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-classified Samford with another deflating home loss to Texas A&M.
[Read our comprehensive “Opening Kickoff” preview here]
At that point, head coach Billy Napier was under fire and Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin was the knight in shining armor. The season was just getting started when rumors of Napier’s demise, coupled with rumors of Kiffin as his potential replacement, set the internet and college football podcasts ablaze.
As the season unfolded, 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 Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin informed Gator Nation that Napier would continue leading the program. That same weekend, Kiffin led the Rebels to a dominant win over Georgia to get the Rebels back into the CFB Playoff race.
Yes, it’s been a wild and wacky season, one that continues Saturday with the Gators (5-5, 3-4) playing No. 9 Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2) at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida can become bowl-eligible with a victory. The Rebels need to win to remain a playoff contender.
“It shows our resilience, man. It just shows like, 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 always pride myself on, never letting my brothers down, no matter what happens.”
The Gators enter as a decisive underdog despite being at home for the final time this season. They close 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 game and 40.7 points per game. Ole Miss is also good defensively, leading the Southeastern Conference in…
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