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College football fans have a major SEC showdown coming Saturday afternoon. No. 4 Ole Miss visits No. 21 Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Both teams enter the matchup unbeaten at 3-0. The Rebels and Gators also own 1-0 SEC records. That makes this one of the biggest games on the Week 4 schedule. The latest Associated Press Top 25 ranks Ole Miss fourth nationally. Florida sits at No. 21 after entering the poll following its win over Auburn. The game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 26. ABC will televise the matchup nationally.
Florida Enters with Momentum
Florida has plenty of confidence heading into its SEC home opener. The Gators started the season with wins over Florida Atlantic and Campbell. However, their biggest test came last Saturday against Auburn. Florida survived a wild 44-39 road victory over the Tigers. The win moved the Gators to 3-0 for the first time since 2019. Quarterback Aaron Philo has played well through three games. He enters Saturday with 721 passing yards and six touchdowns. Philo has also completed 73.4 percent of his passes. However, Florida has another major weapon in running back Jadan Baugh.
Baugh has rushed for 458 yards through three games. He has also scored eight rushing touchdowns. Wide receiver Vernell Brown III gives Florida another important offensive weapon. Brown has 14 catches for 246 yards and two touchdowns. Florida has scored at least 44 points in every game this season. That offense will face a much tougher challenge against Ole Miss.
Ole Miss Keeps Climbing
Ole Miss enters Gainesville after a huge SEC victory. The Rebels defeated LSU 32-24 last Saturday. That victory moved Ole Miss from No. 8 to No. 4 in the latest AP poll. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss delivered an impressive performance against LSU. He completed 33 of 48 passes for 363 yards. Chambliss also threw two touchdown passes against the Tigers. He added another touchdown on the ground. Through three games, Chambliss has thrown for 924 yards. He also has seven touchdown passes and two interceptions. Ole Miss has plenty of confidence after beating LSU. Now, the Rebels must handle another ranked SEC opponent on the road.
Two Explosive Offenses
This matchup could feature plenty of offensive fireworks. Florida ranks among the nation’s top teams in several offensive categories. The Gators also have produced a perfect red-zone scoring rate. Ole Miss has matched that red-zone production. Both teams have scored on 100 percent of their red-zone trips. That efficiency could become critical Saturday afternoon. Florida also controls the clock better than Ole Miss. The Gators average 33:06 in time of possession. Ole Miss averages only 27:12 per game in that category. Therefore, Florida could try to extend drives and keep the Rebels’ offense off the field.
Turnovers Could Matter
The turnover battle also deserves attention. Florida enters the matchup with a plus-two turnover margin. Ole Miss enters with a minus-two margin. That difference could become important in a close game. Florida also needs to clean up its penalties. The Gators rank 131st nationally with 88.3 penalty yards per game. Meanwhile, Ole Miss ranks 47th nationally in third-down offense. The Rebels convert 45.7 percent of their third-down opportunities. Florida’s defense ranks 97th in third-down defense. Opponents convert 41.5 percent of their attempts. Those numbers create an interesting matchup within the matchup.
The Swamp Gets a Major Test
Florida now gets its first SEC home game of the season. The Gators will face a ranked opponent under the lights of one of college football’s most recognizable stadiums. However, the afternoon kickoff creates a different atmosphere. Ole Miss arrives with a top five ranking and an unbeaten record. Florida brings its own undefeated record and a new spot inside the Top 25. The stakes will continue to rise for both programs. The winner will leave Gainesville with another major SEC victory. The loser will still have plenty of season remaining. However, this game could shape the early SEC race.
For Florida, the matchup represents another test after the Auburn win. For Ole Miss, it provides another chance to strengthen its national standing. One thing remains clear entering Saturday. This is no ordinary September matchup. It features two unbeaten SEC teams, two Top 25 offenses, and plenty of national attention. College football fans will not have to wait long for the next major SEC measuring stick. Florida and Ole Miss meet Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in Gainesville. ABC will carry the game for a national audience.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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