about being a captain, Stanley Cups and the Florida Panthers.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Tampa Bay Lightning open their season at home against the Ottawa Senators

    • The Bolts have been bounced in the first round of the playoffs in back-to-back seasons by the Florida Panthers

    • Captain Victor Hedman said the team has a Stanley Cup run in them this season


    QUESTION: This is the second season you’re going to be wearing the C on your chest. What does that honor mean to you?

    VICTOR HEDMAN: It means a lot, obviously. To represent the community and the team and being a team’s leader it’s a great feeling. So, I don’t take that for granted one bit. But like I said before last year, it’s going to be a team effort. And we have a great leadership group in that room, so they make my job easy. It’s obviously a lot more responsibility on you when you wear that C, but like I said, it’s a great honor and it’s nothing I take for granted. So every time you play in the NHL you get to wear the C, it’s a cool feeling.

    QUESTION: Five year anniversary since you won your first Stanley Cup. Four years since you won your second. Is there a Stanley Cup run in this team this season?

    VICTOR HEDMAN: 100 percent. We have all the tools for it and we’ve got great depth, phenomenal goaltending. So, we got all the tools in the toolbox to make a big run again. But that’s very far ahead. We gotta make sure we have a great start to the season first and then get things moving.

    QUESTION: What do you like most about the team this year?

    VICTOR HEDMAN: I mean I love our team chemistry. Our core group has been together for a long time. And the new guys coming in fit in right away. So, our chemistry, but just our determination too to be as good as we can in all areas of the game, that’s what’s going to set us apart.

    QUESTION: I’m going to say a bad word, Florida Panthers. These two teams do not like each other. The way that your season ended last year, how much is that motivating the team this year?

    VICTOR HEDMAN: I mean motivation comes from different aspects, but it’s two years in a row that we’ve been knocked out in the first round by them. So, we know that’s going to keep being brought up throughout the year. But, like I said, this is a new season and we’re looking ahead. But like I said, that’s one of the teams we have to get through to get to the ultimate goal, so yeah.

    Katherine Smith

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  • FSU’s Pritchard moved from hospital to rehab site as he recovers from shooting

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State freshman linebacker Ethan Pritchard is “alert, responsive and able to communicate” after being shot in the back of the head following the team’s season opener in August, according to a post on the Seminoles football program’s X account.

    Pritchard was released from Tallahassee Memorial Hospital on Thursday and moved to Brooks Rehabilitation in Jacksonville for the next stage in his recovery.

    The football team at Pritchard’s high school alma mater, Seminole High School in Sanford, posted a video of him leaving the hospital on its X account Thursday afternoon.

    “We are thankful for the efforts, thoughts and prayers of so many people and ask that you continue to support Ethan and his family as this process continues,” Florida State football posted in an announcement on X.

    Four people were arrested in connection with the shooting. Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said last month that Pritchard was “not doing anything wrong” when he was ambushed outside an apartment complex. He added that Pritchard was dropping off an aunt and a child at the time of the shooting.

    Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young said the shooting was a case of mistaken identity.

    “I am so thankful for everyone who has prayed for my son,” Earl Pritchard said in a statement. “There have been a lot of ups and downs over these last 39 days, and it is remarkable that Ethan and I were able to leave the hospital together today.”

    Pritchard also thanked FSU coach Mike Norvell for being “a constant presence visiting us here at the hospital.”

    “His players and staff have continued to make us feel part of the team,” Pritchard added. “I can’t fully express how much those moments have meant to me and Ethan.”

    Seminole High School hosted a fundraiser in early September at a football game, selling T-shirts with his number on them.

    All funds from T-shirt sales and concession sales went to his family to help pay for his medical bills.

    Spectrum Sports Staff, Associated Press

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  • NCAA approves a single January transfer window in college football

    The NCAA approved a single January transfer window in college football on Wednesday, a move that will allow coaches with high-stakes postseason games to focus more on matchups than player retention.

    What You Need To Know

    • The NCAA officially put in place a single transfer window in college football

    • The new 15-day window is Jan. 2-16, changed from the 20-day window in December

    • Football Bowl Subdivision coaches supported the change at the American Football Coaches Association convention earlier this year

    • The move allows players in postseason games to remain eligible before entering the portal

    The Division I Administrative Committee approved the new window of January 2-16. Bowl subdivision coaches voted unanimously to support the change during their American Football Coaches Association convention earlier this year.

    The new 15-day period replaces the current 20-day December period. Most teams now will be able to keep active players as they prepare for their biggest games.

    Last season, Penn State backup quarterback Beau Pribula entered the portal and missed his team’s run in the College Football Playoff.

    The new window will allow players on teams in postseason games to remain eligible before entering the portal. Players on teams competing on or after Jan. 12 can notify during a consecutive-five-day period beginning the day after their team’s final postseason game.

    The spring portal period already had been removed. The April 16-25 window this past offseason created havoc for coaches and players during spring practice. Nico Iamaleava, a quarterback who led Tennessee to the playoff last season, left for UCLA in the most high-profile example.

    The NCAA also announced that the head coach change exception for football will now be 15 days, starting five days after a new coach is hired if that announcement comes after Jan. 2.

    Associated Press

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  • This year’s showdown between in-state rivals FSU, Miami is Top 25 matchup

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — When No. 18 Florida State and No. 3 Miami meet Saturday in their annual intrastate and Atlantic Coast Conference rivalry game, the contest will be one of only two Top 25 matchups of the day.

    As if the intense rivalry between the teams is not enough, that status brings with it significance in the College Football Playoff picture, and the programs have a history of ending each other’s national title hopes.

    What You Need To Know

    • The FSU-Miami game on Saturday in Tallahassee could decide both teams’ College Football Playoffs fate

    • In the history of the in-state rivalry, the game has a history of hurting national championship hopes

    • The Hurricanes come into the game undefeated and ranked No. 3 in the AP Top rankings

    • The Seminoles are coming off a double-overtime loss to ACC opponent Virginia

    The undefeated Hurricanes are looking to build upon their already strong start to the season, which includes victories against then-No. 6 Notre Dame and Florida, to try to make a run at the national championship. They have not won in Tallahassee since 2019, but Miami quarterback Carson Beck is 4-0 against Florida State and Florida.

    The Seminoles are coming off a stunning, double-overtime loss to Virginia on Saturday, ending their unbeaten run after defeating Alabama in their opener and pounding East Texas A&M and Kent State. The defeat in its ACC opener knocked FSU down 10 spots in The Associated Press Top 25 rankings.

    If they hope to get back into the CFP hunt, the Seminoles need a victory against the Hurricanes on Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee.

    “We lost the first conference game. We have nothing but an opportunity in front of us this next week in a huge game for us, for our program, for our university,” FSU coach Mike Norvell said.

    In the eyes of Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal, conference games are playoff games, and he pointed out this week that league matchups tend to be tighter than many non-conference contests. 

    “Everybody’s alive, everybody’s vying for a spot,” Cristobal said. “So the margins for error, the margins between winning and not winning, become smaller and smaller. … I think that’s the best part of college football at this time of year. You’re getting everybody’s best, and you’re giving everybody your best.”

    FSU rushed for 256 yards against Virginia, but it also surrendered 211 yards on the ground. The Cavaliers converted seven of 13 third-down attempts. The Seminoles also had two early turnovers that led to the Cavaliers’ first two touchdowns.

    Despite the loss to the Cavaliers, the Seminoles had positive moments that they might look to carry into the matchup with the Hurricanes. They erased a 14-0 deficit against the Cavaliers, and quarterback Tommy Castellanos threw a tying 11-yard touchdown pass to Randy Pittman Jr. with 36 seconds left in regulation.

    Castellanos appeared to throw a tying 22-yard touchdown pass to Duce Robinson in the second overtime. But Robinson juggled the ball as he ran through the back of the end zone. After the play was initially ruled a score, it was reversed on replay. On the next play, Castellanos heaved a desperation pass to the corner of the end zone intended for Squirrel White. He was intercepted by Ja’Son Prevard, closing it out for the Cavaliers.

    “I know our guys will respond,” Norvell said. “We have to go put everything we have into this week.”

    He said he believes FSU could get a boost from playing at home.

    “You’ll see a sold-out Doak Campbell Stadium, nighttime, prime time,” Norvell said. “A wonderful stage to be able to show this team who we are, what we’re about, and the response that we’re going to have.”

    Beck is not worried about the crowd noise.

    “In all these loud stadiums and big-time matchups, I think you can see that throughout these first five weeks of college football,” Beck said. “But for us, if we just have elite communication, we can just kind of block that crowd out and just execute and do what we do.”

    In the end, the outcome could come down to which team’s strengths prevail.

    FSU running back Gavin Sawchuk (234 yards rushing) and Castellanos (217 yards rushing) lead the Seminoles’ ground attack, which ranks second in the Football Bowl Subdivision at 336.3 yards a game. Miami is tied for eighth in the FBS in rushing defense at 76.3 yards a game.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    Spectrum Sports Staff, Associated Press

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  • This year’s showdown between in-state rivals FSU, Miami is Top 25 matchup

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — When No. 18 Florida State and No. 3 Miami meet Saturday in their annual intrastate and Atlantic Coast Conference rivalry game, the contest will be one of only two Top 25 matchups of the day.

    As if the intense rivalry between the teams is not enough, that status brings with it significance in the College Football Playoff picture, and the programs have a history of ending each other’s national title hopes.

    What You Need To Know

    • The FSU-Miami game on Saturday in Tallahassee could decide both teams’ College Football Playoffs fate

    • In the history of the in-state rivalry, the game has a history of hurting national championship hopes

    • The Hurricanes come into the game undefeated and ranked No. 3 in the AP Top rankings

    • The Seminoles are coming off a double-overtime loss to ACC opponent Virginia

    The undefeated Hurricanes are looking to build upon their already strong start to the season, which includes victories against then-No. 6 Notre Dame and Florida, to try to make a run at the national championship. They have not won in Tallahassee since 2019, but Miami quarterback Carson Beck is 4-0 against Florida State and Florida.

    The Seminoles are coming off a stunning, double-overtime loss to Virginia on Saturday, ending their unbeaten run after defeating Alabama in their opener and pounding East Texas A&M and Kent State. The defeat in its ACC opener knocked FSU down 10 spots in The Associated Press Top 25 rankings.

    If they hope to get back into the CFP hunt, the Seminoles need a victory against the Hurricanes on Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee.

    “We lost the first conference game. We have nothing but an opportunity in front of us this next week in a huge game for us, for our program, for our university,” FSU coach Mike Norvell said.

    In the eyes of Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal, conference games are playoff games, and he pointed out this week that league matchups tend to be tighter than many non-conference contests. 

    “Everybody’s alive, everybody’s vying for a spot,” Cristobal said. “So the margins for error, the margins between winning and not winning, become smaller and smaller. … I think that’s the best part of college football at this time of year. You’re getting everybody’s best, and you’re giving everybody your best.”

    FSU rushed for 256 yards against Virginia, but it also surrendered 211 yards on the ground. The Cavaliers converted seven of 13 third-down attempts. The Seminoles also had two early turnovers that led to the Cavaliers’ first two touchdowns.

    Despite the loss to the Cavaliers, the Seminoles had positive moments that they might look to carry into the matchup with the Hurricanes. They erased a 14-0 deficit against the Cavaliers, and quarterback Tommy Castellanos threw a tying 11-yard touchdown pass to Randy Pittman Jr. with 36 seconds left in regulation.

    Castellanos appeared to throw a tying 22-yard touchdown pass to Duce Robinson in the second overtime. But Robinson juggled the ball as he ran through the back of the end zone. After the play was initially ruled a score, it was reversed on replay. On the next play, Castellanos heaved a desperation pass to the corner of the end zone intended for Squirrel White. He was intercepted by Ja’Son Prevard, closing it out for the Cavaliers.

    “I know our guys will respond,” Norvell said. “We have to go put everything we have into this week.”

    He said he believes FSU could get a boost from playing at home.

    “You’ll see a sold-out Doak Campbell Stadium, nighttime, prime time,” Norvell said. “A wonderful stage to be able to show this team who we are, what we’re about, and the response that we’re going to have.”

    Beck is not worried about the crowd noise.

    “In all these loud stadiums and big-time matchups, I think you can see that throughout these first five weeks of college football,” Beck said. “But for us, if we just have elite communication, we can just kind of block that crowd out and just execute and do what we do.”

    In the end, the outcome could come down to which team’s strengths prevail.

    FSU running back Gavin Sawchuk (234 yards rushing) and Castellanos (217 yards rushing) lead the Seminoles’ ground attack, which ranks second in the Football Bowl Subdivision at 336.3 yards a game. Miami is tied for eighth in the FBS in rushing defense at 76.3 yards a game.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    Spectrum Sports Staff, Associated Press

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