Florida Notes |
Oregon State Notes |
LVB Game Day |
Broadcast Info
LAS VEGAS — The calendar says that on Saturday, it will have been only 105 days since the Gators last played a Pac-12 team.
Remember that one?
The Sept. 3 season opener at The Swamp. The debut of first-year Gators head coach
Billy Napier. The 29-26 heart-pumping win clinched by
Amari Burney in the final seconds when he intercepted a pass from Utah quarterback
Cameron Rising in the end zone.
That was only 105 days ago? It's true. The calendar doesn't lie.
Of course, so much has happened between then and now. Following the victory over then-No. 7 Utah, Gators quarterback
Anthony Richardson, who was making just his second career start, was actually mentioned as a possible Heisman Trophy candidate.
When the Gators (6-6) face Oregon State (9-3) here in the Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday at Allegiant Stadium, Richardson will not be on the field. He declared for the NFL Draft and is considered one of the most intriguing prospects available.
While the absence of Richardson looms over Saturday's matchup against the Beavers, the Gators plan to show up with who they have and try to cap Napier's inaugural season with a win. Florida can clinch a winning season by beating the Beavers. If the Gators lose, it will mark the first time since the 1978-79 seasons they have suffered back-to-back losing seasons.
"Everybody kind of understands our team dynamic," Napier said Friday. "We're going to play without a few [players]."
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Win or lose, Napier's most pressing concern is signing a strong recruiting class next week on National Signing Day. He will then likely dip into the transfer portal to add some pieces heading into the spring and summer.
The promise of that win over Utah has faded, and the Las Vegas Bowl against Oregon State represents the finish line of a 105-day trip that featured some memorable peaks, some forgettable dips, and a little bit of everything in between.
One more to go.
For more on Saturday's game between the Gators and Beavers, here isÂ
The Opening Kickoff:
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THREE STORYLINES
- In a span of a couple of days earlier this month, Gators QB Jack Miller III went from third-stringer to starter following the departure of starter Anthony Richardson and dismissal of backup Jalen Kitna. Miller is a former four-star recruit who signed with Ohio State out of high school before transferring to Florida after last season. Miller has limited experience and missed half the season following thumb surgery, but he will make his first career start in the Las Vegas Bowl.
- Florida's active roster for the bowl game is minus 21 players who appeared in a game this season due to opt-outs, transfers and dismissals. While the roster movement has garnered much attention, the Gators are confident they have enough talent on both sides of the ball to challenge the 17th-ranked Beavers. Sixth-year senior linebacker Ventrell Miller and Richardson are the two biggest names missing for the Gators.
- Oregon State is a 10-point favorite, boosted by the 32nd-ranked defense in the country (342.2 yards per game). The Beavers allow 21.4 points per game, which is 31st among FBS schools. With Miller making is UF debut, expect running backs Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne to get plenty of carries against the 20th-ranked rushing defense (138.0 ypg), anchored by linebacker Omar Speights.
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THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Gators All-American OL O'Cyrus Torrence opted out of the bowl game to turn his attention to next spring's NFL Draft. Redshirt freshman Kamryn Waites, who transferred from Louisiana as did Torrence, is listed as the starting right guard. The 6-foot-8, 373-pound Waites has an opportunity to establish his presence heading into the offseason. Waites is considered a key building block on Florida's O-Line heading into head coach Billy Napier's second season.
- Oregon State QB Ben Gulbranson is a third-year freshman who took over as the starter midseason after Chase Nolan suffered a neck injury. The Beavers are 6-1 with Gulbranson as the starter. A 6-foot-3 Californian, Gulbranson has managed the offense and made more plays than costly mistakes, completing 62.3 percent of his passes for 1,290 yards, eight TDs and five interceptions.
- Gators LB Amari Burney and OL Richard Gouraige have been named captains for the Las Vegas Bowl. Burney and Gouraige have been solid contributors on and off the field during their careers and have earned the respect of their teammates and coaches. The move to honor the two seniors in their last game is well-deserved.
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FIVE DIGITS
2 — Pac-12 teams Gators have played this season, a first in program history. Florida defeated Utah in season opener.
6.4 — Yards per carry for Gators freshman RB
Trevor Etienne, which ranks first among true freshman FBS running backs with a least 100 carries.
22 — Takeaways for Gators this season, which ranks first in the Southeastern Conference.
60,000 — Capacity at Allegiant Stadium for Saturday's Las Vegas Bowl.
41 — Career starts for Gators fifth-year senior OL
Richard Gouraige, the most of anyone on Florida's roster for Las Vegas Bowl.
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INJURY REPORT
GATORS — OUT: CB
Devin Moore (shoulder, out for season), TE
Keon Zipperer (lower body), DB
Tre'Vez Johnson (upper body), DB
Ethan Pouncey (upper body), OL
Richie Leonard IV (lower body), OL
Jalen Farmer (upper body), LBÂ
Justin Pelic (upper body).
OREGON STATE — OUT: QB Chance Nolan (neck, transfer portal).
QUESTIONABLE: WR Anthony Gould (undisclosed).Â
PROBABLE:Â RB Damien Martinez (knee).
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NOTES FILE
- This is the first meeting between Florida and Oregon State. The Gators are 24-23 all-time in bowl games.
- Florida is 0-2 in bowl games against Pac-12 schools, losing to UCLA in the 1987 Aloha Bowl and to Washington in the 1989 Freedom Bowl.
- Oregon State has nine wins for the first time since 2012 and is vying for the third 10-win season in school history (2000, 2006).
- Florida is only the second Southeastern Conference team to appear in the Las Vegas Bowl, joining Arkansas (2000).
- Gators senior Amari Burney is one of four FBS linebackers with at least four sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
- Beavers RB Damien Martinez rushed for 103 yards in the win over Oregon, his sixth consecutive 100-yard rushing game.
- Oregon State is 11-7 all-time in bowl games, including 1-1 in the Las Vegas Bowl.
- Gators leading receiver Xzavier Henderson returns from injury after missing the last two regular-season games. Henderson has a team-leading 38 receptions.
- The SEC was 3-0 head-to-head against the Pac-12 this season: Georgia beat Oregon, Florida beat Utah, and Mississippi State beat Arizona.
- This is the third time this season the Gators have faced one of their former linebackers now playing for another school: Mohamoud Diabate (Utah), Ty'Ron Hopper (Missouri) and Andrew Chatfield Jr. (Oregon State).
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THEY WROTEÂ IT
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BOTTOM LINE
The Gators are without their best offensive lineman. They are without the heartbeat of their defense. They are without their starting quarterback and their big-play receiver (
Justin Shorter). Not many are giving them a chance to beat the Beavers. Let's face it, it's easy to understand why. Oregon State is playing well and motivated for a shot at a 10-win season. No one should be surprised if the Beavers win, but if Miller plays well, don't be surprised if the Gators are right there with a chance to win.
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