Sports · NEWS EXPLAINER
Florida rallies past No. 7 Texas 27–24 behind Tramell Jones Jr.’s first start
Jones threw two touchdown passes without a turnover, Baugh scored the go-ahead touchdown and Florida recovered Arch Manning’s late fumble after erasing a 17–3 deficit.
Florida erased a 17–3 deficit with 24 unanswered points and held on for a 27–24 win at No. 7 Texas. Freshman Tramell Jones Jr. threw two touchdown passes in his first career start, while Myles Graham forced the late fumble that Kanye Clark recovered.
Jones steadied Florida in his first start
Freshman Tramell Jones Jr. started in place of injured Aaron Philo and completed 22 of 35 passes for 155 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers. Both scoring throws went to tight end Lacota Dippre, whose only two catches were touchdowns of seven and eight yards.
The game turned after Texas led 17–3
Florida scored 24 consecutive points after falling behind by 14. The official quarter line was Florida 0–10–7–10 and Texas 10–7–0–7. That sequence matters: the Gators did not simply protect an early lead; they controlled the middle of the game and built a 27–17 advantage.
Baugh supplied the go-ahead margin
Jadan Baugh carried 25 times for 91 yards. His 11-yard touchdown run with 6:22 remaining made it 27–17. Texas answered when Arch Manning found Cam Coleman for a nine-yard touchdown with 4:21 left, cutting the margin to three.
Florida forced the turnover it needed
With Texas trying to complete its own comeback, Myles Graham sacked Manning and forced a fumble. Kanye Clark recovered with 1:58 remaining, allowing Florida to protect the 27–24 lead. The turnover ended the final realistic Texas possession; it did not add points to the scoreboard.
Possession and third downs explain the pressure
Florida held the ball for 38:11, gained 313 yards to Texas’s 272 and produced 21 first downs to 13. The Gators converted eight of 19 third downs and both fourth-down tries; Texas went two of 10 on third down and one of three on fourth. Florida moved to 5–2 overall and 3–2 in the SEC, while Texas fell to 4–2 and 1–2. Those are completed-game records, not a forecast of rankings or postseason selection.
