Saturday, September 17
Gainesville, Fla.
7:30 P.M.
Florida Gators
vs
South Florida
The Gators host USF for the second time in program history on Saturday night. (Photo: Anna Carrington/UAA Communications)
Game Day: No. 18 Florida vs South Florida (SEC Network, 7:30 pm)
Saturday, September 17, 2022 | Football, Chris Harry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Last week's performance makes this week's all the more anticipated for the Florida Gators. The sooner they get a chance to put the Southeastern Conference debut against Kentucky in the rear view, the better.
The 18th-ranked Gators (1-1), of course, will say they've already moved on and looking to Saturday night's non-league date against South Florida (1-1), but the process isn't truly on-going until there is actual blocking and tackling and, in UF's case, quarterback Anthony Richardson is out there making plays again.
[Read senior writer Scott Carter's comprehensive "Opening Kickoff" setup here]
It was the Wildcats that made the plays last week by frustrating and confusing Richardson into two mega-interceptions they converted into touchdowns, including a late third quarter pick-6 that put UK in front for good. The Bulls, an annual cellar-dweller in the American Athletic Conference, won't stack up the kind of athletes — or defense — that Kentucky threw at Richardson, but UF coach Billy Napier and his offensive staff will want to see better decisions and execution across the offensive board.
That's exactly what happened when the two teams met last year in Tampa, in the first of a two-for-one series. Florida's 666 yards of total offense in a 42-20 win were the most by a UF team since racking up 705 against The Citadel during the 2008 national-championship season. Richardson came off the bench to throw touchdowns of 75 and 41 yards and also had an 80-yard scoring run that marked the longest rushing TD by a UF quarterback in at least a quarter-century. Richardson also got hurt on that run and his unavailability cost both he and the Gators down the line.
The goal, obviously, is to get out of this one heathy, what with a road date at Tennessee looming next week, but Richardson also needs to get out of it with his confidence on an upward trajectory after completing just 14 of 35 passes for 143 yards, no scores, those two interceptions, and rushing just six times for four yards. Richardson spoke after the game about his confidence taking a dive, which is no way for a quarterback to play.
The Bulls figure to provide a chance for Richardson to feel better about himself. They were gashed for 575 yards in a season-opening blowout 50-21 home loss against Brigham Young and last week defeated Howard, an FBS classified program, 42-20 at home.
UF will be without starting right tackle Michael Tarquin and inside linebacker Ventrell Miller, both of whom suffered lower body injuries early in last week's game and did not return.
This is not a run-of-the-mill buy game for the Gators. USF has some good homegrown athletes and a pretty good transfer quarterback from Baylor in Gerry Bohanon, who helped lead the Bears to a 12-2 record, the Big 12 Conference championship and a defeat of Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl. The Bulls, however, come to town as 24-point underdogs.
Even against what figures to be an overmatched foe, Florida (and its QB) needs to play like the wounded, desperate team it is.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on the SEC Network, with Tom Hart on play-by-play, Jordan Rodgers providing analysis and Cole Cubelic working the sidelines. For radio and television broadcast info, click here. The game will be replayed Wednesday at 3:30 a.m. and Thursday at 9:30 a.m. The Learfield Gator IMG Sports Network coverage, with Sean Kelly and Shane Matthews in the booth, and Tate Casey on the sidelines, will begin at 4:30 p.m.
Also, check out the "1st & 10 Pre-Game Show," hosted by Jeff Cardozo via the Florida Gators Football YouTube site, starting at 6:30 p.m. This week's lineup includes interviews with Napier, a look at Australian punter Jeremy Crawshaw, a mic'd-up segment with offensive lineman O'Cyrus Torrence and pregame thoughts from FloridaGators.com senior writer Scott Carter and Learfield's Kyle Crooks.
Finally, follow Carter (@GatorsScott) on Twitter for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete coverage content from the game late Saturday night and fresh follow-up content Sunday, also.
The 18th-ranked Gators (1-1), of course, will say they've already moved on and looking to Saturday night's non-league date against South Florida (1-1), but the process isn't truly on-going until there is actual blocking and tackling and, in UF's case, quarterback Anthony Richardson is out there making plays again.
[Read senior writer Scott Carter's comprehensive "Opening Kickoff" setup here]
It was the Wildcats that made the plays last week by frustrating and confusing Richardson into two mega-interceptions they converted into touchdowns, including a late third quarter pick-6 that put UK in front for good. The Bulls, an annual cellar-dweller in the American Athletic Conference, won't stack up the kind of athletes — or defense — that Kentucky threw at Richardson, but UF coach Billy Napier and his offensive staff will want to see better decisions and execution across the offensive board.
That's exactly what happened when the two teams met last year in Tampa, in the first of a two-for-one series. Florida's 666 yards of total offense in a 42-20 win were the most by a UF team since racking up 705 against The Citadel during the 2008 national-championship season. Richardson came off the bench to throw touchdowns of 75 and 41 yards and also had an 80-yard scoring run that marked the longest rushing TD by a UF quarterback in at least a quarter-century. Richardson also got hurt on that run and his unavailability cost both he and the Gators down the line.
The goal, obviously, is to get out of this one heathy, what with a road date at Tennessee looming next week, but Richardson also needs to get out of it with his confidence on an upward trajectory after completing just 14 of 35 passes for 143 yards, no scores, those two interceptions, and rushing just six times for four yards. Richardson spoke after the game about his confidence taking a dive, which is no way for a quarterback to play.
The Bulls figure to provide a chance for Richardson to feel better about himself. They were gashed for 575 yards in a season-opening blowout 50-21 home loss against Brigham Young and last week defeated Howard, an FBS classified program, 42-20 at home.
UF will be without starting right tackle Michael Tarquin and inside linebacker Ventrell Miller, both of whom suffered lower body injuries early in last week's game and did not return.
This is not a run-of-the-mill buy game for the Gators. USF has some good homegrown athletes and a pretty good transfer quarterback from Baylor in Gerry Bohanon, who helped lead the Bears to a 12-2 record, the Big 12 Conference championship and a defeat of Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl. The Bulls, however, come to town as 24-point underdogs.
Even against what figures to be an overmatched foe, Florida (and its QB) needs to play like the wounded, desperate team it is.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on the SEC Network, with Tom Hart on play-by-play, Jordan Rodgers providing analysis and Cole Cubelic working the sidelines. For radio and television broadcast info, click here. The game will be replayed Wednesday at 3:30 a.m. and Thursday at 9:30 a.m. The Learfield Gator IMG Sports Network coverage, with Sean Kelly and Shane Matthews in the booth, and Tate Casey on the sidelines, will begin at 4:30 p.m.
Also, check out the "1st & 10 Pre-Game Show," hosted by Jeff Cardozo via the Florida Gators Football YouTube site, starting at 6:30 p.m. This week's lineup includes interviews with Napier, a look at Australian punter Jeremy Crawshaw, a mic'd-up segment with offensive lineman O'Cyrus Torrence and pregame thoughts from FloridaGators.com senior writer Scott Carter and Learfield's Kyle Crooks.
Finally, follow Carter (@GatorsScott) on Twitter for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete coverage content from the game late Saturday night and fresh follow-up content Sunday, also.
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