Florida delivered one of the biggest upsets of the college football season by beating No. 7 Texas 27-24 in Austin on Saturday. The Gators rallied after falling behind 17-3, scored 24 unanswered points during the middle of the game and then survived a late Texas comeback attempt when quarterback Arch Manning lost a fumble with less than two minutes remaining. The victory gave Florida its first AP top-10 road win since 2012.
Florida changed the game after a slow start
Texas opened with control of the scoreboard and built a 17-3 advantage, putting Florida under immediate pressure. The Gators responded by settling into a more balanced offensive rhythm and tightening defensively.
That shift allowed Florida to dominate the middle portion of the contest and erase the early deficit.
Tramell Jones Jr. won in his first start
Second-year freshman Tramell Jones Jr. made his first career start for Florida and handled one of the loudest environments in college football. He threw for two touchdowns and avoided the kind of major mistake that often decides road games.
His performance was especially notable because Florida entered as a clear underdog against a top-10 opponent.
Jadan Baugh’s late touchdown created the cushion
Running back Jadan Baugh scored on an 11-yard run with 6:22 remaining, extending Florida’s lead to 27-17. That touchdown capped a 24-point Florida run.
The score forced Texas to become more aggressive on its final possessions.
Manning gave Texas one last chance
Arch Manning answered with a touchdown pass to Cam Coleman, cutting the deficit to three points with 4:21 left. Texas then got the ball back with enough time to drive for a tying field goal or winning touchdown.
The final possession ended before the Longhorns could reach scoring range.
The decisive play was a strip sack
Florida linebacker Myles Graham reached Manning on second down and forced a fumble. Defensive back Kanye Clark recovered the ball with 1:58 remaining.
Florida then ran out the clock to complete the upset in front of more than 103,000 fans.
Texas has now lost two straight
The defeat was especially damaging because Texas had also lost the previous week to Oklahoma. A team that had been ranked No. 1 only days earlier suddenly has consecutive losses.
That swing will have major implications for national rankings and the College Football Playoff race.
Florida’s defense exceeded expectations
The Gators entered the game after allowing 83 points across their previous two losses. Holding Texas to 24 points therefore represented a significant improvement.
Florida’s pass rush became especially important in the fourth quarter, when Texas needed to throw aggressively.
Time of possession helped the Gators
Florida’s offense stayed on the field long enough to limit Texas possessions and prevent the Longhorns from building sustained momentum.
That balance gave the defense recovery time and reduced the number of chances Manning had to attack.
The upset reshapes the SEC race
Texas now faces a much narrower path in conference play. A second loss can be difficult to overcome in a league with multiple ranked teams and limited margin for error.
Florida, meanwhile, gains a signature victory that changes the perception of its season.
Jones becomes a national story
Quarterbacks are often judged by how they handle pressure, and Jones was asked to make his first start in one of the most difficult road environments in the country.
Winning without committing a turnover gives Florida a potential new foundation at the position.
Texas must respond quickly
The Longhorns’ next challenge will be preventing a two-game slide from becoming a broader collapse. Offensive consistency and ball security will be central issues in the coming week.
Florida’s 27-24 win was not built on one trick play or a late fluke. The Gators controlled a long stretch of the game and then made the decisive defensive play when Texas had a chance to recover.
Sources
- NCAA.com, Oct. 17, 2026
- University of Texas Athletics official box score
- Florida Gators official game report
- Reuters, Oct. 17, 2026
