Game day: No. 9 Ole Miss at Florida (noon, ABC)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators have a unique opportunity on Saturday to end the home portion of their schedule with a statement.

A loud, shout-from-the-rooftop announcement.

The story of Florida’s 2024 season is one with more twists and turns than San Francisco’s famous Lombard Street. The drama started in the season opener, a 24-point loss to the hated Miami Hurricanes. The Gators followed a home win over FCS-ranked Samford with another deflating home loss to Texas A&M.

(Read our comprehensive “Opening Kickoff” preview here)

At the time head coach Billy Napier was under fire and the Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin was a knight in shining armor. The season had just begun when rumors of Napier’s death, combined with rumors of Kiffin as his potential replacement, set the internet and college football podcasts on fire.

As the season progressed, the Gators began to show improvement and the Rebels, a contender for the 12-team College Football Playoff, stumbled in losses to Kentucky and LSU. Finally, two weeks ago the Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin informed Gator Nation that Napier would continue to lead the program. That same weekend, Kiffin led the Rebels to a dominating win over Georgia to get the Rebels back in the CFB Playoff race.

Yes, it’s been a wild and crazy season, which continues Saturday with the Gators (5-5, 3-4) as the No. 9 Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2) at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida can become bowl eligible with a win. The Rebels must win to remain a playoff contender.

“It shows our resiliency, man. It just shows how much we care, how much these guys care about this team, no matter what happens,” Gators defensive tackle Tyreak Sapp said. “We’re going to lose together. We’re going to win together. And that’s one thing I’m always proud of is that no matter what happens, I never let my brothers down.”

The Gators come in as a decided underdog despite being at home for the last time this season. They close out the regular season next week in Tallahassee against in-state rival Florida State.

The Rebels come to town with the no. 2-ranked offense in the FBS, averaging 539.5 yards per carry. game and 40.7 points per match. Ole Miss is also good defensively, leading the Southeastern Conference in rushing defense (79.9 ypg), second in scoring defense (12.9 ppg) and fifth in total defense (309.2). Meanwhile, the Rebels’ pass rush ranks first in the FBS with 46 sacks, providing a huge test for Florida’s offensive line in trying to protect true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway.

Florida’s defense, ranked 15th in the SEC, is allowing 399.7 yards and 26.4 points a game. The Gators need to be right on the Rebels quarterback Jackson Dartwho has more passing yards through 10 games (3,407) than eight of the last 10 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks did.

The Gators rose to the challenge a week ago by upsetting No. 21 LSU at The Swamp. Ole Miss had a bye week after its biggest win of the season, a 28-10 drubbing of Georgia two weeks ago.

Kiffin and Napier have never faced each other as head coaches, but the former Alabama assistants are very familiar with each other’s tendencies.

“Lane has always done a good job of taking the players he has and playing to those strengths,” Napier said.

While Kiffin has the team most expect to win Saturday, he warned the Rebels that playing Florida at home is much different than facing the Gators on the road. Florida is 22-8 at home since the start of the 2020 season and 8-22 away from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

“I’m telling you, it’s a big challenge,” Kiffin said this week. “What were they, 4-5 last week? The crowd was electric. It looked like the conference championship was on the line. They’re playing really well at home.”

The Gators celebrate 21 players on Saturday during Senior Day, always an emotional farewell. Napier is looking for some of that feeling to carry over to the pitch in front of the home fans.

And also in the stands.

“To try to be a championship contender is you have to be strong at home. You have to win them,” Napier said this week. “I mean, home field advantage in this league has to be — that’s a big piece to that puzzle. If you look at the history of this program, when we won championships around here, they dominated at home. We understand that and we know that.”

Coverage starts at noon on ABC, with the crew on Bob Wischusen on play-by-play, Greg McElroy provide analysis and Molly McGrath on the sidelines. The Gators Sports Network from Learfield broadcast will carry pregame coverage beginning at 9.00 and finally gives way to Sean Kelley and Shane Matthews in the booth, with Tate Casey reporting from the field. For GSN stations, click here.


The game will be rebroadcast on Sunday at 4 and again on Tuesday at noon on the SEC Network.


Finally follow along FloridaGators.com senior writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete post-game coverage from the game late Saturday night and follow-up content Sunday, too.