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Tag: Florida Sports

  • With Brown back and healthy at quarterback, USF seeks to boost record from 7-6

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    TAMPA, Fla. — When USF kicks off its football season at 5:30 p.m. Thursday against preseason Associated Press Top 25 Boise State, the Bulls are confident because senior quarterback Byrum Brown is back. 

    Brown missed eight games last season with an injury to his lower left leg in a loss to Tulane in late September. He took some limited snaps after that, including in the Hawai’i Bowl, but could not play significant time.

    What You Need To Know

    • Byrum Brown will take the snaps at quarterback after an offseason of recovering from a lower-leg injury

    • In 2023, he was one of the nation’s top quarterbacks, completing 276 of 427 pass attempts for 3,292 yards and 26 touchdowns

    • The Bulls seek to improve from their 7-6 record the past two seasons

    • Get the latest on the upcoming season with Spectrum Sports’ 30-minute College Football Preview Show at 6:30 p.m. Thursday

    In 2023, Brown completed 276 of 427 pass attempts for 3,292 yards and 26 touchdowns and also ran for 809 yards, one of the best performances in all of college’s Football Bowl Subdivision.

    He should get strong protection from the Bulls’ veteran offensive line.

    “I challenged the older guys to grab the young guys and show them what it looks like to get ready for a game,” coach Alex Golesh said. “The biggest challenge is stay completely focused on the task at hand, which is just going one day at a time as we get closer to playing.”

    He also could get help from a new running back. USF used the transfer portal to bring in senior Cartevious Norton from Charlotte, where he rushed for 525 yards and seven touchdowns in one season after joining the Broncos from Iowa State.

    Junior wide receiver Keshaun Singleton is back after ranking third on the team with 27 receptions for 408 yards and three touchdowns in his first season, and so is junior Jeyquan Smith, who played in all 13 games last season and caught six passes for 106 yards. Graduate student Mudia Reuben out of Stanford also was added through the transfer portal.


    The Bulls are looking to improve upon last season, when they finished 7-6 after a 41-39 victory against San Diego State at the Hawai’i Bowl. It was the second season in a row that the Bulls finished with that record under Golesh.

    “We’ve talked so much this offseason about our identity, now going into year 3, and going into a veteran football team,” Golesh said. “It’s time that we put this identity that we have preached and preached and preached and preached and worked and lived for 2-1/2 years. It’s time we put it on display for the entire country to see. That means we’re physically and mentally the toughest football team on that field, week in and week out.”

    The coach said better health heading into the season should help, too.

     “I’m excited, we’re in a good spot as a team,” Golesh said. “We are getting healthy off of camp. This was a huge, huge week for us to get a bunch of guys healthy back, a bunch of guys back to the weights they’re supposed to be, kind of out of the true grind of what camp is into the true grind of what the season is.”

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    Spectrum Sports Staff

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  • From Nebraska back to Orlando: UCF assistant coaches return with Frost

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    ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — One of the most important attributes for a football team to have is trust, which starts with the head coach. 

    Scott Frost is the man in charge for the UCF Knights, and when he was filling out his coaching staff, he said he needed guys that were like family. 

    What You Need To Know

    • When Scott Frost returned to UCF, he brought back some of his former assistant coaches

    •  Sean Beckton Sr. is the UCF associate head coach and wide receivers coach

    •  Mike Dawson is the UCF edge rushers and defensive run coordinator coach

    • Beckton and Dawson were on Frost’s staff in 2016 and 2017 at UCF and followed him to Nebraska 

    • Get the latest on the upcoming season with Spectrum Sports’ 30-minute College Football Preview Show at 6:30 p.m. Thursday


    “I really like the mix of guys we have — starting with coach (Sean) Beckton (Sr.),” Frost said. “He’s kind of ‘Mr. UCF.’ When I got here the first time in 2016, I got about 300 calls and texts to keep coach Beckton. I’m sure glad I did. He’s as good of a guy as I’ve been around and as good as an all-around coach as I’ve been around.”

    Since 1987, Sean Beckton Sr. has been a part of the UCF football team. 

    He started as wide receiver for the Knights when they were an independent team at the Division II level and ended his playing career with what was then the most receiving yards and receptions in school history — 196 receptions and 2,493 receiving yards. That still is among the leaders in UCF history, and he is now in the UCF Hall of Fame.

    Beckton said the game of football is still the same. 

    “The guys are bigger, faster, stronger. The game hasn’t changed,” he said. “I played in an offense back in my days, when I caught 40 passes as a freshman.”

    Beckton was also on Frost’s coaching staff at UCF during the 2016-17 seasons and then followed Frost to coach in Nebraska.

    He said it was no-brainer when he received the phone call from Frost to be the Knights’ associate head coach and wide receivers coach.

    “It was a very good moment for me and my family,” Beckton said. “I thought it would be an easy transition from coach Malzahn’s staff to coach Frost.”


    Beckton isn’t the only tenured Knight on staff. UCF run game coordinator Mike Dawson also had the same journey of coaching with Frost for UCF and Nebraska. 

    He’s happy to be back at UCF. 

    “I was very flattered and excited when coach called me and told me he’s going to take the job. He asked if I was interested in coming. I couldn’t say yes fast enough,” Dawson said. “He called me boring because I didn’t try to negotiate some crazy contract or something. I was just excited to get back with him.”

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    Brandon Green

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  • USF’s Golesh says physical toughness should lead to success for Bulls

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Everything you need to know about USF’s head coach is happening on the field.

    There’s fun. There’s inclusion. There’s pure joy. And of course, there’s football. 

    What You Need To Know

    • USF Coach Alex Golesh is entering his third season as the Bulls’ coach

    • Last season, his team went 7-6 and defeated San Diego State in the Hawai’i Bowl

    • Golesh says physical toughness can help the team continue to build on its success

    • Get the latest on the upcoming season with Spectrum Sports’ 30-minute College Football Preview Show at 6:30 p.m. Thursday

    Coach Alex Golesh claims Victory Day is his favorite day of the year. And it’s easy to see why. No one was keeping score, but before USF kicked off the regular season, Golesh posted his first W. Everybody won at Victory Day, an annual event when the USF Bulls football team gives back to the community by hosting Special Olympics Florida athletes for an evening of football drills, agility challenges and scoring touchdowns.

    “I get an opportunity to meet so many cool families that are from right here in Tampa — that look forward to this night every year,” Golesh said. “There’s nothing cooler.”

    Golesh, entering his third season with the Bulls, has spent his time at USF building and molding this program. It’s taken on the identity of its leadership, which includes its redheaded head coach.

    “You want to be a physically tough football team. That’s always been who I am, whether as a position coach, an offensive coordinator, certainly as a head coach,” Golesh said. “You want a physically tough team. You should be able to turn the game on and say, ‘Man, like, those dudes are all over the place.’ ” 

    Tough and successful, that’s the goal. The Bulls are coming off a 7-6 season, one that they capped off with an exciting, 41-39 five-overtime win against San Diego State in the Hawai’i Bowl.


    There are exciting times off the field, too, as the school’s on-campus stadium is finally under construction.

    Golesh can see the progress from his office, and he said he’s hoping to see the progress of his team on the football field this season. And that fans take notice.

    “You’re fighting to have a hope, then a belief, then now, a true expectation of winning,” Golesh said. “I want them to walk out and say, ‘Man, that is a really, really physical team that plays together and that won’t quit.’ I think if they walk out and say that, I think we’ve done our job.”

    That’s Victory Day, every day.

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    Katherine Smith

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  • Mystery surrounds UCF football as it opens 2025 season Thursday

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    ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — UCF’s football team starts the season on Thursday against Jacksonville State as something of a mystery. 

    After a 4-8 season in 2024, the coaching staff is mostly new, and coach Scott Frost needed to bring in nearly 70 players who weren’t on the team previously. The Knights have a new starting quarterback, running backs who did not start for the team last season, new kickers and mostly new starters at linebacker and in the defensive backfield.

    What You Need To Know

    • UCF kicks off its 2025 season at 7 p.m. Thursday against Jacksonville State at the Acrisure Bounce House



    • Knights coach Scott Frost and his staff brought in 70 new players in the offseason



    • Frost says the game will be the players’ first opportunity to show the team can be better than expected



    • Cam Fancher, a transfer from Florida Atlantic, has been named the starting quarterback for the game



    • Get the latest on the upcoming season with Spectrum Sports’ 30-minute College Football Preview Show at 6:30 p.m. Thursday



    Many of those players came through the transfer portal, so they aren’t new to college football, but they are new to each other.

    The good news is, Frost did not coach UCF last season, but he also started a rebuild of the program in 2016. That team went 6-6 and then had an undefeated season in 2017 before Frost left to coach Nebraska, his alma mater. Frost was in the American Athletic Conference, the Group of 5, then as opposed to now when the Knights are second-year members of the Big 12. But there is a familiarity, and the process is not new to him.

    Frost said he feels confident after spring and fall practices.

    “The preparation was really good. I feel confident about our athletic ability and how we’ve come together as a team,” Frost said.

    He is tempering expectations and has said repeatedly that success this season is defined by progress.

    “You get to the point that you practice so much that you need to see what they can do during a game,” Frost said. “…I feel like we’ve trained well. But everything changes once you are out there on the fields. I just want our guys to be ready to attack, to play with no fear of failure, and just play hard.”


    Pundits in the Big 12 and national media aren’t expecting a lot out of UCF’s football team this season, but Frost said that could be good for the Knights.

    “The kids are embracing the fact that, nationally, there’s not a lot expected of the group, and I think that’s been a motivation for them,” Frost said. “So, they’re going to get a chance to take their first step to proving people wrong on Thursday.”

    Starting running back Myles Montgomery agreed.

    “It’s a new team. I know what they can do. I’m ready for you guys to see it,” said Montgomery, who backed up RJ Harvey last season as Harvey turned in a season that led him to get drafted by the NFL’s Denver Broncos.

    Fancher will be starting quarterback, but the others aren’t out of the picture

    Frost confirmed Monday that Cam Fancher, a redshirt senior transfer from Florida Atlantic, will be the starting quarterback.

    “All three kids did an unbelievable job,” Frost said. “Cam’s going to run there to begin the game and begin the season, and we’ll go from there.”

    Frost said he trusts all three — the other two are Tayven Jackson, a redshirt junior transfer from Indiana, and redshirt junior Jacurri Brown, who saw playing time for the Knights last season after transferring from Miami. Frost said Jackson or Brown could get to play but that, for now, Fancher will start.

    Fancher is a left-hander, but Frost said that will not change who plays on the offensive line or at wide receiver.

    Knights will have options at many positions

    All the wide receivers are new to UCF, and Frost said they have shown a lot of growth since spring.

    “They all will have a chance to have an impact on the game,” he said.

    That will be common.

    “There will be several spots where multiple people get to play, and we’ve got a rotation, but I think we’re settled in pretty well,” Frost said.

    The exception will be on the defensive line, where three of the four starters are returning from last year’s team.

    Senior Nyjalik Kelly, who played for the Knights last season after transferring from Miami, said he expects the line to be a strength of the team.

    “You’re going to see us in the backfield,” Kelly said. “You’re going to see us on the other line of scrimmage having a party.”

    Frost said the entire team will need to keep getting better as the season progresses.

    “I really want our team to stay mission-focused and keep attacking and trying to make great plays,” Frost said. “Whether good things happen or bad things happen, we’ve got to keep the foot on the pedal and just keep pushing forward. I feel good about where we are, but we’ll get tested both ways — with good things and bad things.”

    He also wants the team’s growth to extend to the players themselves.

    “We’ve got a pretty special group of guys,” Frost said. “I told them the other day, when I was here the last time, there was a group of guys that came together so well that it was life-changing almost for them, what they got to experience together. And I want that for this group, too. I want them to have those kinds of trials and that kind of success. You take those kinds of experiences with you for the rest of your life, so we’re working to build that here again.”

    Season-opening opponent Jacksonville State also has many new faces

    The Gamecocks also have a new coach, Charles Kelly, after Rich Rodriguez resigned near the end of a 9-5 season in 2024 and went on to take over the West Virginia program.

    Kelly and his staff added 11 players in the transfer portal and 23 new players total for this season.

    On Sunday, he named Gavin Wimsatt as starting quarterback, Jacksonville State’s third in three seasons.

    Frost said Wimsatt can run as well as pass, so UCF’s defense will have to be ready for him.

    The Knights’ coach praised Kelly and his coordinators and acknowledged that he has had to watch a lot of other football programs’ games to prepare for Thursday’s game.

    “We’re not 100% sure what they’re going to be lined up in, and what they’re going to be doing. They’re probably not 100% sure about what we’re doing,” Frost said “…You go into a game like this, and it’s a little harder to scheme somebody else up. It kind of becomes just more line up and do what you do and play ball.”

    Some logistics to know before Thursday’s game

    Kickoff is at 7 p.m., but pregame inside the stadium starts at 6:30 p.m.

    The stadium has a new name, Acrisure Bounce House, to reflect a new naming rights agreement and the facility’s nickname, which comes from its up-and-down movement when fans in the stands jump up and down to cheer on the team.

    Construction is underway around the stadium, but all entry gates and the service road around it will remain open. Some walkways and portions of the walkways near IOA Plaza and the Nicholson Fieldhouse will be affected.

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    Spectrum Sports Staff

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  • No. 10 Miami, now with Carson Beck, enters another season of great expectations

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    CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Carson Beck came to Miami knowing this much: The offense works.

    The Hurricanes led the nation last season in yards per game and yards per play. They finished tied with national champion Ohio State in offensive touchdowns, with the Buckeyes playing three more games. And Cam Ward — last season’s Miami quarterback who became the No. 1 pick in the NFL 2025 Draft — led a unit that rewrote the Hurricanes’ record book.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Miami Hurricanes finished the regular season 10-2 last year but still missed the College Football Playoff

    • The team, which is entering the season ranked No. 10, seeks to get in this season

    • The Hurricanes finished the season with the nation’s top-ranked offense, but its defense fell apart down the stretch and has been overhauled

    • Miami will get a tough test early, with No. 6 Notre Dame on the schedule for its opener

    • Get the latest on the upcoming season with Spectrum Sports’ 30-minute College Football Preview Show at 6:30 p.m. Thursday

    Beck gets his chance now. The Georgia transfer takes over for Ward, set for a season that could see Miami contending for Atlantic Coast Conference honors and possibly more.

    “We’ve made a lot of progress over the last three years,” said Miami coach Mario Cristobal, who is entering his fourth season leading the team at his alma mater. “Year 1, our roster was not really built to take on Power Four football, and those were some lopsided games and those were tough. Year 2, everything was competitive, and we won a couple more. Then last year, we had a chance to win every single game, but we didn’t.”

    A 10-2 regular season, even with the top-ranked offense in America, wasn’t enough to get Miami into the College Football Playoff. And the Hurricanes are still chasing their first ACC title.

    Changes were made with hopes of getting Miami closer to those levels. A big move was hiring Corey Hetherman from Minnesota as defensive coordinator. Hetherman was defensive coordinator for one season at Minnesota and led dramatic improvements.

    Hetherman replaces Lance Guidry, who was fired after the Hurricanes lost three of their final four games. They gave up at least 38 points and 500 yards in each of the final two games in 2024, losses to Syracuse and then Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

    “The only thing that’s stopping us is us, honestly,” defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. said. “If we don’t get in the way of ourselves, we’ll be just fine. I mean, the mindset we have is pretty good so far.”

    Beck’s numbers

    Beck spent five seasons at Georgia, the last two as the Bulldogs’ primary starter. He completed 68% of his passes — 628 of 923 — for 7,912 yards, 58 touchdowns and 12 interceptions at Georgia in 39 games.

    In 27 appearances over the past two seasons, Georgia went 24-3.

    Ward, last season’s quarterback, set Miami single-season records with 305 completions, 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns.

    “His success is undeniable,” Beck said. “Obviously, I don’t really know him very well. I’ve been able to meet him a couple times, … but what he was able to do is undeniable.”

    The line has four returning players

    Offensive line will be a strength for Miami, which has four key returnees in left tackle Markel Bell, left guard Matt McCoy, right guard Anez Cooper and right tackle Francis Mauigoa. Transfer James Brockermeyer, who formerly played at Alabama and TCU, takes over at center.

    “Experience gives you old eyes,” offensive line coach Alex Mirabal said. “Old eyes allow you to adjust and correct and do things that younger guys get burned by.”

    2 new kickers come in to replace nearly flawless Borregales

    Transfers Carter Davis (FAU) and Bert Auburn (Texas) were brought in to take over at kicker, replacing the stellar Andy Borregales — who graduated as Miami’s all-time scoring leader. Borregales was 18 for 19 on field goals last season and made all 62 of his extra-point tries.

    Miami looking to stay perfect at home

    The Hurricanes were 6-0 at home last season, the only ACC team with an unbeaten record on their own field in 2024. It was Miami’s first perfect home regular season since going 7-0 in 2017. The Hurricanes lost the Orange Bowl on their home field to end that season.

    Schedule matters

    No. 10 Miami hosts No. 6 Notre Dame in Week 1, the first time the Hurricanes will face a fellow top 10 team to open a season since 2004, but if both teams stay ranked, that could help the Hurricanes with their rankings for the College Football Playoff. The selection committee announced Aug. 20 that it will place more emphasis on strength of schedule this year when determining which teams make up the 12-team field.

    There are eight home games, including a visit from Florida on Sept. 20 and a weird quirk — two bye weeks in a three-week span. Miami gets a bye before facing Florida State on Oct. 4, then another bye before playing Louisville on Oct. 17.

    Miami doesn’t play a game outside of Florida until visiting SMU on Nov. 1.

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    Associated Press

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  • No. 15 Florida would rather be No. 1 than see No. 1 on the field this season

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s roster has a glaring omission: No one wearing No. 1.

    It’s by design, and coach Billy Napier had nothing to do with it.

    Veteran team leaders decided it would be fitting if the 15th-ranked Gators avoided the number altogether in 2025. No prima donnas. No egos. No self-serving agendas.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Gators’ team leaders decided that no player would wear No. 1 this season

    • The top players want to help Florida achieve national prominence this season and prefer the focus be on the team, not individuals

    • Florida, which returns 13 starters from last year’s 8-5 season, is ranked No. 15 heading into the start of the season this week

    • A stretch of games against No. 9 LSU, 10th-ranked Miami, No. 1 Texas and 19th-ranked Texas A&M could determine whether UF can make the College Football Playoffs

    • Get the latest on the upcoming season with Spectrum Sports’ 30-minute College Football Preview Show at 6:30 p.m. Thursday

    It wasn’t meant as a knock on any former Florida players who donned 1. In fact, running back Montrell Johnson Jr. and defensive end Justus Boone wore it last year and were two of the most respected guys on the roster.

    But this year’s team, which returns 13 starters who gained strength from four lopsided losses and constant speculation about Napier’s future in 2024, has aspirations of carrying the Gators back to national prominence.

    Is it possible to be No. 1 without having a No. 1? Florida will find out. Napier’s squad is the only Southeastern Conference team without one, and nearly all the others have two.

    “A little bit of an initiative about the team coming first, the team being No. 1,” Napier said. “Will that be every year? No. But I think it’s a good indicator of the leadership of our team.”

    Florida’s players and coach said they believe the team has the core, chemistry and cohesion to be special, a collection of mostly homegrown players who endured a career’s worth of adversity last year alone. Florida got embarrassed at home by Miami and Texas A&M, stoking flames underneath Napier’s already warm seat, and then got drubbed at Texas in early November.

    Instead of pointing fingers or looking for lifelines, the Gators stuck together.

    “It definitely does feel rewarding when you have a team that’s built on principles and is actually a family. It’s not a portal team,” defensive end Kam James said. “It’s like being here with family versus being here with co-workers.”

    The Florida family has welcomed baggage, the kind of shared experiences that bond rather than break. It helped the Gators rally down the stretch last season, winning their final four games and entering 2025 with the conference’s longest winning streak.

    “It was very challenging for them as young people and certainly as teammates,” Napier said. “When you do go through something like that, it can galvanize the team and their perspective.”

    Florida’s success likely hinges on its quarterback

    Sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway is the key to Florida’s season.

    Florida plans to ease Lagway into the season after he missed spring practice and most of fall camp. Napier said Monday that Lagway will start the team’s opener against Long Island University on Saturday and hinted that the 15th-ranked Gators will try to keep the sophomore out of harm’s way while he works his way back from shoulder and calf injuries.

    “I think there’s a gamesmanship to that part. There’s no question about it,” Napier said. “In general, I don’t know that we’re going to disclose our approach with game plan. But I do think it is what it is.”

    It makes sense for Florida to be cautious with Lagway, who has been slowed all year following core muscle surgery, a right shoulder issue and then a strained left calf. He fully returned to practice last week, although he still wore a noncontact jersey.

    He has a soft opening two games — against Long Island University and USF — to get right and find a rhythm with talented receivers J. Michael Sturdivant, Dallas Wilson and Tre Wilson.

    “He’s done a phenomenal job of handling everything, good and bad,” offensive coordinator Russ Callaway said.

    Napier wants to see defensive strides

    The Gators haven’t finished in the upper half of the league in total defense since 2019, and they’ve been double digits every year under Napier. They insist they have the right mix of experience and depth to be a factor on that side of the ball.

    “We are on a mission here to play championship-caliber defense,” Napier said.

    Keep an eye on these legacy players

    Napier has eight players with family ties to the program, including freshman receiver Vernell Brown III, sophomore linebacker Myles Graham and freshman defensive back Ben Hanks III. The trio of highly touted recruits could end up being as good as their Florida fathers.

    Schedule includes a daunting stretch

    The Gators get two relative cupcakes to open the season but then face four ranked teams — at No. 9 LSU, at 10th-ranked Miami, against No. 1 Texas and at 19th-ranked Texas A&M. Those four games over five weeks should determine whether the College Football Playoff is a reality or a reverie for Florida.

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    Associated Press

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  • Countdown is on for the kickoff of college football 2025 in Florida on Thursday

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    FLORIDA — The long wait for the start of college football season is over for fans in Florida this week.

    All of Florida’s major teams play over the weekend, and fans can watch at least one team from the state every day of the holiday weekend except Monday.

    What You Need To Know

    • USF and UCF get the 2025 college football season in Florida started Thursday with their home games

    • Bethune-Cookman opens its season Friday vs. Florida International

    • Preseason No. 15 Florida, Florida A&M and Stetson open Saturday, and Florida State hosts preseason No. 8 Alabama

    • No. 10 Miami wraps up the state’s first weekend of gridiron play against No. 6 Notre Dame

    USF kicks off the weekend for Florida teams with a 5:30 p.m. start Thursday at home against preseason No. 25 Boise State.

    That start time just edged out UCF, which plays host to Jacksonville State at 7 p.m. Thursday.

    The most intriguing games for most football fans in the state are Saturday, when Florida State will welcome in No. 8 Alabama, and Sunday, when the preseason No. 10 Miami Hurricanes will play host to preseason No. 6 Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m.

    Bethune-Cookman fills the Friday slot, with a road game against Florida International at 7 p.m.

    The traditional Saturday spot is filled with preseason No. 15 Florida at home against Long Island University at 7 p.m., Florida A&M playing Howard in Miami Gardens and Stetson welcoming in Webber International.

    Overall, the Gators might have the most challenging schedule of the season. Based on preseason rankings, which can change significantly, Florida will face seven teams ranked in the preseason Top 25 — Texas, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Texas A&M, Mississippi and Tennessee. If the Gators can perform well against that gauntlet of teams, that should help them at the end of the season with the College Football Playoff Committee, which announced Wednesday it will place more emphasis on strength of schedule this year when determining which teams make the 12-team field.

    FSU’s schedule is no slouch either. Including its opener against Alabama, the Seminoles have four games against teams in the preseason Top 25 — Miami, Clemson and Florida. USF plays three preseason Top 25 teams — Boise State, Florida and Miami.

    At first glance, UCF’s first two opponents might seem to be easier, but it opens Thursday against Jacksonville State, which has a history of knocking off Power 4 teams. On Sept. 13, 2021, the Gamecocks hit a 59-yard field goal as time expired to stun FSU 20-17. That was no fluke, as Jacksonville State on Sept. 4, 2010 scored a touchdown and made a 2-point conversion to edge out Mississippi 49-48.

    Considering the Knights come in with about 70 new players and coach Scott Frost is returning to the program for the first season since UCF defeated Auburn in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1, 2018, the Knights could have their work cut out for them.

    Spectrum News 13 will have much more on the start of the season for Florida’s teams at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, when it will air a 30-minute College Football Preview Show to take a sneak peek at what’s ahead for the state’s teams.

    For now, here are the schedules for the 2025 season so you don’t miss any games you want to see.

    University of Florida Gators

    • Aug. 30 — Long Island University at Florida, 7 p.m.
    • Sept. 6 — USF at Florida, 4:15 p.m.
    • Sept. 13 — Florida at LSU, 7:30 p.m.
    • Sept. 20 — Florida at Miami, TBA
    • Oct. 4 — Texas at Florida, TBA
    • Oct. 11 — Florida at Texas A&M, TBA
    • Oct. 18 — Mississippi State at Florida, Start time will be between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. This is Homecoming.
    • Nov. 1 — Georgia vs. Florida, 3:30 p.m., EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville
    • Nov. 8 — Florida at Kentucky, TBA
    • Nov. 15 — Florida at Mississippi, TBA
    • Nov. 22 — Tennessee at Florida, TBA
    • Nov. 29 — Florida State at Florida, TBA
      • Most of the start times for Florida’s games have a flexible start time, either from 3:30-4:30 p.m. or 6-8 p.m.

    Florida State Seminoles

    • Aug. 30 — Alabama at Florida State, 3:30 p.m.
    • Sept. 6 — East Texas A&M at FSU, noon
    • Sept. 20 — Kent State at FSU, TBA
    • Sept. 26 — FSU at Virginia, 7 p.m.
    • Oct. 4 — Miami at FSU, TBA
    • Oct. 11 — Pitt at FSU, TBA
    • Oct. 18 — FSU at Stanford, 10:30 p.m.
    • Nov. 1 — Wake Forest at FSU, TBA. This is Homecoming.
    • Nov. 8 — FSU at Clemson, TBA
    • Nov. 15 — Virginia Tech at FSU, TBA
    • Nov. 21 — FSU at N.C. State, 8 p.m.
    • Nov. 29 — FSU at Florida, TBA

    Miami Hurricanes

    • Aug. 31 — Notre Dame at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
    • Sept. 6 — Bethune-Cookman University at Miami, 7 p.m.
    • Sept. 13 — USF at Miami, 4:30 p.m.
    • Sept. 20 — Florida at Miami, TBA
    • Oct. 4 — Miami at Florida State, TBA
    • Oct. 17 — Louisville at Miami, 7 p.m.
    • Oct. 25 — Stanford at Miami, TBA
    • Nov. 1 — Miami at SMU, TBA
    • Nov. 8 — Syracuse at Miami, TBA. This is Homecoming
    • Nov. 15 — N.C. State at Miami, TBA
    • Nov. 22 — Miami at Virginia Tech, TBA
    • Nov. 29 — Miami at Pittsburgh, TBA

    UCF Knights

    • Aug. 28 — Jacksonville State at UCF, 7 p.m.
    • Sept. 6 — North Carolina A&T at UCF, 7 p.m.
    • Sept. 20 — North Carolina at UCF, TBA
    • Sept. 27 — UCF at Kansas State, TBA
    • Oct. 4 — Kansas at UCF, TBA
    • Oct. 11 — UCF at Cincinnati, TBA
    • Oct. 18 — West Virginia at UCF, TBA. This is Homecoming
    • Nov. 1 — UCF at Baylor, TBA
    • Nov. 7 — Houston at UCF, TBA. This is the Space Game.
    • Nov. 15 — UCF at Texas Tech, TBA
    • Nov. 22 — Oklahoma State at UCF, TBA
    • Nov. 29 — UCF at BYU, TBA

    USF Bulls

    • Aug. 28 — Boise State at USF, 5:30 p.m.
    • Sept. 6 — USF at Florida, 4:15 p.m.
    • Sept. 13 — USF at Miami, 4:30 p.m.
    • Sept. 20 — South Carolina State at USF, noon
    • Oct. 3 — Charlotte at USF, 7 p.m.
    • Oct. 10 — USF at North Texas, 7:30 p.m.
    • Oct. 18 — Florida Atlantic at USF, TBA. This is Homecoming.
    • Oct. 25 — USF at Memphis, TBA
    • Nov. 6 — UTSA at USF, 7:30 p.m.
    • Nov. 15 — USF at Navy, noon
    • Nov. 22 — USF at UAB, TBA
    • Nov. 29 — Rice at USF, TBA

    Florida A&M Rattlers

    • Aug. 30 — Orange Blossom Classic: Howard vs. Florida A&M, 4 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
    • Sept. 6 — FAMU at Florida Atlantic, 6 p.m.
    • Sept. 13 — Albany State at FAMU, 7 p.m.
    • Sept. 27 — Alabama State at FAMU, 3 p.m.
    • Oct. 4 — Mississippi Valley State vs. FAMU, TBA, in Atlanta
    • Oct. 11 — North Carolina Central at FAMU, 3 p.m.
    • Oct. 18 — Alcorn State at FAMU, 4 p.m. This is Homecoming.
    • Oct. 25 — FAMU at Southern, TBA
    • Nov. 1 — Jackson State at FAMU, 7 p.m.
    • Nov. 8 — FAMU at Arkansas – Pine Bluff, TBA
    • Nov. 15 — FAMU at Alabama A&M, TBA
    • Nov. 22 — Florida Classic: Bethune-Cookman University vs. FAMU, TBA, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando

    Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats

    • Aug. 29 — Bethune-Cookman University at Florida International University, 7 p.m.
    • Sept. 6 — B-CU at Miami, 7 p.m.
    • Sept. 13 — B-CU at South Carolina State University, 6 p.m.
    • Sept. 20 — Edward Waters University at B-CU, 3 p.m.
    • Sept. 27 — Alabama A&M at B-CU, 3 p.m.
    • Oct. 4 — B-CU at Alabama State, 3 p.m.
    • Oct. 11 — Southern University at B-CU, 3 p.m.
    • Oct. 25 — Arkansas – Pine Bluff at B-CU, 3 p.m. This is Homecoming.
    • Nov. 1 — Mississippi Valley State at B-CU. 3 p.m.
    • Nov. 8 — B-CU at Grambling State, 3 p.m.
    • Nov. 15 — B-CU at Jackson State, 1 p.m.
    • Nov. 22 — Florida Classic: B-CU vs. Florida A&M, TBA, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando
      • All home games are at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium.

    Stetson University Hatters

    • Aug. 30 — Webber International at Stetson, 6 p.m.
    • Sept. 6 — Warner at Stetson, 6 p.m.
    • Sept. 13 — Stetson at Chattanooga, 6 p.m.
    • Sept. 20 — Harvard at Stetson, 1 p.m.
    • Sept. 27 — Stetson at Dayton, noon
    • Oct. 4 — Davidson at Stetson, 1 p.m.
    • Oct. 11 — Morehead State at Stetson, 1 p.m.
    • Oct. 18 — Stetson at Presbyterian, 1 p.m.
    • Oct. 25 — St. Thomas at Stetson, 1 p.m. This is Homecoming.
    • Nov. 8 — Stetson at Marist, 1 p.m.
    • Nov. 15 — Stetson at Valparaiso, 1 p.m.
    • Nov. 22 — San Diego at Stetson, 1 p.m.

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    Spectrum Sports Staff

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  • The Buccaneers: 50 years of Tampa Bay football

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    TAMPA, Fla. — As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepare to begin a 50th season, fans across the Bay area and across the globe are celebrating five decades of football.

    Along the way, that journey included the lowest of lows and the highest of highs. And through it all, the franchise, its players and its fans have enjoyed a unique position in the pantheon of professional football.


    The Buccaneers ushered in pro sports to a burgeoning Bay area market in 1976, along with the NFL’s other new entry that year, the Seattle Seahawks.

    Tampa Bay infamously lost its first 26 games before securing a long-awaited victory. But in the years that followed, the team carved out its place in NFL history, developing a passionate fan base from Tampa Bay to Turkey.

    Their journey from orange and white “Bucco Bruce” uniforms to the red and pewter of championship glory stands as one of the league’s most dramatic evolutions. Tampa Bay maintains the worst winning percentage in NFL history (.410) yet is one of only 16 teams to hoist multiple Super Bowl trophies.

    The Buccaneers have earned respect with their fierce defenses over the years and memorable personalities in the locker room.

    From their first playoff run in 1979, to topping the NFL with their Super Bowl XXXVII victory, to Tom Brady leading them to glory in Super Bowl LV, Tampa Bay has been a franchise of unforgettable highs.

    The current Buccaneers, on a run of four-straight NFC South Division crowns and five straight playoff appearances, has been its most successful, will be looking for another playoff appearance this fall.

    The Early Years: Struggles and Resilience

    The Buccaneers’ 0–14 start was followed by a 2–12 campaign in 1977. But through those struggles, the team and its fans laid the foundation for its later success.

    By 1979, that resilience paid off. Led by head coach John McKay and Hall of Fame defensive end Lee Roy Selmon, the Buccaneers shocked the football world by reaching the NFC Championship Game in just their fourth season. Though they fell short, losing 9-0 to Los Angeles.

    Tampa Bay’s first draft pick in franchise history, Lee Roy Selmon (63) terrorized ball carriers and quarterbacks from 1976 to 1984 en route to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (Getty Images/Michael J. Minardi)

    The Orange and the Creamsicle Era

    For nearly two decades, the Bucs wore their now-beloved orange and white “creamsicle” uniforms, complete with the swashbuckling Bucco Bruce logo. After McKay and other coaches came and went, the losses piled up. The uniforms, meanwhile, though reviled by many, became a cultural symbol representing the team’s quirky charm.

    The Dungy Era and Defensive Dominance

    The franchise’s true turning point came in the mid-1990s with the hiring of head coach Tony Dungy. Along with general manager Rich McKay, he built one of the most dominant defenses in NFL history.

    The “Tampa 2” scheme, executed by legends like Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, John Lynch, and Ronde Barber, defined an era of dominance.

    Tampa Bay Linebacker Derrick Brooks returns an interception for a touchdown during Tampa Bay's 48-21 win against Oakland in Super Bowl XXXVII in January 2003. Brooks would become Tampa Bay's second Hall of Famer at Lee Roy Selmon. (AP Image)

    Tampa Bay Linebacker Derrick Brooks returns an interception for a touchdown during Tampa Bay’s 48-21 win against Oakland in Super Bowl XXXVII in January 2003. Brooks would become Tampa Bay’s second Hall of Famer at Lee Roy Selmon. (AP Image)

    Under Dungy, the Buccaneers returned to playoff contention, making four postseason appearances between 1997 and 2001. Though they fell short of a championship under Dungy, losing the 1999 NFC title game 11-6 to Los Angeles.

    Super Bowl XXXVII: Champions at Last

    In 2002, new head coach Jon Gruden took over, and with the dominant defense still intact, the Buccaneers stormed through the season and captured their first Lombardi Trophy. Their 48–21 dismantling of the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII was the pinnacle of the franchise’s first era of success.

    Brooks, Sapp, Lynch, Barber (and coach/defensive architect Dungy) became immortalized as Hall of Famers and forever heroes in Tampa Bay. 

    The Brady Era and a Second Championship

    After years of ups and mostly downs following their first title, the Buccaneers shocked the football world in 2020 by signing six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. The move instantly changed the team’s trajectory. 

    Tom Brady led Tampa Bay to 32 wins in three seasons with Tampa Bay, throwing 108 touchdown passes for the Bucs, including three in the 31-9 Super Bowl LV win against Kansas City at Raymond James Stadium. (AP Photo)

    Tom Brady led Tampa Bay to 32 wins in three seasons with Tampa Bay, throwing 108 touchdown passes for the Bucs, including three in the 31-9 Super Bowl LV win against Kansas City at Raymond James Stadium. (AP Photo)

    With Brady at the helm, along with offensive firepower from Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Rob Gronkowski, the Buccaneers captured Super Bowl LV in their home stadium—an NFL first.

    The 31–9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs delivered a second championship and ushered in boat parades in Tampa Bay.  

    Fifty Years of Pirate Pride

    As the Buccaneers celebrate 50 seasons, the franchise looks back on a remarkable journey filled with heartbreak, excitement, perseverance, and triumph.

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    Rod Gipson

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  • Bucs wide receiver Jalen McMillan will miss time with strained neck, coach says

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan will miss time because of a strained neck.

    Head coach Todd Bowles confirmed the injury Tuesday, saying McMillan was hurt during Saturday’s preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

    Bowles said the receiver will miss some games early in the season, though it’s not known exactly how many.

    Rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka, the team’s first-round draft pick out of Ohio State, is expected to now play a more prominent role on the team’s offense.

    The Bucs wrap up the postseason with a Saturday night game against the Buffalo Bills at Raymond James Stadium.

    Tampa Bay has won both of its preseason games.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Florida quarterback DJ Lagway sidelined to open fall camp

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida quarterback DJ Lagway will open fall camp in the same spot he spent spring practice — watching from the sidelines.

    Lagway is dealing with a calf strain and wearing a walking boot, and coach Billy Napier offered no timetable on his star player’s return. It’s the latest injury issue for the highly touted sophomore, who missed spring practices with a shoulder injury after undergoing sports hernia surgery.

    What You Need To Know

    • Gators starting quarterback DJ Lagway is going to have to sit out the start of fall camp with a calf strain

    • The sophomore is wearing a walking boot, and coach Billy Napier says there’s no timetable for his return

    • Florida opens fall training camp Wednesday, and Harrison Bailey is expected to get most of the first-team snaps

    • Lagway strained a calf muscle last week after missing spring practice with a right shoulder injury

    “It’s not ideal,” Napier said Wednesday. “In the perfect world, he would be perfect every day of the offseason. I think the good thing is his attitude toward it. I think that’s a positive. … He’s in Year 2. I think he understands what’s required to be ready. It’s not ideal, but I think ultimately we’ll come up with the best plan we can to have him ready.”

    The Gators open training camp Wednesday. And Napier, unlike in previous years, closed viewing periods to media for the first three days.

    Lagway, who went 6-1 in seven starts as a freshman in 2024, is widely considered a Heisman Trophy contender heading into this season. But he’s barely been on the field at a time when he could be making significant strides.

    He was limited during spring practice because of a right shoulder injury that could eventually need surgery. He resumed throwing in late April and said earlier this month at Southeastern Conference media days he would fully participate in camp.

    But then he strained a calf muscle last week.

    “Injuries are one of the terrible things about the profession and certainly for him being a Year 2 player and a really motivated and hungry guy,” Napier said. “I think he’s done a good job staying connected. I think he still has a voice as a leader. He’s still walking the halls. He’s still able to be a factor in that regard.

    “But he’s still a very young player and needs these reps for development as well. When he gets back, he’ll be just fine. He’s had a great attitude toward it, and we’ve got to help him manage expectations a little bit as well.”

    Lagway completed 60% of his passes for 1,915 yards, with 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2024. He took over the starting role after Graham Mertz tore a knee ligament at Tennessee in October.

    Without Lagway now, journeyman Harrison Bailey is expected to get most of the first-team snaps. Bailey played at Tennessee, UNLV and Louisville before transferring to Florida earlier this year.

    For Lagway, the calf injury is the latest in a growing list of setbacks over the past three years. The Willis, Texas, native injured his right foot during the Under Armour All-American Game in January 2024 and missed parts of training camp last fall because of shoulder soreness.

    Lagway also strained his left hamstring against Georgia last year and missed the following week’s game at Texas. He returned down the stretch and helped the Gators win their final four games.

    “The sky’s the limit for that kid,” teammate and defensive end Tyreak Sapp said. “That kid is not just blessed with a lot of ability; the kid is skilled. He practices what he preaches, and he comes in every day and works hard, regardless of what it is. … It’s going to be super exciting to see what he does.

    “I think those (injuries) happen. Obviously, it’s unfortunate. We do our best to keep DJ healthy and keep DJ going. I know DJ’s going to be able to show out and be himself — and be the best version of himself.”

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    Associated Press

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  • Polk County track team fundraises to compete at Junior Olympics

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    AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Athletes across the Tampa Bay area are gearing up for the National Junior Olympic Games.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pressure Track and Field, a Polk County-based nonprofit, is sending its largest group ever to the National Junior Olympic Games



    • The team is working to raise $3,500 by next week to cover travel, food, and lodging expenses, lifting the financial burden off families



    • Pressure will host its final fundraiser this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Walmart on U.S. 92 in Auburndale




    This year, the event will be held in Houston, Texas, but one Polk County team is in need of some help in getting there.

    Twelve-year-old Shamyra Ellison joined Polk County Pressure Track and Field in 2022. Since then, she’s been invited to compete in the National Junior Olympic Games three times.

    But this year, she’ll be joined by 14 of her teammates — the largest group ever to come out of the nonprofit.

    “It really shows how dedicated we are to making it,” Ellison said.

    To prepare for nationals, Ellison and her teammates practice several days a week. While they push through the heat, their coaches are working to make sure every child gets to go.

    Pressure Track and Field started in 2019 to provide students in predominantly Black neighborhoods with new opportunities and positive ways to stay active.

    Head coach David Hicks says each year, the nonprofit strives to cover the cost for athletes to compete in the Junior Olympics, taking the financial burden off parents.

    “Some of these parents have three, four kids on the track team. So just imagine trying to get two tickets,” he said. “Hopefully with doing this, this segment here, fundraising, we’re able to get these 15 kids to nationals.”

    Coach Hicks says the goal is to raise $3,500 by next week to help pay for transportation, food and lodging.

    As for Ellison, she says she wouldn’t have made it this far without her coaches’ determination.

    “I don’t know what I would do without my coaches,” she said. “Without them, I don’t think I’d be where I am now. They’ve really helped me through this.”

    And with a little help from the community, she says they’ll be able to get her across the finish line.

    Pressure Track and Field will host its final fundraiser Saturday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Walmart on U.S. 92 in Auburndale.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Condon to return to Gators basketball for 2025-26 season

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida forward Alex Condon has withdrawn from the 2025 NBA Draft and will return to school for his junior season after contributing significantly to the Gators’ run to the men’s NCAA basketball championship in April.

    What You Need To Know

    • Forward Alex Condon withdraws from 2025 NBA Draft, will come back to Florida

    • The move nearly completes the Gators’ roster for the upcoming college basketball season

    • Rueben Chinyelu, Micah Handlogten and Thomas Haugh also will return for UF’s frontcourt

    • Coach Todd Golden rebuilt his backcourt with three transfers, including Boogie Fland out of Arkansas

    Coach Todd Golden said last week he was “cautiously optimistic” the 6-foot-11, 230-pound Australian would be back for another season. He got the news Tuesday, a day before the deadline for college players to withdraw from draft consideration and confirm they would return to school.

    Condon averaged 10.6 points and a team-leading 7.5 rebounds last season. He also blocked 49 shots. He notched seven double-doubles, scored in double figures 18 times and grabbed at least 10 boards 10 times.

    Condon previously said he planned to stay in the NBA Draft if it looked like he would be selected between 20th and 35th overall in the two-round draft.

    His return nearly completes Golden’s revamped roster, which includes replacing its top three guards: Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard.

    Golden landed Princeton’s Xaivian Lee, a 6-foot-4 Toronto native who averaged 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists a game last season. He added guard AJ Brown from Ohio University a week later.

    But the biggest addition came last week, when former Arkansas guard Boogie Fland committed to play for the Gators. Fland averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals as a freshman with the Razorbacks last season.

    Now, Lee and Fland will be paired together in a backcourt that could be even more explosive than the one that set the top two scoring marks in school history the past two years behind Clayton.

    Condon was considered the final piece of the puzzle. He joins Rueben Chinyelu, Micah Handlogten and Thomas Haugh, who also are all returning, in what is expected to be one of the deepest frontcourts in the country.

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    Associated Press

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  • Trump hosts NCAA basketball champion Florida Gators at the White House

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    WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump honored the 2025 NCAA basketball champion Florida Gators at the White House on Wednesday, proclaiming that “lesser teams would have crumbled” during its nail-biting title game victory.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Florida Gators basketball team were honored by President Donald Trump on Wednesday at the White House 

    • Trump heralded the players for winning some close games, saying, “esser teams would have crumbled” 

    • The East Room ceremony included Trump administration leaders from Florida and U.S. senators

    • The team gave Trump an autographed basketball and a No. 47 jersey with his name on the back

    “It was looking bad,” Trump said, noting that Houston led by as many as 12 points in a game Florida rallied to win 65-63 in San Antonio during April. ”Did you think you were going to win?”

    Florida (36-4) delivered four come-from-behind victories in six wins during the NCAA Tournament. The Gators led the finale for a total of 64 seconds, including the last 46 ticks of a contest that was in limbo until the final sequence.

    Trump recounted guard Alijah Martin making two free throws to put the Gators ahead to stay with 46.5 seconds left and asked Martin if he was nervous.

    “Lesser teams would have crumbled,” the president said.

    Florida secured the program’s third title in basketball, and Trump noted that it is the only school to have a trio of NCAA titles in that sport and in football. After the Gators basketball team won back-to-back NCAA titles in 2006 and 2007, they visited then-President George W. Bush at the White House.

    Wednesday’s East Room ceremony featured top Trump administration leaders from Florida, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Mentioning Rubio, Trump said there’s “no bigger Florida fan.”

    Also on hand were Florida Sens. Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, as well as assorted House members from the state and former Florida football standout Tim Tebow. Trump described Tebow “as a college player, maybe the best ever” and said he was a big fan despite Tebow having spent part of his professional career with the NFL’s New York Jets.

    The team gave Trump an autographed basketball and No. 47 jersey with his name on the back. The president also hailed the Gators’ 39-year-old coach, Todd Golden, as “great” and “young” while joking, “Boy, would I like to be his agent.”

    Last year, then-President Joe Biden held a joint ceremony honoring the 2024 NCAA men’s and women’s basketball winners, honoring South Carolina and Connecticut.

    Since taking office in January, Trump has hosted a series of championship teams, including the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles. His April ceremony in the Rose Garden with the NCAA football champion Ohio State Buckeyes is best remembered for Vice President JD Vance — an Ohio State graduate and Buckeye fan — fumbling the team’s championship trophy.

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    Associated Press

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  • Bucs rookie Desmond Watson plays larger than life

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    TAMPA, Fla. — You couldn’t miss Desmond Watson at the Bucs Rookie Camp if you tried. He literally stood out.

    What You Need To Know

    •  The Tampa Bay Bucs signed Desmond Watson as an undrafted free agent

    •  Watson starred on the football field for the University of Florida and Armwood High School

    • Down more than 30 pounds from his weight during the Florida Gators 2025 Pro Day, he is still the heaviest player in the history of the NFL, but says he doesn’t want to be defined by his size


    One of the Bucs’ newest players was head and shoulders above the other newbies on the team. When you are 6 feet, 6 inches tall and weigh a little over 430 pounds, you’re going to stand out.

    Watson gets it. He knows people are talking about his size, but soon, he wants them to be talking about his play on the field.

    “I don’t want that to be my narrative and things like that,” he said. “I want to be known as a football player, and good football player at that.”

    Watson is working hard to bring his weight down, and he already has from the 464 pounds he weighed at the Florida Gators 2025 Pro Day. He said he would like to get down to his playing weight when he starred on the football field for the Armwood Hawks.

    His high school coach, Evan Davis, recalled how Watson took over games. How he towered over offensive linemen. How he looked like a man amongst boys. But mostly, he remembered how much fun Watson had on the football field.

    “He’s one of the smartest football players,” Davis said. “Even though he plays in the interior on the defense, he can tell you what the safety and the cornerback’s doing. He knows the offense, it will allow him to play even faster. And obviously, he’s just a force of nature physically.”

    In the Armwood weight room where Watson put in a lot of hours, his mom, Deonzia Woullard, watched video of him practicing with the Bucs for the first time. She couldn’t help but beam with pride. Watson’s No. 1 fan also happens to be a lifelong Tampa Bay fan. His dad rooted for the Pittsburgh Steelers, resulting in Watson dressed in Steelers colors as a baby. But it was his mom who dressed him in Bucs red days after he was born to celebrate the team’s first Super Bowl win.

    “He knows what he has to do to get there, and he’s working hard to get there,” Deonzia said. “He knows he’s not entitled. He knows it’s not just going to be given to him. And he’s just doing what he needs to do to get there.”

    The NFL is going to be a different challenge for Watson.

    And his weight isn’t the only number he’s changing. At Armwood and Florida, he wore No. 21. For the Bucs, he’ll wear No. 56. But 21 will always be his motivational number. It’s the number his younger brother Dyson wore when he played youth football. Dyson’s playing career ended when he suffered a stroke at the age of 5. He’s been confined to a wheelchair ever since. Watson said he plays in his honor.

    “In honor of him not being able to play anymore,” he said. “I guess I can use that number and be in the spotlight and get my number called just to put a smile on his face.”

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    Katherine Smith

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  • Former Arkansas standout Boogie Fland commits to national champion Florida

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Former Arkansas standout Boogie Fland, widely considered the top guard in the transfer portal, chose to play for defending national champion Florida on Tuesday.

    Fland committed to coach Todd Golden following a two-day visit to Gainesville and posted his decision on Instagram.

    What You Need To Know

    • Former Arkansas guard Boogie Fland is transferring to Florida for next season

    • He joins Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee and Ohio University transfer AJ Brown in coach Todd Golden’s revamped backcourt

    • Fland averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 21 games with the Razorbacks last season

    • The Gators still are awaiting word on whether forward Alex Condon will keep his name in the NBA Draft

    The 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 21 games with the Razorbacks last season. The freshman from New York averaged nearly 32 minutes a game, despite missing time with a right thumb injury that required surgery.

    He returned for three postseason games before entering the NBA Draft. He withdrew his name from consideration Sunday and made the visit to Florida.

    Fland joins Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee and Ohio University transfer AJ Brown in Golden’s revamped backcourt. The trio is expected to replace Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard. The Gators also lost fellow guard Denzel Aberdeen to Kentucky.

    With Golden at the helm for his third season in Gainesville, the Gators finished 36-4 and beat Houston to clinch the program’s third national title. They won their final 12 games, including four in the NCAA Tournament in come-from-behind fashion.

    Florida’s style of play under Golden has led to sellouts in eight of the team’s past 10 home games. Florida averaged 84.8 points a game this season after setting the program record (85.6) during the 2023-24 campaign.

    Golden became the third college basketball coach this century to win a national championship within his first three seasons on the job, joining North Carolina’s Roy Williams (2005) and UConn’s Kevin Ollie (2014). Williams and Ollie accomplished the feat in their second seasons.

    Now, with Fland expected in the fold, the Gators could be favorites to repeat — especially if forward Alex Condon stays in school. The sophomore from Australia is exploring the NBA Draft process. Early-entry candidates have until 5 p.m. June 15 to withdraw from the draft.

    Florida center Rueben Chinyelu announced Monday that he was withdrawing his name from the NBA Draft and returning to Gainesville.

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    Associated Press

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  • Eckerd senior wants sailing to be for everyone

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Lily Schwartz has been around sailboats most of her life.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Lily is part of the Eckerd Sailing team that made nationals this year.

    •  Lily is part of a leadership program at Eckerd

    •  She has been sailing since she was five

    • Lily is trying to change the stereotype that surrounds the sport of sailing


    Hesitant at first, it didn’t take very long for the Ohio native to fall in love with the sport.

    “It’s pretty cool, I’m out here on a boat by myself, there’s nobody around, nobody telling me what to do”.

    That was the beginning of a competitive sailing career that landed her here at Eckerd College where she is a skipper for the Tritons sailing team.

    For the last three years Lily has been part of a leadership program at Eckerd where she has been chasing a bigger goal.

    She wants to make the sports of Sailing more assessable to everyone.

    “Sailing is such a sport that has kind of a mono-culture in it, you know it’s mainly a white a wealthier sport and I wanted to get kids in boats of all socio-economic backgrounds, all races” .

    Part of Lily’s leadership program included a trip abroad, so she took three of her best friends on a 48 hour sail from her hometown in Sandusky, Ohio to Canada.

    Lily will graduate in May with the hope that her past three years of work, helps to make a difference, changing the sport she loves.

    “I think the future of sailing needs to look a little bit different than the past and I’m ok saying that because I would like to see a more diverse group of sailors and I would like to see just more people on boats in general”.

    And she is chasing that dream, one wave at a time.

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    Mike Cairns

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  • Gators’ Coach Golden is having so much fun, why not do it again

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    SARASOTA, Fla. — Want to be inspired? Share the same space as a group of kids who have battled cancer.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden attended his first Dick Vitale Gala
    • The pediatric cancer patients inspired him

    • Golden and the Florida Gators have been celebrating their National Championship at various events across the state

    • Golden was rewarded with a six-year, $40.5 million contract extension, making him one of the highest paid college basketball coaches


    Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden was overwhelmed with inspiration when he attended his first Dick Vitale Gala. In 20 years of shining a spotlight on pediatric cancer, Vitale has helped raise nearly $100 million to battle the disease.

    He enlists the help of his sports celebrity friends and this year, Golden lent his support.

    “I’m just grateful for what you’ve done for me over these past few years in welcoming down here in Florida, allowing me to be a part of your event,” Golden said to Vitale.

    The gala was another chance for Golden and the Gators to be celebrated. It’s been only five weeks since Florida clinched its third national championship with a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Houston. But in that short time span, the Gators have been honored and celebrated at various events.

    Golden said he and his team have felt the love.

    “Gainesville is a place that expects championships,” he said. “And it had been a while, a couple of decades since we had been able to do it in either basketball or football. And to be able to bring a national championship back to Gainesville has kind of reinvigorated the town and it’s been something that’s really special to us.”

    The last time the Gators’ men’s basketball program won a title, they did it twice. Back-to-back championships. So how does Coach Golden feel about Florida’s shot at a repeat?

    “It’s obviously a really challenging thing to do,” Golden said. “But I really like the group we have coming back. We’ve been able to add a few key pieces and for the most part, retain our staff and we have some really good continuity. So I’m excited to see what we’ll be able to accomplish next year.”

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    Katherine Smith

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  • Gators, coach Todd Golden agree on contract extension in wake of NCAA title

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Just weeks after leading the Florida Gators to the 2025 NCAA men’s basketball championship, head coach Todd Golden and the school have agreed on a contract extension.

    Athletic Director Scott Stricklin on Tuesday said Golden’s deal now runs for the next six years and totals $40.5 million through March 31, 2031.

    Golden, 39, completed his third season as coach when Florida beat Houston 65-63 on April 7 in the NCAA men’s championship game.

    “My family and I are grateful to be a part of Gator Nation and for the opportunity to lead this great program three years ago,” Golden said.

    “As we’ve shown during our time in Gainesville, the University of Florida is an institution that has the resources, support and people in place to compete and win national championships. I am so appreciative of each and every player and staff member who have been critical to the success we’ve experienced here. My family and I look forward to our future here at UF and to the continued success of our men’s basketball program.”

    Florida’s championship run saw the Gators win 12 consecutive games to close the season, including nine Top-25 victories. Eight of those were against Top-12 teams.

    Golden holds a 76-33 record at Florida, including a 36-4 mark in 2024-2025.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Elite international archery competition makes its Florida debut

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    AUBURNDALE, Fla. — In competitive archery, the arrow can travel distances up to 230 feet.

    For Casey Kaufhold, the sport has actually taken her so much farther.

    What You Need To Know

    • Auburndale played host to the Central Florida Hyundai Archery World Cup

    • More than 300 archers from all over the world competed

    • Casey Kaufhold, who represented the United States in the past two Olympics, was one of the top competitors. She said Florida was a great destination for the sport and hopes to attract more fans


    It has literally taken her around the world. She has represented the United States in two Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the 2024 Paris games. Archery has opened up a lot of doors for Casey.

    “It’s something that I’ve worked towards for so long, and I’ve dreamed of since I was 12 years old,” Kaufhold said.

    That’s how this Pennsylvania native ended up in Polk County. Kaufhold participated in the Central Florida Hyundai Archery World Cup from April 8 to 13. It’s the first time this elite international event featuring more than 300 athletes from all over the world has been hosted in Florida.

    Organizers said they hope to host two other qualifying events leading up to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

    Kaufhold had high praise for the Auburndale facilities and sees a future for archery in Florida.

    “I shot a bow for the first time when I was 3 years old,” she said. “So to have that experience at such a young age, I just really fell in love with it, and we did it for fun in the backyard for so long, and I’m just a naturally competitive person. You give me a scorecard, and I just run with it.”

    Kaufhold is somewhat of a trailblazer in this sport. She’s the first American female to hold a world No. 1 ranking. And while she strives to be the very best in her discipline, she is equally dedicated to the sport she fell in love with at a very young age. She is very aware that there are a lot of young, impressionable eyes watching her at events.

    And she said she hopes she showcases archery in a way that intrigues them enough to give it a try.

    “Other than, of course, winning medals, a big goal of my career is to inspire other people to shoot,” Kaufhold said. “Whether it’s recreationally, whether it’s for hunting, whether to do something like this one day, I just want to get the word of archery out there because I just want people behind a bow.”

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    Katherine Smith

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  • NCAA champs Florida Gators return to Gainesville with a welcome home rally

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The 2025 NCAA men’s basketball champion Florida Gators returned Tuesday to a euphoric campus.

    The Gators claimed their third national championship in hoops Monday night — joining 2006 and 2007  — with a narrow 65-63 victory over Houston at the Alamadome in San Antonio.

    UF Gator fans ready to welcome home the 2025 NCAA champion Gator basketball team. (Spectrum News/Brandon Green)

    Despite what was likely a lack of much sleep, players and coaches stepped onto the stage at Flavet Field and were greeted by fans celebrating and chomping.

    The party was delayed for about couple hours before the team plane arrived, but that didn’t deter the fans who came out.

    “It’s everything we need to honor these guys with all the commitment and hard work they put in,” said Gators fan Kim Coffee. “We’re just reciprocating by showing our support for them. They were fantastic.”

    UF Gator fans ready to welcome home the 2025 NCAA champion Gator basketball team. (Spectrum News/Brandon Green)

    UF Gator fans ready to welcome home the 2025 NCAA champion Gator basketball team. (Spectrum News/Brandon Green)

    Tournament MVP Walter Clayton Jr. had the championship trophy in hand, and he and coach Todd Golden spoke to the crowd.

    “I’m so proud to attend a school like this,” said stsudent Grace Tucceri. “Every single person in the street was like, ‘It’s great to be a Florida Gator and a national champion. Let’s go!’”

    Use the video player above to watch the coverage that aired today on Spectrum News.

    Another celebration will take place Saturday at the school’s football stadium.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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