The Florida Gators host the Campbell Fighting Camels on Saturday, September 12, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, with kickoff set for 5:30 PM ET on SEC Network+.
Sep 5, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Emmanuel Oyebadejo (99) and Florida Gators defensive lineman Jeramiah McCloud (91) react after a quarterback sack against the Florida Atlantic Owls during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM ET
Channel: SEC Network+

#september #griffin #defensive

For 23 years, it has been the world's most annoying sports trivia question: Who's the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles ****** le?
Ben Shelton has always been the one with the ability to change it.
No disrespect to any of the others who have carried the red, white and blue banner for more than two decades across the men's tennis tour since Andy Roddick won his US Open ****** le in 2003. John Isner served his way to millions of dollars and a few nice tournament wins. The likes of Mardy Fish and Sam Querrey did the best they could in the Roger Federer/Rafael Nadal/Novak Djokovic era. Taylor Fritz has worked tirelessly to improve his game and continues to be a factor among the best players in the world.
But there is no divine right for any country, even one as big and athletically successful as the USA, to produce Grand Slam champions in a global sport where only a select few are going to rise to the top. It takes everything: Talent, development, the right set of circumstances and maybe a little bit of luck.
And for Shelton, the 23-year old who was born in Atlanta, raised to be an NCAA champion in Gainesville, Fla., and unleashed onto the world stage by a meticulously patient father/coach, only one more match stands in his way of the ultimate American story.

#grand #slam #best #andy

When: Saturday, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville
Latest line: UF is favored by 49.5 points
TV: SEC Network+
Weather: 87 degrees, 70% chance of rain

#line

Week 4 of the Florida high school football season in the Gainesville area is officially here!
The week begins with not one, but two Thursday night games…and neither are at Citizens Field. One involves Buchholz opening district play in Marion County vs. West Port. The other is, simply put, the biggest game of the season as Miami-Northwestern makes the trip from Dade County to eastern Alachua County.
Friday sees district play begin for Columbia, Eastside and Gainesville High. For the Tigers, the objective is to keep the momentum going. For the Hurricanes and Rams, it's to pick up their first win of the season.
You can read our predictions here and the full schedule for the week here. Be sure to keep it here for live updates and scores from every game across the Gainesville area.
Also make sure to follow Gainesville Sun Preps Reporter Noah Ram on X, Instagram and Facebook for highlights from Hawthorne Thursday night as Miami Northwestern visits the Hornets and from Citizens Field Friday where Lecanto meets Gainesville High in a district battle.

#here #high

Six years after it was banned for its racist overtones, the "Gator Bait" cheer reutrned Saturday in Gainesville for Florida's 2026 college football opener.
The Universitty of Florida's marching band played the cheer in the first quarter of the Gators' Sept. 5 game against Florida Atlantic for the first time since then-president Ken Fuchs banned it at football games in 2020.
Former UF defensive star Lawrence Wright popularized the term in 1995 after a win over rival Florida State when he said, "If you ain't a Gator, ya Gator bait, baby." The phrase caught on with the Florida faithful during the team's run of success under coach Steve Spurrier.
Even though Fuchs acknowledged the cheer itself wasn't racist, he based his decision on the "historic racist imagery **** ociated with the phrase." The Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University said that newspaper articles and imagery from the late 19th and early 20th century depicted African American babies as alligator bait, a term that was also used as a slur for Black people.

#bait

Florida football came into the season opener against Florida Atlantic relatively healthy. While Saturday night's result was ideal, the Gators are now dealing with a few injury concerns to follow heading into Week 2.
Wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. suffered an unconfirmed injury during the game, while defensive backs J'Vari Flowers and Bryce Thornton also appeared to be shaken up at different points. Thornton seemed to injure his wrist after a big hit in the first half. Their statuses moving forward remain unclear. Head coach Jon Sumrall is expected to provide additional information after further evaluation.
The Gators were also without a number of key players before kickoff. Wide receiver Davian Groce, offensive lineman Eagan Boyer, defensive lineman Stive-Bentley Keumajio-Yondju, safety Eric Parks and running back Kelvin Jimenez were not dressed for the opener, according to reports from Gainesville. Before Saturday's matchup, Jimenez was listed as out.
The extent of Singleton's injury will be the most significant storyline as the Gators turn their attention to Campbell.
Follow us GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

#gators #injury #receiver

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jadan Baugh ran for 160 yards and three touchdowns, juking defenders nearly every time he touched the ball, and Florida opened the Jon Sumrall era with a 66-21 win over Florida Atlantic on Saturday night.
Aaron Philo added 275 yards passing and four total scores as the Gators won their seventh consecutive home debut for a new coach. This one was the highest-scoring season opener for Florida since 1994.
Sumrall entered the sold-out Swamp amid fire, smoke and strobe lights. He delivered a fiery pregame speech on the field and then really showed what he's about with a dominant win that was never in doubt. He even had his team throwing — and scoring — in the final minute, reminding some of Hall of Famer Steve Spurrier.
Florida scored on its first six possessions. Philo connected with Vernell Brown III for a 49-yard score and then found former Georgia Tech teammate and current roommate Bailey Stockton for a 12-yarder.
Philo scrambled for a score on fourth down to make it 24-7. Brown finished with 117 yards on six receptions.

#baugh

Florida football officially kicks off a new era Saturday with Jon Sumrall's first game as Gators head coach.
The start of a new season – regardless of the coach – brings an excitement that's been held in a box throughout the long summer months.
But on UF campus Saturday, that excitement felt diminished. Call it the humid weather with on and off rain. Call it the late kickoff. Call it the less than marquee opponent in Florida Atlantic. Call it the holiday weekend.
Regardless, Plaza of the Americas – the hotbed of campus – looked eerily quiet three hours before kickoff.
Glenn Denning reflected that vibe. The Gainesville resident remembered when he first began tailgating on Plaza of the Americas when it stood packed with tents.

#saturday

Where to watch East St. Louis vs. Gainesville football: Channel, live stream, kickoff time for high school game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
East St. Louis always casts a wide net when it comes to football scheduling, and the latest top matchup is a showdown with Georgia power Gainesville on Friday.
The Flyers, ranked No. 37 nationally by MaxPreps, already have faced a pair of nationally ranked opponents this season, taking down Chicago Mt. Carmel 42-23 in the opener, then falling 35-28 in overtime at Florida's American Heritage last weekend.
The players to watch for the home team in this one are Flyers running back Myson Johnson-Cook, an Auburn commit, and Florida-bound corner Raheem Floyd.
Gainesville has an elite DB of its own in junior four-star Jai'lil Goley, who anchors the defense alongside senior linebacker and Pitt commit Jeremiah Proctor.

#gainesville #flyers #Football #nationally

Summer break is officially over for all, and that means the most anticipated of them all:
The Gainesville Sun's Athlete of the Week poll!
Once again, we are asking for your help with the nomination process. Please click here to see how to nominate. Nominations are due Monday morning, and they can be sent in by anyone — coaches, administrators, friends, family. It is imperative to send in nominations, so we can continue to honor the best! Please send nominations to Gainesville Sun Preps Reporter Noah Ram at nramgannett.com.
We are relying solely on this process for nominations for the 2026-27 season, so if names are not sent in, we will not be able to conduct athlete of the week polls and honor the best in the area.
This week, we're honoring the best from August 24-30. Voting closes Saturday at 12 p.m., and you can vote as many times as you'd like, so please share this poll with friends and family.

#week #athlete

Florida will enter Jon Sumrall's first season in Gainesville with a relatively clean injury report.
The Gators were hit by injuries throughout the 2025 season, including significant setbacks to several key players, but Sumrall said Monday that his team is largely healthy ahead of Saturday's opener against FAU.
"We're pretty healthy," Sumrall said in his Week 1 press conference. "The injury report is pretty positive in regard to having pretty much everybody ready to go."
Only one player, walk-on running back Kelvin Jimenez, has been ruled out for the season. Tight end Evan Chieca remains questionable after missing time during camp, although he has returned to practice.
"Chieca is questionable. He's practicing. He's running around, but it's a matter of how far we want to push him," Sumrall said. "I'm not sure about his availability for Saturday yet. It's not off the table, but it's not a green light yet."

#injury #report #Florida

GAINESVILLE — Halfway through the first quarter, Forest football totaled less than 10 yards of offense.
It didn't matter.
Because the Wildcats had more points than yards, and the tone was set for the remainder of the game.
Forest began a season 2-0 for the first time in nine years Thursday with a dominant 39-15 win over Eastside at Citizens Field in Gainesville.
John Brantley III, who is in his second season at Forest after coming over from Trinity Catholic, acknowledged that work needs to be done, but he's not complaining.

#first #thursday

Former Florida defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. is reportedly involved in trade discussions.
The Chicago Bears, who drafted Dexter No. 53 overall in 2023, "have had trade discussions ... and there are multiple scenarios where a deal could get done sending him to a new team," according to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz.
Dexter is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is coming off his best NFL season. He started all 17 games for Chicago in the 2025 regular season, recording 44 tackles, six sacks, six tackles for loss and 38 pressures. Over the past two years, he's started 32 games. He has 115 career tackles and 13.5 sacks through three seasons.
Dexter spent three seasons with Florida, coming in as part of the 2020 recruiting class. He played in 38 games for the Gators, starting 24 of them, and left Gainesville with 125 total tackles (46 solo), 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions, four pass deflections and two fumble recoveries.
Despite having college eligibility remaining, Dexter chose to enter the 2023 NFL Draft and ended up a second-round selection. At only 24 years old, Dexter has become a full-time starter since then, making him a young option for any team looking to bolster its defensive front.

#dexter #Florida #Chicago

Florida has named its starting quarterback for Week 1 of the 2026 season.
Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo will get the nod over redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. when the Gators take on Florida Atlantic to begin the season on Sept. 5. Philo followed new offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner from Atlanta to Gainesville.
"We are preparing for (Philo) to be the starter for Week 1," coach Jon Sumrall announced on Monday.
Philo has familiarity with Faulkner's system and saw game action (albeit limited) during his time with the Yellow Jackets. The redshirt sophomore appeared in eight games, starting one, and threw for 938 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Florida HC Jon Sumrall has named Aaron Philo the starting quarterback. #gators

“We are preparing for him to be the starter for Week 1.”

Story: https://t.co/KS6jv8txQS pic.twitter.com/mxuRhGXnUV

#aaron #gators #season

Florida football opens its 2026 campaign in under two weeks as the Jon Sumrall era kicks off in Gainesville. Ahead of the season's start, USA TODAY Sports writer Paul Myerberg published his full re-rank of all 138 FBS schools.
Myerberg's previous rerank for this fall came out in April, with the Gators placed at No. 38. In his final salvo of the preseason, the Orange and Blue find themselves up two spots at No. 36 and 10th among Southeastern Conference schools.
Sumrall and Co. enter the campaign outside the top 25 of both the US LBM Coaches Poll and AP Poll, with a de facto No. 27 ranking in both. Last year in Billy Napier's final season at the helm, Florida opened the schedule ranked No. 17 in the Coaches and No. 15 in the AP polls, while Myerberg had the Gators at No. 25 in his preseason re-rank.
The SEC has eight programs among the top 25 in the re-rank, headlined by third-ranked Texas, along with Georgia (No. 6), Oklahoma (No. 7) and Alabama (No. 9) in the top 10. Ole Miss (No. 11), Texas A&M (No. 13), LSU (No. 18) and Tennessee (No. 19) round out the top 25.
Florida begins its season against FAU in the Swamp on Saturday, Sept. 5.

#sumrall #texas

Florida football's new head coach Jon Sumrall has seen a great deal of success in his first two jobs, posting a 43-12 record evenly split over four years between Troy and Tulane. His latest gig in Gainesville will easily be the most challenging as he takes over a storied program that has experienced significant turmoil since Dan Mullen departed.
According to Sports Illustrated, the new Gators skipper is among the top 10 first-year coaches facing the most pressure entering the 2026 campaign. Sumrall checks in at No. 7 in the rankings, and author Patrick Andres explains why.
"If you want to single out a first-year coach with a schedule specifically set up to help them succeed, you could do much worse than Sumrall," he states. "After two years of breakneck slates under coach Billy Napier, Sumrall's Gators have navigable opening (Florida Atlantic, Campbell, Auburn) and closing (Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Florida State) stretches to dilute midseason tussles with Ole Miss, Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma. Florida still needs to find a quarterback, but if either Aaron Philo or Tramell Jones Jr. prove competent, fans could raise the bar for Year 1 immediately."
Over the past four years under Napier, the Orange and Blue accumulated a 22-23 record (and then 1-4 under interim HC Billy Gonzales), representing a brutal nadir for a program that went 33-15 under Mullen (plus a 1-1 record under interim HC Greg Knox) before him. The Gator Nation has suffered profusely this decade so far and is in dire need of some optimism after missing out on the postseason twice during that span.
There is no doubt that the pressure is all on Sumrall heading into fall.

#sumrall #record #gators

GAINESVILLE, FL — Florida soccer outlasted Coastal Carolina, 3-2, on Thursday night to even up their record to 1-1.
In a game that had a two-hour rain delay, the Gators came out firing on all cylinders, taking a 2-0 lead in the first half of play.
Senior forward Kyra Taylor led the way with two first-half goals in her home debut for the program. Katie Johnston also contributed with a goal in the second half to put the team up 3-2 in the 76th minute to seize control of the match.
Florida was more aggressive and controlled the pace with 19 shots, 13 of them coming on goal, compared to Coastal's five shots, three of them on goal. The program also had 11 more fouls than Coastal.
Thursday's win also marks the first win under head coach Nick Zimmerman. The new head coach spoke on the team's performance in the one-score victory.

#goal #coastal #coach

The bronze statues of Florida football Heisman winners Tim Tebow, Danny Wuerffel and Steve Spurrier adorn the front of The Swamp.
On Sunday, August 23, Florida Gators fans can see all three together in the flesh at a charity event in Gainesville.
Tebow, Wuerrfel and Spurrier will be at the Alachua County Sports & Events Center and Spurrier's Gridiron Grille in Celebration Pointe for an interactive public appearance. During the event, fans can catch a touchdown pass from Tebow or Wuerffel and take a handoff from Spurrier. Each experience includes an autographed football, a personal photo, and a professionally shot video keepsake.
The event is being held in conjunction with the inaugural Florida Legends Card Show, a weekend event for collectors, traders, and enthusiasts for sports and trading card games, like Pokemon. It will take place from August 22–23 at theAlachua County Sports & Events Center. Other former Florida greats plan to turn out for the card signing event, including former Florida basketball and NBA center Marreese Speights and former Florida baseball and Major League baseball catcher Mike Zunino, who won the Golden Spikes Award in 2012.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Isaiah 117 House, which benifits Alachua County foster children awaiting placement. More information on the event can be found at fllegends.com.

#spurrier #card #former #wuerffel

College football's opening kickoff lies just beyond the horizon as teams across the country prepare for the 2026 edition of the gridiron grind.
Ahead of the first matchup of the fall on Sunday, Aug. 29, between UNC and TCU in Dublin, Ireland, CBS Sports writer Blake Brockermeyer put together his ranking of the top 150 players in the sport — a list that included three Florida Gators.
"My goal for the last few years has been simple: Identify the 150 best players in college football entering the 2026 season and the value they bring to their teams," he stated.
So who cracked the list for the Orange and Blue? Checking in at No. 41 is junior running back Jadan Baugh, who is one of the best backs in the SEC, if not the country. Also included at No. 78 is senior wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr., who arrived in Gainesville via the transfer portal during the offseason and adds a speedy dynamic to the receiver corps.
The third Gator to land among the top 150 players in the nation at No. 126 is junior linebacker Myles Graham, who was named to the **** Butkus Award Preseason Watch List as well as the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List this summer.

#receiver

The 2026 college football season is quickly nearing its opening kickoff, and ahead of the nation's favorite fall game, the sports media has been in overdrive publishing its preseason content.
Among them is ESPN writer David Hale, who recently ranked all 138 FBS teams into 19 distinct tiers. In his article, the Florida Gators landed among Tier 10, which he ****** led, "It has to get better. Right? Right?!?"
"Credit to Oklahoma State and Florida. They laid down their shovels after woeful 2025 campaigns and started climbing out with new head coaches... Jon Sumrall has talked the talk this offseason, winning over a beleaguered Florida fanbase that has seen a revolving door of once-successful coaches hit rock bottom in Gainesville."
While optimism is currently high in Gainesville entering the Sumrall era, the bar has been set low since Dan Mullen's departure, as exemplified by this particularly haunting stat.
"Florida is 29-37 since Marco Wilson threw a shoe against LSU in 2020. That's half a game worse than Rutgers over that same span."

#right

Ryan Lochte's ex-wife Kayla Reid says discovering that his new fiancée, Molly Gillihan, was someone already in her social circle made the end of their marriage even more painful.
In a new PEOPLE interview, Reid said she and Gillihan had mutual friends in Gainesville, Florida, exchanged invitations and personal advice, and spoke about Reid's marriage as it was falling apart. Reid now claims Gillihan was dating Lochte "behind my back."
The dates have become central to the disagreement. Reid officially filed for divorce from Lochte on March 26, 2025, while Lochte and Gillihan mark April 9 as their anniversary. Gillihan says she did not allow herself to consider a relationship until Lochte was living independently and divorce proceedings had already begun.
Lochte and Gillihan made their relationship public in July 2025 and became engaged in June 2026. Reid and Lochte finalized their divorce on July 1 after eight years of marriage and three children.
Reid said they moved within the same Gainesville social circle and that she uses the term "friend" lightly. According to Reid, the two women traded invitations to happy hours and Mother's Day gatherings and exchanged advice about local schools, career changes and other personal matters. Reid also said she helped Gillihan when she was considering opening a children's café, including offering ******* istance related to real estate.

#gillihan

LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Kentucky women's basketball released its 2026-2027 SEC schedule on Tuesday.
Some notable games include the Wildcats first conference game on New Years Eve traveling to Gainesville to take on Florida. On January 10th UK will host Texas - the SEC Tournament Champions and the team that knocked Kentucky out of the Sweet 16 back in March.
There will be just one home-and-home match up this season which will be with Tennessee. UK welcoming in the Vols on January 21st before traveling to their house a month later on February 21st.
On January 31st Kentucky will head to last seasons' SEC regular season winners and NCAA ****** le runner-up, South Carolina.
Finally, they'll close out its regular season slate on its home court against Mississippi State.

#years

Jeremiah Mark has had one of the fastest rises of anyone in the 2027 recruiting cycle out of the Southeast.
In a span of a couple of weeks, the 6-foot-5-inch, 270-pounder has gone from one FCS offer to holding four official offers from Alabama, Miami, Ole Miss, and now LSU.
The Florida Gators have yet to officially offer the unranked defensive lineman; however, his official visit date will be Sept. 26 when Ole Miss visits the Gators.
Mark's limited football experience makes his recruitment unique. When Mark comes to Gainesville, it could allow the program to evaluate his development and strengthen its relationship, as he finalizes his recruitment.
For Florida, the upcoming visit could potentially add the program to the mix of schools that have already offered him. If Mark impresses, he could quickly become a more prominent name on Florida's 2027 defensive line recruiting board.

#offer

Georgia annually produces some of the nation's best high school football talent, and the 2026 season is loaded with proven stars, elite recruits and future college standouts. Before kickoff, Rivals recognizes the players expected to define the season with its preseason All-State team, highlighting the top talent at every position across the Peach State.
Quarterback: Kharim Hughley, Gainesville – The Clemson commit finished his junior season with 2,400 yards passing and 33 touchdowns. Hughley is good with his legs to extend plays, he can throw the ball on the move and he took Gainesville to state championship game last season.
Running Back: Gary Walker, Creekside – This time a year ago, Walker was not being talked about the way he should have. After a junior season where he rushed for over 1,600 yards, was a key part of a record-breaking offense, and scored 20 touchdowns. The Clemson commit is a star.
Running Back: Moonie Gipson, Kell – Gipson has been one of the top running backs in the state since his freshman season. The Georgia Tech commit ended the season last year with a tough injury, but that was after he rushed for 1,918 yards and 25 scores.
Wide Receiver: Taurean Rawlins, Mount Vernon – The Georgia commit finished his junior season with almost 70 receptions, 1,395 yards and 25 touchdowns. He quickly rose up recruiting boards last fall and emerged as a top playmaker in the Peach State.

#georgia #junior

As another Georgia high school football season kicks off, championship expectations, national recruits and marquee matchups once again dominate the conversation across the Peach State. From powerhouse programs loaded with Division I talent to rising contenders looking to crash the ******* le picture, there is no shortage of storylines heading into the 2026 season.
1. Buford Wolves: Until you knock them off, it is hard not to put Buford on top. The Wolves know how to win. They expect to win. Buford lost a lot, especially at the skill positions, but new names will step in, led by quarterback DJ Hunter, they will play a tough schedule and be ready for December when that time comes.
2. Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets: Thomas County Central may have been playing the best football in Georgia when the season ended last year. Some key contributors graduated, but return many key contributors, and when all is said and done in December, it would be surprising to see the Yellow Jackets hoisting up the trophy for a third time in four years.
3. Creekside Seminoles: Maurice Dixon and Creekside had the perfect 15-0 season a year ago and broke records while doing so. Their offense scored 845 points in 15 games, so can they repeat? The Seminoles are the one to beat. They lost some key players, but 15 starters return, and it is a good mix of linemen and skill guys. The move up to 6A will be something to watch.
4. Gainesville Red Elephants: Gainesville has a new head coach in Santavious Bryant. He won a state ******* le at Grayson in his first year as the head coach there in 2023. Don't be surprised if he leads the Red Elephants to the same accomplishment this season. The Red Elephants have been knocking on the door, and they have the pieces to compete for a ******* le again in 2026.

#elephants #georgia #december #thomas

In advance of the 2026 high school football season, the Gainesville Sun is honoring the best of the best at each position in the Gainesville area.
After naming quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers, we moved onto the defensive side. After the "meat" (defensive line) and "quarterback" (linebackers), we conclude with the secondary — defensive backs. After this, we'll return to the offense and conclude with offensive line.
The talent level for this position group is truly unreal. That's why we increased it to 11 players named, as seven recorded at least three interceptions in 2025. That included one with eight and another with seven — and now they play on the same team. Not too shabby.
Monday, we released who we thought were the 11 best defensive backs in the Gainesville area for the 2026 season, but we didn't pick the top one.
We're leaving that up to you — the fans.

#gainesville #backs #season #conclude

Carolina signed former Florida quarterback Kyle Trask on Sunday after a hamstring injury is expected to sideline rookie Haynes King for an extended period of time. The ex-Gator joins Bryce Young and Kenny Pickett as the Panthers' top options under center entering Week 2 of the preseason.
The 2020 NCAA passing touchdowns leader spent 2025 on the Atlanta Falcons practice squad after being released by Tampa Bay in August of last year. The Buccaneers made Trask the 64th overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft after his record-breaking senior campaign in Gainesville helped the Gators reach the SEC championship game.
While at UF, Trask went from unheralded backup to Heisman finalist in a season that saw him toss 43 touchdowns, breaking the program's single-season mark set by Danny Wuerffel in 1996.
The 6-foot-4-inch, 236-pound Manvel, Texas, native has failed to translate his magical 2020 performance into opportunities at the next level. As a professional, Trask has appeared in just seven regular-season games and completed 4-of-11 passes for 28 yards. The fact that Trask continues to command attention despite last taking a snap in December 2024 speaks to how much teams value his size, arm talent, and upside.
After an underwhelming three seasons, Trask will look to revive his career and prove that he can be a serviceable NFL backup. King is considered week-to-week and sustained the injury in Carolina's preseason win over Arizona.

#week #backup

Jon Scheyer isn't afraid of challenging his team with a difficult non-conference schedule. The Duke head coach hopes that the tough matchups early in the season will prepare his squad for ACC and tournament play, and once again, he's loaded up the early part of the Blue Devils' season with some marquee battles.
Before the official season even begins, the co-favorites to win the national ****** le will face off against Tennessee and Kansas, the latter in Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.
The regular season hits the ground running with a matchup against perennial Big 10 powerhouse Michigan State on Nov. 10 in the United Center in Chicago. The Spartans reached the Sweet 16 last season before falling to UConn, who went on to defeat Duke in the Elite Eight and make the national ****** le game.
A home game against Illinois, which made the Final Four this past season, arrives on Nov. 17 before Scheyer and his squad fly west to take on Washington State in Palm Desert, Calif., on Nov. 21 and a rematch against UConn on Nov. 25 in Las Vegas.
A battle of the two favorites to bring home the national ****** le trophy comes on Dec. 1 when the Blue Devils travel to Gainesville, Fla., to face Todd Golden's Gators. After the Brotherhood Game against Harvard, another SEC foe awaits in Georgia when Duke battles the Bulldogs in Madison Square Garden on Dec. 8.

#scheyer #devils

Five-star 2028 edge rusher Antonio Thomas Jr. is beginning the next phase of his recruitment and has emerged as a top target for the Florida Gators in the 2028 class.
The talented five-star showcased his skill set last season for Carrollwood Day, finishing the year with 54 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. He also displayed his versatility by playing both sides of the ball, receiving reps at running back, carrying the ball 100 times for 927 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The 6-foot-3-inch, 240-pound edge rusher has already scheduled his return to the Swamp, planning to be in Gainesville for the Gators' matchup against Ole Miss on Sept. 26.
"I would definitely say they're a priority school," Thomas told Swamp247. "If I had to make a top three right now, they're in there," adding that Florida and Georgia are at the top of the list, playing a big role in his recruitment.
Thomas credits defensive line coach Gerald Chatman for being the main contact from Florida.

#Florida #five #star

The UIL State Executive Committee suspended Gainesville (TX) head football coach Neil Searcy for the 2026 season Thursday, Aug. 6, for a "willful decision" to violate offseason practice rules. The team has been docked four preseason practice days, from Aug. 7 to Aug. 11, and will be unable to participate in its Aug. 13 scrimmage against Frisco Legacy Christian.
Searcy, who has spent four years at the helm of the Texas program, held six one-hour workouts in May, during which athletes wore helmets and shoulder pads. He self-reported to the District Executive Committee after the Gainesville superintendent found out about the practices.
Per UIL rules, Class 4A programs are not allowed to conduct spring workouts with contact equipment.
Searcy, who was also placed on probation for three years, will retain his position as the district's athletic director. During Thursday's hearing, he apologized for a "lack of judgement."
On the field, Gainesville's program has been struggling, with the Leopards going 1-9 last season and being outscored 523-144.

#program